With Diwali just around the corner, I find myself reflecting on what this festival truly means to me and how its symbolism connects, perhaps unexpectedly, to my work in the data centre industry.
Growing up, Diwali was pure excitement - new clothes, fireworks and especially the sweets my mom would start making a few days in advance. I often remember sneaking into the kitchen, only to hear, “Not until Diwali!” Those were special moments, and, back then, Diwali was all about the excitement and anticipation. Now, as an adult, Diwali has shifted into something deeper—a celebration focused on family, friends, pets and shared moments. We still enjoy the sweets (of course!), and even my dog Oli joins the fun in his special Diwali coat sewn by my mom each year. Over the years, the essence of Diwali has evolved for me, becoming a reminder of togetherness, gratitude, resilience and the importance of sharing light, especially in dark times.
At its core, Diwali celebrates light triumphing over darkness, and this message resonates in surprising ways with the work we do in the data centre industry. Back in the dark days of the pandemic, and again maybe somewhat surprisingly, it was the data centre industry that helped shine a beacon of light. Whether this was keeping us connected via video calls, enabling us to stay safe and work from home, or indeed support the data crunching activities that led to vaccines being discovered in record time, they were the light at the end of the tunnel.
This still continues today with data centres being the unseen force that powers much of our daily lives - from the emails we send to the photos we share, our facilities power the apps we rely on. In a way, they, and the magnificent community of people who design, build and operate them are like the lights of Diwali, always there, helping bringing connection and insight into a world that can sometimes feel overwhelming, and making the impossible, possible.
In recent years, as remote work has become more common, many of us may find ourselves unable to celebrate Diwali in person with loved ones. Missing out on the hugs, laughter, and shared meals can be tough, but thanks to video calls, text messages, and the power of digital connection, we can still feel part of the celebration - even from miles away. This connection is made possible by data centres - the backbone of our digital world. Ironically, this industrial scale engineering architecture makes the lightest, emotional touch possible by enabling us to stay close to the people who matter most, even when we’re far apart.
This Diwali, as I light a diya (lamp) with family and friends, I’m reminded that our work in the data centre industry isn’t just about technology - it’s about people. It’s about making sure that, like the diyas of Diwali, our digital world stays bright, resilient and always ready to connect us - and we do that by investing in our people, hiring the best talent and nurturing and training talent in our sector.
So, like the optical light fibre we rely on in our data centres, here’s to lighting the way forward - this Diwali and every day. May we continue to bring light, connection, and resilience into all we do, for our communities and for each other.
From my home to yours, Happy Diwali!
Kalay Moodley
Kalay Moodley is Kao Data's Chief People Officer and has held HR leadership roles at Interxion, Digital Reality, and with a stealth startup within the industry. Kalay completed her CIPD-accredited postgraduate education at the University of London and also holds a degree from the University of South Africa.