Ah, State of the Map! The pinnacle annual gathering of our own kind, where we, the OSM community, come together to exchange insights, celebrate achievements, and explore the latest advancements in technology.

How was my experience overall, you may ask? Eight days of relentless effort—rushing between offices to complete my passport and visa, and spending countless hours traveling on various modes of transport—just to attend a weekend-long conference. Was it worth it? Absolutely, without a doubt! In fact, I’d gladly go through it all again in a heartbeat.

This experience was nothing short of incredible. It was a joy and privilege to finally meet Mikko Tamura, Honey Fombuena, Harry Mahardhika, Nama Raj Budhathoki from HOT, and so many other inspiring individuals from the Bangladesh and Nepal OSM communities, as well as the vibrant YouthMappers network. Their boundless energy, unwavering passion for improving OpenStreetMap (OSM), and commitment to encouraging mass adoption left a profound impression on me.

Connecting with them wasn’t just about OSM; it was about engaging with a group of extraordinary people whose enthusiasm and vision resonate deeply. Their drive to create positive change is quite something, and I am more motivated than ever to channel that same spirit into my own initiatives in the near future.

The weekend wasn’t just a conference—it was a gathering of minds, a celebration of shared purpose, and an unforgettable opportunity to be part of a community that genuinely inspires. I am immensely grateful for every moment of it.

As a proud OSM contributor since the start of 2023, I’ve been busy mapping my way around Jalpaiguri and the North Bengal region, leaving a trail of improved data in my wake. It’s been an incredible journey so far, and I’m thrilled to have made a tangible impact on the OSM community. But, I didn’t stop there.

Last December, I learned about the Open Mapping Hub AP’s OMGuru Fellowship from a fellow OSM India member, and I just had to apply. Long story short, I got accepted, and it’s been quite great ever since.

Through the OMGuru Fellowship, I’ve had the chance to dive deeper into the world of OSM and learn about an array of tools and techniques for contributing to and improving OSM data and sharpen up my skills using JOSM. Specialising in Validation Track, I’ve honed my skills in ensuring the accuracy and quality of data – a crucial aspect of mapping that’s often overlooked. But it’s not just about validating HOT TM tasks; I’ve also acquired the skills to further map my region, add quality data, and even use it for research and analysis (cue the HOT x DataCamp Scholarship).

It’s been an incredible experience, and I’m excited to see where my newfound expertise takes me next. The OMGuru Fellowship has been a game-changer, and I’d like to extend my gratitude to HOT and APHub for the opportunity to have been a part of it, and to Mikko, Dinar and Honey for their guidance (esp. Mikko and Dinar, you guys have helped me out a lot and take on questions which I now realise were REALLY dumb :’D).