Utility Value and Return on Investment

IS THE “UTILITY VALUE” THE ONLY VALUE...?
Musings of a Veteran
By
VIKRAM KARVE

In materialistic world of today – you must have a motive for doing something. 

You must “gain” something from doing an activity.

After all – you are “investing” your precious time, talent and effort in the activity.

So – you must get your RETURN ON INVESTMENT (ROI)

If you spend your time and effort pursuing some activity – you must derive some material gain from doing that activity.

There is a “Utility Value” attached to everything.

You must “gain” something tangible – it can be POWER, WEALTH or FAME.

Mostly – it is Wealth or Money. 

Yes – in most cases the motive is Money (Wealth).

Many people ask me why I am wasting all my time and so much effort Blogging and Writing – when the same time and effort could be put to “good” use by me – doing something worthwhile to earn money. 

“You spend so much time and effort writing and blogging...” they say. 

And then – they ask me: 

“What do you gain from blogging...?” 

Other well-wishers say: 

“Why don’t you monetize your blog...? At least you will earn some money for your efforts.” 

Do people write and blog only to earn money...? 

Can’t people do things for self-actualization...? 

Is the aim of education solely to get a job...? 

Yes – that is the “utility value” of education. 

But – what about the joys of learning...? 

Doesn’t education expose you to the joys of learning...?

Why can’t people understand that a person can do something for the sheer enjoyment of doing it – without any material gain or ulterior motive. 

Another person used to asked me why I spent so much time with my pet dog Sherry and why I looked after her so lovingly. (you can see Sherry with me in my profile picture)

“Are you making money by selling her pups..?” he asked – and he was surprised when I told him that I did not have any intention of mating my dog.

Maybe – he had seen some persons who keep dogs as a business – and use their dogs as a means to make money by breeding them.

He could not believe it when I told him that I keep a dog just for the sheer love the dog bestows on me.

“But – what is the use of love...? What do you “gain” from love...?” he asked me. 

This question got me thinking. 

What is the use of love...? 

What do I gain from love...? 

Well – love creates positive vibes in me – love generates inner happiness.

Why do we try and analyse the “utility value” in each and every thing – even love...?

Does love have a “utility value”...?

What is the “Utility Value” of Love...?

Let me quote an Urdu couplet I heard long back. 

(I cannot translate it exactly – but I will try to give you the gist)

Someone asked a lover:

इश्क का क्या फायदा  

(What do you gain from love...?)

The lover replied:

फायदे का क्या फायदा  

(What do you gain from gain...?)

Why do we look for profit or reward in anything we do...? 

Why do we have expectations in a relationship...?

Yes – even in relationships we see a “utility value”.

Why do we always expect a “RETURN ON INVESTMENT”...? 

Why can’t we do something just for the sake of doing it – for the sheer enjoyment of that activity – just like we do – in the case of true love or इश्क 

Do we look for “Return on Investment” when we love someone...? 

What do you gain from love...? 

What do you gain from “gain”...?

इश्क का क्या फायदा ...?

फायदे का क्या फायदा ...?

Would some connoisseur of Urdu Sher-Shairi (philosophical poet) be so good as to translate and interpret this couplet for us in a better way please. 

Dear Reader: 

Do you look for “utility value” in everything and everyone...?

Are you obsessed with Return on Investment (ROI)...?

I eagerly await your comments. 

VIKRAM KARVE

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This is a revised repost of my article written by me Vikram Karve more than 9 years ago in 2010 and posted by me online earlier a number of times in my blogs including at urls: http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2013/03/what-is-utility-value-of-love.html  and  http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2012/05/what-do-you-gain-from-blogging.html  and  http://creative.sulekha.com/what-do-you-gain-from-love-why-do-we-have-expectations-in-a-relationship_88231_blog and http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2016/12/does-love-have-utility-value.html etc