If Google puts on a human face!

I was on my seventh visit to Chicago. This fall we decided to take the Virgin Atlantic flight from London and it was a great flight with a great kosher food and great service. Now I felt great hoping three greats should get me some bonus Air Miles as well. But today I am waiting in the Club/Business Class Lounge at Chicago ORD airport to catch the flight to Portland, Oregon. At the bar only a few passengers were having their drinks. One gentleman, thirty-something, looked familiar and was engrossed in his thoughts and the shaft of a mild afternoon sun ray lit up his profile and  somewhat unruly, pepper-n-salt mop of hair in a glow. My profiling reverie was broken by the barman asking me what I would like to have. In my usual way I took time to spell out what I did want. It goes like this - two cans of cold Tonic water, one can of tomato juice, a small glass of ice, 2 or 3 spoonful Worcestershire and Tabasco sauces dropped in a tall glass with a stirrer.  I knew the inevitable jaw-dropping expression and the helpful reminder, 'Sir, and how much vodka?'. I usually coolly say, 'No thanks, not this time,' Or, if I feel really mischievous I keep a straight face and say, 'Thanks, but no thanks, I had that at home'. So he does his job with a barman's dexterity and I am now mixing the stuff with a relish that's so much more than the drink itself.
I settle down on the stool with a sip and a slurp. And suddenly a firm but easy on the ear voice comes floating: 'I couldn't help hearing your drink drill for the barman. Very impressive, if you don't mind my saying so'. I slid my tall glass over the smooth table towards the man with the glow and a shy smile and sat down by his side and said, 'Not at all, I did not think anyone would notice.' The gentleman said, 'There is something in your voice that has demand written all over it.' I was told off by my friends often enough that I have some kind of 'solid' voice meaning perhaps it hits people hard. But the compliment coming my way here and now was overwhelming,
'You look so familiar and I like to hazard a guess, but logically that just is not possible', I said . 'Why?'  'Because he would have no time to sit here with a cold beer and hot coffee - he would be doing that on board his personal jet. He waits for no one, everyone, literally billions wait for him every second around the globe in real term and time. So he cannot do some normal human things like sitting alone and ponder over some regular drinks?' 'Yes, I'm Larry Page, if that is what you have guessed.'  I was stunned, of course, but not so much as I was beholden to this young man, who is an enigma, wrapped in creativity, journeying through the eye of a cyclone. 'I am Syed from London. I like to have some time with you to do some loud thinking looking at a possible scenario for Google - its future face in the third world.'
'It would help us a lot if we can pick up some ideas and a few strands of thoughts and work out the details to project through Google'.
THE CONQUEST OF DEATH: 'Before that, let me express my awe at Google's recent conceptualisation of the age-old obsession of humankind to become immortal. It strikes me as a conundrum if that equals to the recent thoughts that Google is seriously exploring - the conquest of death. The whole issue is immersed in so much of physical and metaphysical expositions right from the ancient times. One would like to believe that one day we shall be able to conquer the diseases. Whether that would mean the death is also deleted is somewhat of an uncertainty because death is not a disease per se. Death is the culmination of a natural process called life. Now one can also raise the flag by asking what about the deaths of non-humans in the animal, plants and such like kingdoms. While human fitness and un-diseased existence would be an ideal state, would that automatically guarantee the goodness to prevail? Evil, be that as an external force or be that as a human imperfection, will not be eliminated from life. Then comes a huge lot of queries regarding the capacity of the planet to host an undying species with specific needs of a wide variety of support and the ultimate challenge is to keep this ever-growing populace engaged. If it is not done there would be consequences so much worse than death.'
'Whoa! That's quite a thesis. And I am drawn to accepting the core of your comments. I prefer to listen and harvest the good ideas for action through my Googledom.'
'Two basic goals, in my view, could be pursued:
a. conquer the maladies that afflict mankind, and
b. put a human face on Google - working on selected spheres and plains to   bring the gift of happiness in the starkly deprived parts of the world through
c. strategies to eliminate conflicts, and
d. empowering the poor to overcome the major obstacles.
Googlian code should be Peace and Happiness for All, Everywhere!'
'That sounds great and would be really great when achieved.'
'If I may add, that code represents a continuing reminder and a challenge. Google has the neutrality as well as the capability to go for its Human Face through a framework of cooperation with selected governments/ activists to provide the ideas, lead and resources to create and continue new hopes for people to find their feet and their souls. Google has enough muscle and know-how to lend its weight to resolutions of dispute that are palpably wrong and unjust.
In Googledom justice and fairness should be honed as an art and as a craft for peace and life.'
'Yah, that's quite an impressive to-do list. I reckon it is time for Google to morph into GOODLE and do some Good for All. Even in these attempts I see an incredible prospect for greater gain. And could we invite you to flesh out these nascent thoughts and put it to our creative Googlers and then we all take it from there.'
'It will be an honour and a pleasure. Could I in turn persuade you to make me a Google Emeritus - the first one?''
WHAT I WISHED HIM TO MEAN: An hour has elapsed and the sun is about to set in Chicago's most distinctive skyline. A number of serious-looking gentlemen came in and went to Mr. Page, perhaps reporting to him about the millions of dollars profit he has made in that hour. Mr. Page got up with what I felt like a sad sigh and he stopped near me and almost whispered, 'Syed, you drive a hard bargain. Since all that you said would make me immortal, it is done.'
I still wonder what he meant by 'greater gain' and by 'it is done'. And I do hope so much he meant what I wished him to mean.
There came the laconic PA announcement of the departure of my flight.
A POSTSCRIPT: To live forever is not what immortality is all about - it lies in remembrance. We live on in memorability. Larry Page is crusading against a rare sickness that he would wish to eliminate for the good of many. He dedicates himself continually to open the doors of our universe for the benefit of all.
I wish I had used my time with him more meaningfully and suggested the outlines of some schemes for consideration.
Let me do that here as a postscript.
One: GOOGLE can adopt a village as its site for a pilot project with a multi-stage growth centre. It can be called a GoogleGram. Gram in Bangladesh is 'village'. So it is a Google village and a message of hope.
First phase could provide a solar power plant with solar panels for say 1000+homes and common areas, enabling the residents to run adult training courses on skills development, work on some cottage crafts, enjoy some games/tv/communal activities without affecting the daytime preoccupations.
Local authorities' support and token charges could make it a participatory enterprise.     
A string of say, 5+ Google Grams in various parts of Bangladesh could inspire a 'light-the-lamp' (Alo Aamar Alo) campaign.
Two: Google Floating Barge, like the one used in LA harbor, could be the ideal means to make available hi-tech, IT, digital, electronic skills to a fairly large number of pre-selected young groups (15-25 years), with the right aptitude and qualifications. In year-long schedules the float with on-board facilities could move up and down the rivers in Bangladesh reaching the rural talents most effectively.
Such a Google project could have the official support under public-private sectors cooperation initiative (PPI).
Details of comprehensive schemes suggested above and some other appropriate ones could be worked out with initial funding from Google as a goodwill gesture. Bangladesh with its universal recognition as the pioneering country in the field of micro-credit and related poverty-alleviation movement, is certainly the ideal place for Google to put on its Human Face as it steps into the future.      

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NB.    The above is an imaginary conversation with Mr. Larry Page as a tribute and as a reflection of the Third World's take on Google's global role.

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The writer, a former Ambassador of Bangladesh, is a consultant/ analyst and contributor on socio-economic-environmental themes.