Just few days back I came across this wonderful story from Mahabharata; this story was told by Bhishma to Yudhishtira. This story is an example of amazing loyalty and compassion which we find missing in today’s world. I was not able to find anything to write for blogging contest this time but when I read this story I thought of sharing this with everyone in Veda Family. Here the story goes….

Long time ago in a forest near Kasi (known as Varanasi now) lived a giant tree.  Its branches were spread for miles around. This gaint tree gave shelter to many birds and animals like monkeys, squirrels etc. All types of birds had nests on this tree. Even snakes and lizards crawled beneath the tree seeking shade in hot days. All these living creatures were secure and happy under this tree. One day a hunter launched a poisoned arrow into trunk of tree while chasing its prey. Due to the harmful effects of the poison the leaves started falling from the tree and the branches started to tremor. All the inhabitants of the tree started running away from tree after they recognized the trouble. There was just one parrot who refused to leave the tree- its shelter in such condition. Everyone tried to persuade him to leave for his well being but he was just not ready to leave his home.

God was amazed by such conduct; he was surprised that how such a small creature can have such traits when humans don’t have it. He appeared in front of bird in guise of a priest and advised it to leave the tree.  He asked the bird that there are many other trees in the forest that are laden with green leaves and fruits then why you don’t want to leave this tree and go to one of them. The bird replied:  This is the place where I was born, here in this tree I gained all the good traits of my character and here I took shelter from all my enemies and natural hazards. Should I now abandon the one who has always been my support?  The Vedas themselves teach –Matr Devo Bhav, Pitr Devo Bhav, guru devo bhav (means honor your mother, father and guru like God). This tree has been all to me. Should I abandon it now?  Pleased by the bird’s conduct God revealed his identity and offered the parrot a wish. The parrot pleaded the God to save the tree; God saved the tree by showering nectar on it. The tree was saved just because of a small bird because that bird had sense of gratitude towards its benefactor.

This story teaches us to always be loyal to those who have offered shelter to us and who has been our support in bad times. We should never forget the people who have been compassionate towards us. If we are unable to see God in one who has been our help then we can-not see God anywhere. Whatever virtues, qualities we may have but without loyalty and compassion they are worthless. Being ungrateful is the worst thing that one can ever do.

The prime cause behind sharing this story with all of you is Veda. Through this story I wanted to give a message that I would have not been able to give otherwise.  By the God’s grace Veda is in no such state, instead we have started our journey towards a bigger goal and we all know that the path to that goal is not going to be a piece of cake. There will be ups and downs for sure. What I expect from all of us to have loyalty and compassion that a little bird had shown towards the tree. Veda has always been shelter to fresh talent and welcomed it with open arms. Most of the people who are currently part of Veda family; had joined here as a fresher. When the world was not ready to accept us and give a chance to our talent, Veda did. We have gained all our knowledge and experience from this place and now is the time to hold our hands together and support our own nest. Whatever we are today worth of that’s all because of this wonderful company and now it’s our chance to give something back to it by supporting it up with our knowledge, experience and hard work.  I believe that all of us feel the same but still I wanted to say this to everyone at Veda. I have full faith that we will fare through this very well and will become a much more successful company tomorrow. Today we are proud of this company which is an integral part of our lives and tomorrow also when we will look back I am sure we will be prouder.

“The greater the loyalty of a group towards the group, the greater is the motivation among the members to achieve the goals of the group, and the greater the probability that the group will achieve its goals.”

Communication without any doubt is the heart of human society in all spheres of life. In past few years modes of communication has evolved faster than any other technology in the history of human race.But the fastest growing and evolving mode of communication is the wireless or mobile communication.

The mobile communication has completely restructured the equation between communication, technology, and society by unwiring the networks of our lives.One perfect example of this is mobile phone .Earlier phones used to be a tool to connect with each other.But today Mobiles have become a connectivity gadget ,a fashion accessory and above all an expression of identity for us. We can hardly imagine our life without it.In last few years it has made a irreplaceable corner in our lives. The another example of it is the internet which helps us connect with whole world within fractions of seconds. Through it we gain the access to the entire world out there.The sites like Google has become so much a part of our life that we kind of try to find everything on it.We want everything on internet. Be it information, food ,gadgets , train or air tickets , kind of everything.

The mobile communication has given us the freedom to pursue fairly independent activities and yet be constantly in touch. We can be out of office and can still can reach our working environments from anywhere and at any time. Today students can communicate face to face with their teachers ,classmates without being in classroom, through their laptops and cell phones. We can be anywhere in the world and can still be with our family and friends. Within fraction of seconds money can be transferred from one corner of the world to the other. There is an old saying that World is a small place , wireless technology has actually proved it true.

We all are enjoying this new found freedom of expression and connectivity. But In the race of being connected or stay online 24*7 we hardly ever think of other side of it. We can hardly see that mobile communication has given birth to a virtual society around us. A society which has got it own culture and language which is based on textual communication. The horizons of this society are unlimited .So are its good and bad effects. We all are a part of this virtual society in one or other way.

Cyber crime is also one face of this technology which has been on the rise over the last couple of years. Remember Adnan Patrawala the 16-year-old son, of a businessman from Bombay, who was abducted and killed by his Orkut friends. We all know Orkut is a well known social networking site. Adnan’s case is not an isolated one .There are many such cases. Every now and then we come across cases of hacking, obscenity, e-commerce fraud, Internet-related crimes.

The social awareness is another side of it. Equipped with cell phones and laptops, people have started pitching into the battle to clean up the system and society. Today people float mails on social issues just to make their knowns aware of things happening around us. Many times we get mails on laws and rules. One perfect example i can put here of women and election related laws. if you remember there had been a massive outcry over the murder case of Jessica Lal a fashion model, who was shot in a Delhi bar by the son of a politician. People have come together through Internet,SMS and electronic media and have shown their support. Priyadarshini Matoo case is another example of it. This is a wonderful example in which mobile communication has brought people together and made them stand against injustice. This may not change the verdict but at least we can make sure our voices are heard.

In all, fact is that every technology has its own good and bad points and the same applies to mobile communication as well. What i believe is that nothing is completely black or white in this world. Its our perception and execution thats makes anything black or white. So its us who have to decide that how we have to use this technology to the best so that we can benefit our society and coming generations from it.