AskWorld.com — launched by Abin P — was the first web portal from the Malabar region (Kozhikode) of Kerala

Early beginnings with computers: In the mid-1980s, Abin P had his first exposure to the Sinclair ZX Spectrum. Programs were typed in BASIC and saved on ordinary audio cassettes, with the computer converting digital data into sound that could later be reloaded. This hands-on experience sparked a lifelong fascination with machines, electronics, and the process of learning by experimenting.

Background: In the late 1990s, while working as a Software Instructor at a computer institute in Kozhikode, Abin P developed a keen interest in websites and the emerging internet. At that time, the internet had not yet reached Kozhikode. Abin immersed himself in computer magazines, which became his classroom. These magazines carried screenshots of websites, code samples, and detailed articles that explained how the web functioned. Using only these printed resources, he taught himself HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) coding and began designing complete websites on a Windows PC with a simple text editor. Though he had never accessed the internet himself, he already knew what websites looked like, how they worked, and how to structure and code them. Internet access was first opened to the public in India on 15 August 1995, when VSNL launched its dial-up service nationally. In Kerala, public internet became available around 1998, and by 1999, Kozhikode too had its first public access. 

Early phase: By early 1999, Abin had laid out the design for his own web portal. He continued working late into the evenings after his teaching sessions, coding patiently line by line, and preparing the content for what he envisioned as a platform that would make it easy for people to surf the net. His approach was entirely self-taught — built on curiosity, persistence, and the discipline of learning from printed material at a time when practical exposure to the internet was still out of reach in Kozhikode.

Preparation: Obtaining the domain name was the first step. The domain askworld.com was registered through a U.S. registrar using his brother’s credit card in the United States, costing around USD 35 for one year. The next challenge was to secure web space on a server to host the designed webpages. This was arranged directly by Abin, who found a channel partner in Hyderabad through computer magazines. Acting as an intermediary for U.S. data centers, the partner provided hosting space after coordination over the phone and payment through a bank transfer. With both the domain and hosting in place, Abin was ready to take his website online.

Launch: In the early hours of 15 August 1999, Abin uploaded the HTML pages he had coded to the hosting server. By the same evening, the portal was live and accessible to the public, marking the official launch of AskWorld.com — Easy way to surf the net. This made it the first independently developed web portal from the Malabar region of Kerala. The launch was reported in three leading local newspapers, giving recognition to the pioneering effort of a self-taught developer who had prepared everything before ever personally accessing the internet.

Impact: The stats page of AskWorld.com showed an increase in hits day by day from across the globe — proving that AskWorld.com had reached far beyond Kozhikode and Kerala. As a software instructor since the mid-1990s, many of his former students were already working abroad, and through them and their friends the word about AskWorld.com spread. Many of them, along with their networks, set www.askworld.com as their browser homepage, since the portal was designed for that very purpose — a one-stop entry point with all commonly used website links listed in one place on its homepage. Every time they opened Netscape or Internet Explorer, they landed on the AskWorld portal. In Yahoo search engine results, the website was listed just a month after its launch. This global adoption gave AskWorld.com an international footprint with thousands of hits per day, turning it into a pioneering example of early web presence.

Later years: AskWorld.com remained active for over a decade, running until around 2012. It was not just a personal project but also a pioneering example of web development from Kozhikode at a time when most people were only just beginning to explore the internet. As the internet landscape matured and new platforms emerged, the website eventually reached its natural conclusion and went offline. It was built for a clear purpose as a homepage that brought together frequently visited websites of that era, exactly what users needed at the time, and in that sense, it completed its life purpose.

Legacy: AskWorld.com — Easy way to surf the net holds a unique place in the digital history of the Malabar region (Kozhikode), Kerala. It was more than just a website — it was a symbol of vision, determination, and self-learning. Abin P created and launched a full-fledged web portal entirely on his own, without prior internet experience, at a time when access was new and rare. His achievement reflected the pioneering spirit of Kerala’s early digital creators, proving that with dedication and knowledge, even global innovations could emerge from a small corner of Kozhikode. Though the portal eventually went offline, the story of AskWorld.com endures as a milestone — the first web portal from Kozhikode, launched by a local self-taught developer who turned imagination into reality.