— Duraikannu D Soundarapandian
Before starting off this blog, let me wish all readers a Happy Diwali
As you read my piece for Channel Times, I am sure you would be thinking of how to make this festival season good for business. Some of you might have had good response while others may not have been very lucky. For a few moments, let’s brush aside these numbers and try to answer this question:
“When was the last time we celebrated Diwali with true happiness from the bottom of our heart?”
It is indeed true that we Channel Partners believe that our happiness and celebration during any festival is connected more with our revenues and we are unsure if this concept is true or a myth. However, our spiritual side tells us that ‘happiness is when you try your best and are contended’.
Gone are the days when firecrackers from Sivakasi woke you up during Diwali. Mind you, this is a sure-shot alarm without even a ’snooze button.’ Our modern day cyber-savvy people are aren’t too enthusiastic about the festival of lights. It is now yet another occasion that makes us sit before our television and watch celebrities play out their antics.
Even our children do not really enjoy the festival. Their interest with firecrackers, new cloths and sweets last only a few hours. They are busier sending text messages, updating their status on the Facebook or writing smart lines on Twitter. Diwali is no more special as they can play the ‘game’ and set off firecrackers on their Android-led smartphones.
Some years ago, children and their parents used to start dreaming of Diwali festivities many days before the actual festival. However, buying new cloths is no more an occasion as one can swipe a card every time fashion trends change. JockyTak trousers and Biba and Diva dresses are trending these days! The days where when we seldom knew our gifts till our parents unpacked them barely hours before Diwali dawned.
Though we make good margins, channel partners have to spend most of our time thinking about revenues and growth. In this constant concern, we stopped to consider what we are missing in an industry that contributes heavily to the Indian economy.
This Diwali, I suggest that we forget everything for a day and try to do something humane. Let us visit a relative or friend’s house and re-establish the relationship with some sweets. Let us speak to our friends and not merely ‘Like’ their status message.
Let’s take a pledge that from this Diwali, we will return to our roots – of connecting with others in a direct way. Let us pray to Almighty to give us back our attitude that said, “United we stand, divided we fall.”
Wishing all Channel Partners and their families a Happy Diwali.
(The author is the CEO of Immortal Computer system, Puducherry and can be reached at immortal_cs@sify.com. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not represent the views of Channel Times or any of the websites managed or operated by Trivone Digital Services)