KaaS, LaaS, CaaS — the non-cloud technologies for wellbeing!
Well, at least within the techies’ communities, the cloud technologies such as SaaS (Software as a Service), IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service), PaaS (Platform as a Service) have got significant traction. Here is a small account of my experience and observations that gradually lead me to coin these terms — KaaS, LaaS, CaaS.
I completely accept that the global pandemic has brought enough misfortune to us. It is also true that there are certain areas of human values and qualities that grew exceptionally well at the same time. One of the factors that caused the acceleration in combating the virus is that we helped each other. A simple WhatsApp status displaying the details of the oxygen containers available, the hospital beds available, the details of the blood donors and even the transportation facility that can be utilized for the people in need did wonder in saving many innocent lives. When this is being offered by a random human to an unknown human, the same is circulated buy another random human which helped in saving another life. The person who initiated this found great joy and happiness and the person who circulated this also found the same happiness and joy.
We all have heard the term Karma and there are numerous interpretations to it. However, one of the foremost scholars and philosophers of humanity, Sri Madhwacharya gives an extraordinary definition for the term Karma — “nAna janasya shushrUsha”, meaning serving others or rendering service onto all classes of humans is our “Duty”. Karma can also be translated to “Tax” or “Duty”. He says it is our “Duty” to serve others for being citizens and consumers of this wonderful creation. He gave a new dimension to the social face of our lifestyle. Social service is one of the most important aspects of our own well-being.
With this afore positioned context, I would like to introduce three new Non-Cloud Technology terms — KaaS, LaaS, CaaS.
KaaS — Kindness as a Service: It is a quality of being helpful, generous, and caring. A couple of years ago, I stumbled off the subway near the Cubbon Park metro station on the Vittal Malya road, exhausted after a long and stressful day at work, dreaming about the warmth of my bed. I stopped in a Super Market on the way to buy my favorite MTR Rava Idli mix along with some flavors of ACT II popcorn bags. I wanted to treat myself lavishly with my little earnings those days. When I entered the billing counter queue, there were two people standing in front of me. A man about three times my size stood at the register about to pay his bills turned towards the female who was immediately next to me. He glanced at her face with a smile and told “You look tired and down. Everything alright?”. She smiled uncomfortably and became noticeably more alert, as a young woman does when a strange man starts talking to her. He turned towards the cashier and said that he was going to pay for her purchases too. She politely declined and was already pulling out her purse, but this man didn’t allow her to say no. He handed the cashier his card and asked him to include her amount. He told her to relax and wished her to get well soon. He walked out of the store, and I never saw him again. The lady was standing still confused with what just happened, but with a tender smile marking her appreciation for a random person’s act of kindness. I wasn’t sure what to do after witnessing such a heartwarming scene in front of me and ultimately gave the Milkybar chocolate from my cart to the cashier wishing him a good night. His face lit up with a sense of being cared for and thanked me. As I started moving out with my shopping basket, I observed that the rest of the 5 to 6 people behind me in the queue did one or the other thing that exhibited the act of kindness and care.
The world could use a little more kindness. It’s so easy to get caught up in your own routine and everyday personal worries that sometimes we don’t remember to tune into those around us. The man who paid for the lady’s bills has stuck with me and inspired me to cascade it forward. It feels great to be kind, so it’s a win-win.
LaaS — Love as a Service: I frankly don’t know the definition of this. But let me tell you a small story. During the most energetic and enthusiastic years of my career, I used to voluntarily put in some extra hours at work either reading some trending technology news or refining my tasks. I was fortunate to get one of the finest managers who silently observed this for weeks and called me for a small meeting. He mentioned this behavior of me sitting late hours at the office while everyone else left and asked for the reason. I felt the warmth in his ask and frankly confessed that I didn’t know what to do once I left office. It was there to pass time, I stayed back in the office where I could still use my desktop machine. He politely suggested some options and told me he loves me for what I am. He meant it. After a year I was all pumped up to join a different organization that offered a better salary. When I discussed this with my manager, he patiently listened to what I wanted to do and advised me not to join the new company quoting substantial reasons. But, I wasn’t convinced and took the decision forward to join the new company. He seemed a little disappointed during my notice period but wished me the best when I left.
After two to three months into the new company, I realized the mistake I did. It was a start-up company having no clarity on how to run the business, salary payments started getting delayed, people left the company without proper notice and I was forced to look out for a job again. I had a tough time dealing with it and with a lot of hesitation called up my ex-manager for a meeting. He gladly accepted and met me in a restaurant. I apologized and explained my situation with tears in my eyes. He didn’t even bring up the arrogancy I exhibited when he advised me during my work with him. He first consoled me with a lot of positivity and gave me multiple options to take my career forward. That gave me a clear direction to move further and things got sorted within the next 6 months. While we departed after our meeting at the restaurant, he told me he always loved me and was always just a call away.
That unconditional love from a manager stuck with me forever. We are still in touch. I always count this blessing of Love all around me and try to serve people with love. Be that angel of love to someone, if not to everyone.
CaaS — Compassion as a Service: It is the quality of sympathy, empathy, or concern for others’ suffering with a desire to help.
This happened when I was at Mysore. I was enjoying my bachelor life and vagabonding mindlessly. Our maid narrated this story when she showed up as usual for her chores one fine morning. She used to work at 6 houses to meet the bare minimum living demands and fed her two children who were studying in primary school those days. She had lost her husband in an accident. The previous night she had been to a provision store to purchase some groceries. When the clerk tallied up the items, it was Rs.85 over what she had with her. She began to remove some items from the cart when another shopper handed her an Rs.100 currency note. She politely declined and stood with no clue. The other shopper told her “My mother is in the hospital with cancer. I visit her every day and bring her flowers. I went this morning, and she got mad at me for spending my money on more flowers. She demanded that I do something else with that money. So, here, please accept this. It is my mother’s flowers.” Our maid had tears by the time she finished narrating this incident. This had everything — Kindness, Love, and most importantly Compassion.
Acts of kindness, acts of generosity, is how simple it is to make people feel good.
Now in our bodies, there is a chemical called oxytocin, Oxytocin is responsible for all the warmth and fuzzies, unicorns, and rainbows. It is responsible for all the warm feelings, and connectedness we have with each other, friendship, love. Huge amounts of oxytocin surge through a woman’s body as she gives birth, this is what is responsible for the mother-child bond. Oxytocin binds human beings. There are many ways to get oxytocin. One of them is acts of kindness and acts of generosity. It feels good when we do something nice to someone, it feels good when someone does something nice for us. On a particular day, I did something for someone with no expectation of anything in return. I got a little surge of Oxytocin, I felt good. He turned to me and he said: “thank you”. It feels nice when someone does something for us with no expectation of anything in return.
As it turns out, witnessing the act of generosity releases oxytocin and makes us feel good. And the best part about oxytocin is the more oxytocin we have in our bodies, the more generous we become. It is mother nature’s way of trying desperately to get us to look after each other.
So what if we commit to doing something nice for someone, with no expectations of anything in return. Imagine what happens at work, imagine what happens at home, imagine what happens with our friends, but it must be genuine.
Remember, it is our “Duty” to serve others — “nAna janasya shushrUsha karmah”!
