Hello everyone! Through WPSimplified, my mission has always been to make tech education accessible by teaching in regional languages like Hindi. Whether it’s through YouTube videos, WordPress training programs, or participating in events as a media partner, volunteer, or speaker, connecting with this WordPress community is what truly drives me.
Recently, I had the incredible opportunity to step up as a Media Partner for one of the biggest events in our ecosystem: WordCamp Asia 2026.
There is a massive difference between a city-level WordCamp and a flagship event. A local city WordCamp might host around 400 to 500 people. A flagship event like this? You are looking at a massive gathering of 2,000 to 5,000 people from all over the globe, spanning three days of pure networking and learning. When we finally arrived in Mumbai and stepped into the Jio World Convention Centre for the event running from April 9 to April 11, the scale was simply breathtaking.
The Ultimate Dream and a Last-Minute Heartbreak
Behind the scenes, I was carrying a dream that felt almost impossible. I had reached out to Matt Mullenweg, the co-founder of WordPress, on Slack. I told him about WPSimplified, the training programs I run for students in Hindi, and asked if he would be open to recording a short podcast interview with me. To my absolute shock, he agreed!
For someone like me, who just wanted to bring top-tier insights to our local community, interviewing Matt was the ultimate milestone. But as they say, not all dreams cross the finish line smoothly. Just as the moment was arriving, I received the news that Matt couldn’t make the interview due to health issues.
I won’t lie—I was devastated. Having a moment like that canceled at the last second felt like hitting a brick wall. I was frustrated, and admittedly, a bit angry. Health absolutely comes first, but in that raw moment, my heart just sank. It was a tough pill to swallow.
The Mumbai Hustle and Studio Luck
Despite the heartbreak, the show had to go on. I traveled to Mumbai with Mayank from Delhi (who recently became an N8n ambassador—huge congratulations!).
As a media partner, my main goal was to record as many insightful WordPress podcasts as possible. I booked a slot in the WordPress.com sponsored studio, but the slots there were incredibly limited. Here is where the magic of the community shines: Aditya Shah from Bhopal had a slot he wasn’t using, and he graciously handed it over to me so I could record. That kind of selfless support is exactly why I love this ecosystem.
Conversations with Legends
With the studio secured, I had the privilege of sitting down with some absolute legends in the industry. The discussions we had were phenomenal:
- Dr. Tabassum: As an Emotional Intelligence Coach, her insights were brilliant. We recorded a short podcast, and it was incredibly fun and refreshing.
- Parth Pandya: A massive name in the WordPress Ahmedabad community. We had a fantastic podcast where he shared deep insights on how he built the Gujarat community and the incredible bonding that exists within it.
- Nirav Mehta: Words truly fall short when talking about Nirav Sir. I am a huge fan of his sessions and could listen to him for hours. His podcast was deeply profound—sometimes touching on concepts so deep they almost go over your head. We had amazing discussions about Public Speaking, Personal Branding & AI, and so much more.
- Gautam Garg: The founder of KnitPay (a lifesaver plugin supporting over 500 payment gateways or modules). He gave me a piece of advice I will never forget: “No matter how high you fly or what dreams you achieve, always keep your feet firmly on the ground.”
- Ajit Bohra: Our podcast was incredibly fun and truly eye-opening. During the recording, Ajit shared a profound insight that stuck with me: “You can’t force things on people. When they get value, they will naturally join you.” That is a lesson you won’t find in any textbook.
Bonds Beyond the Community
While WordPress brings us together, some connections grow far beyond the professional ecosystem. I have to give a special mention to three people with whom I’ve formed a deep, heartfelt bond from the absolute bottom of my heart: Prathamesh Palve, Jayman Pandya, and Nagesh Pai
- Prathamesh was my ultimate behind-the-scenes support. He introduced me to guests, helped me prepare scripts and rough ideas for the interviews, and made sure the final execution was flawless.
- Jayman Pandya and Nagesh Pai have been constant pillars of guidance. They continuously give me advice and support on what to do, what to avoid, and how to navigate this journey.
- On top of that, during the event, Jayman Pandya actually took the time to show us around Mumbai, and exploring the different sides of the city with him was an unforgettable experience.
The Bright Side: WordCamp India is Here!
To top off the event, we received some historic news: WordCamp India has officially been announced as a flagship event!
Even closer to home, a new spark has been lit: WordCamp Rajasthan. What started as a small conversation in Udaipur is now a reality. For anyone interested, WordCamp Rajasthan is happening on October 3 and 4 at the Rajasthan International Centre in Jaipur. I urge everyone to mark your calendars and support the Rajasthan community as we build this up!
Finally, I want to sincerely apologize if there are any audio or video quality hiccups in any of the WordCamp Asia podcasts. Pushing these edits through my Ryzen 3 setup taught me a lot about patience, but as Amit Sir wisely advised me during our recording: “Instead of focusing on the bad things, look at the good work. Focus on what more good can be done in it, and the bad will automatically diminish.”
Thank you to everyone who made this experience unforgettable. The journey continues.
