Google's latest logo is Mahatma Gandhi
Filed under: People, Media, IBM, Google
Google (GOOG) watchers are having to get more sophisticated by the day. In honor of today's notable anniversary, the world's largest internet search company has changed its logo to feature the face of a bespectacled old man with a mustache in the place of the logo's letter "G". It is none other than Mahatma Gandhi who was born on October 2, 1869 making today his 140th birthday.
Gandhi was one of the most famous social activists in history and the father of modern India. He championed non-violent civil disobedience and was an inspiration to Dr. Martin Luther King. He was an early advocate of women's rights, the poor, and of reconciliation among ethnic groups.
The move shows, once again, the strength and iconic power of Google's logo and the company's quirky willingness to take the risk of altering it. Most corporations would never change their logos because they are such a critical part of their branding. Google, on the other hand, wants the world to see it as a disruptive force. "Playing" with its branding may bolster that perception.
One thing is for certain, Mahatma Gandhi will not be replacing the IBM (IBM) logo anytime soon.
Douglas A. McIntyre is an editor at 24/7 Wall St.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
10-02-2009 @ 9:52AM
Abe said...
Google has gone up another notch in my book!!
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10-02-2009 @ 11:17AM
tjc said...
Now if they can stop giving information on dissidents to the Chinese Government they would go up in my book too.
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10-02-2009 @ 2:45PM
Matt said...
Really touched by Google's gesture about Gandhi. It is a great idea if they do it everyday to highlight one person, one cause.... to increase the awareness around the world. Gandhi ha said, "You must be the change you wish to see in the world." Google has the power to change the world.
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10-02-2009 @ 1:13PM
Colin said...
Sweet, kind of off topic but did you know Google saves every google search ever made, kind of a invasion of my privacy
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10-03-2009 @ 5:39AM
Bob said...
Colin - the reason they save the search is they are required to by law...yep, just like phone call data, for law enforcement laws they have to maintain the communications records.Been that way for a very long time..Welcome to the real world..
10-02-2009 @ 3:51PM
armjoint1 said...
If you're offended and you think it's an invasion of your privacy, why don't you use another search engine? Quite frankly, I don't care if they keep my searches or not. I have nothing to hide.
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10-02-2009 @ 7:21PM
Jerome said...
Come on, Google has been playing with its logo since Day One. I'm sure some creative employee submitted it and it was a no-brainer. I see the "I'm feeling lucky" button is still there. Love it.
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10-02-2009 @ 8:03PM
peter said...
screw ghandi and google too
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10-02-2009 @ 11:15PM
Lita said...
Oh, Peter. Still angry after being named after male genitalia? It's time to get over that rage, dear.
10-03-2009 @ 1:11AM
Dick Drizzlin said...
Sorry to hear it was actually Gandhi.. I thought it looked like my Grandpa... Thanks for telling me that Google saves all my searches.. Gives me time to make excuses to my wife for all that porn I've looked up over the past 5 or 6 years!
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10-03-2009 @ 1:44AM
Robert said...
Can we take absolutely nothing serious here?
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10-17-2009 @ 1:57AM
jon b said...
it was very good to see the ghandigoogle logo.you know that when he was alive,at about the end of his life he used to say that everyone loved to garlanded his picture,but no one wanted to follow his advice.what is his advice?simply that there is a alternative to violence.the alternative?this is imbodyed in one word,a word that he first used. satyagraha. please google this.thank you google for garlanding his image,now if you follow his advice you would truely be the leader in all things
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