A friend of mine asked me recently, "Do you know why Steve Jobs named Apple, 'Apple'?".
It wasn't the first time I have heard this question or some variation of it. I guess every B-Schooler at some point during B-School or in B-School circles, has comes across this question. Business folklore or not, but the answer to this question sure is interesting. It's said Jobs named his company 'Apple' because, apple is not just another mundane fruit, but rather an object that has made a profound impact on mankind. How you may ask? Simple, firstly, none of us would have been around, had it not been for Adam and Eve not indulged themselves in an apple in the garden of Eden. Secondly, had it not been for an apple that fell on Newton's head, Newton wouldn't have discovered gravity. This in turn would have prevented him and his contemporaries and generations of scientists that followed Newton, from making their discoveries. Leading to Einstein, who would ultimately then would have been prevented from unlocking the mysteries of the universe through his theory of relativity.
It wasn't the first time I have heard this question or some variation of it. I guess every B-Schooler at some point during B-School or in B-School circles, has comes across this question. Business folklore or not, but the answer to this question sure is interesting. It's said Jobs named his company 'Apple' because, apple is not just another mundane fruit, but rather an object that has made a profound impact on mankind. How you may ask? Simple, firstly, none of us would have been around, had it not been for Adam and Eve not indulged themselves in an apple in the garden of Eden. Secondly, had it not been for an apple that fell on Newton's head, Newton wouldn't have discovered gravity. This in turn would have prevented him and his contemporaries and generations of scientists that followed Newton, from making their discoveries. Leading to Einstein, who would ultimately then would have been prevented from unlocking the mysteries of the universe through his theory of relativity.
Was Jobs really pompous enough to believe, his company was or would someday be, so influential that it would shape the entire the humankind? One can only guess.
Interesting as it may sound, but usually what follows this question about Steve Jobs and Apple, is something that bothers me a lot. Returning back to my friend with the question. After him having the pleasure of enlightening me with this piece of information, which I already knew, my friend went on about how American companies really take their company names/logos seriously. And, how one can find hidden meanings and symbolism in them. This as per my friend, is something that is lacking amongst our India companies.
Well, the one name that jumps to my mind every time I think of thoughtful logos is LIC of India (Life Insurance Corporation of India). As mundane as any government organization can get, the company has played a vital role in securing the lives of generations of Indians. LIC of India is in the business of insurance. Through the instrument of insurance LIC guarantees to protect the family or loved ones of the insured in an event of his/her demise. Simply put, if you hold a life insurance policy, LIC will payout an assured amount to your family in case of death of the policyholder. Thus, providing monetary security beyond the lifespan of the insured. Apart from the regular insurance plans, LIC also issues a wide range of endowment plans or money back plans. Through these schemes, LIC not just offers insurance, but also provides returns on investment made. With this elementary information of LIC's business, let's look at it's logo.
LIC's logo depicts a pair of hands protecting a lamp with a tag line, 'Yoga kshemam, vahammyaham.' underneath. A lamp in our culture represents life and in this instance our family or loved ones. The pair of cupped hands symbolizes LIC providing security to our loved ones, just in the same fashion as one holds his palm around a lamp or a candle preventing it from getting extinguished.
What does the words 'Yoga kshemam, vahamyaham' mean? This verse is from a shlok in chapter 9 verse 22 of Bhagwat Gita. The whole shlok is as follows.
अनन्याश्चिन्तयन्तो मां ये जना: पर्युपासते |
तेषां नित्याभियुक्तानां योगक्षेमं वहाम्यहम् || 22||
If I attempt to translate the verse, it would loosely translate to mean "There are those who think of me with devotion, to them I provide what they lack and preserve what they have." Through this shlok Krishna assures to provides and preserves for those who repose their trust in him. In context of LIC, yoga means 'apraptasya praptryartham', to provide what you seek (LIC's endowment plans). And kshemam meaning, 'praptasya saurakshanam', to protect what you have (LIC's insurance plans). In this way through it's logo, LIC precisely conveys what it does for it's customers.
अनन्याश्चिन्तयन्तो मां ये जना: पर्युपासते |
तेषां नित्याभियुक्तानां योगक्षेमं वहाम्यहम् || 22||
If I attempt to translate the verse, it would loosely translate to mean "There are those who think of me with devotion, to them I provide what they lack and preserve what they have." Through this shlok Krishna assures to provides and preserves for those who repose their trust in him. In context of LIC, yoga means 'apraptasya praptryartham', to provide what you seek (LIC's endowment plans). And kshemam meaning, 'praptasya saurakshanam', to protect what you have (LIC's insurance plans). In this way through it's logo, LIC precisely conveys what it does for it's customers.
I am sure there are many more examples of such deeply meaningful logos of companies of Indian origin. So to my readers, I'd really be interested to know about any other such Indian example that you may have come across. Do share in comments below.
