DevFest Kolkata 2024 - New Year, Old Scam?

As the excitement for DevFest Kolkata 2024 builds, it's hard to ignore the shadow cast by the chaos of last year’s event. What should have been a celebration of technology and community turned into a stark reminder of the cracks in the foundation of GDG Kolkata’s leadership.

A Look Back at DevFest 2023

Last year’s DevFest Kolkata was a mixed bag, to put it mildly. While attendees appreciated the venue and a few culinary highlights (who doesn’t love a good brownie?), the event’s management painted a much grimmer picture. Reports flooded in about disorganized registration, chaotic food distribution, and a laughably poor swag experience.

One attendee summed it up perfectly: “The organizers were more focused on increasing their bank balance than providing an experience to the attendees.” This sentiment was echoed by many, as questions arose about transparency in the use of sponsorship funds, including contributions from Google. How does an event partially funded by Google and supported by sponsors fail to provide basic attendee satisfaction?

The allegations against GDG Kolkata’s organizers, Lead 1 and Lead 2, are hard to ignore. From the use of personal bank accounts for event funds to an open disregard for community feedback, the issues seem systemic. Complaints of volunteer mistreatment, database leaks, and even threats to attendees paint a picture of a community whose leadership prioritizes power and profit over transparency and collaboration.

Is 2024 Any Different?

With the dawn of a new year, one would hope for change—a commitment to honesty, better event management, and a renewed focus on the community. But early signs suggest otherwise. The same players, the same patterns, and the same dismissive attitude towards feedback leave many questioning if anything will truly improve.

A Lesson to Be Learned

The comparison with GDG Cloud Kolkata is telling. Despite facing challenges, GDG Cloud Kolkata has managed to uphold a reputation for inclusivity and smooth execution. As one attendee bluntly stated, “Go and learn something from GDG Cloud Kolkata. Clashing with them won’t help you grow.”

The Path Forward

The time has come for GDG Kolkata’s leadership to face the reality. If you're incapable of taking feedback, step down and let others with lesser ego handle things. Events like DevFest should be about celebrating technology, not controversies, threats and blatant misuse of power.

Everyone who has been blocked and banned by GDG Kolkata organizers are welcome to send me their stories at u6i1ncdr5@mozmail.com