Are you an Orkut hero?

Media entrepreneur Zaheer Abbas (27), better known as Zazo, a native of Rajasthan, joined Orkut just to increase his network of friends and keep in touch with old buddies. But as he began to visit other communities, it opened his eyes to people’s contributions towards making of groups and communities.

Zazo felt the media has many times projected Orkut as a culprit behind many nefarious activities. “After going through certain communities I found that not everyone is wasting their time on Orkut.

There are some who are friendly, trustworthy and successful and who have given a lot of their time building something inspirational and informative in the form of Orkut communities on different subjects,” adds Zazo.

“But how will others come to know about them?” The question plagued Zazo and made him open two communities on Orkut – ‘Orkut’s Hall of Fame’ and ‘Rated Wow!’

But membership to these communities is on invitation-only basis. Are the community names tempting you to join them? But Zazo says “it’s not possible.” “Generally people gaze through communities and join them out of their own interest, but these two communities are dedicated to some outstanding personalities for their activities, profession and achievements, which can be a lesson in motivation, inspiration and knowledge to anyone. And we invite them,” says Zazo. In case you are in search of such people, a visit to these communities with help you.

Zazo is not alone in this whole process. His sister Tarannum (23), quit her job at IBM Daksh to join her brother’s initiatives. “I was very inspired by my brother’s initiative and decided to extend my full support to take it forward,” says Tara proudly.

And there started their idea of expanding it outside Orkut. Zazo thought the hard work of Orkut members should be appreciated more.

He started his blog in the year 2008 – orkutheroes.com – and that’s how the concept of Orkut Heroes came into being.

This blog contains profiles of people who have achieved in different fields. “We select people from their active, useful and helpful contribution to any subject of interest like academics, social work, etc.” Due to complaints about fake IDs, he clarifies with the friends in his/her friend list. “We see the types of communities he/she has joined and his/her participation by sending scraps, messages and community activities. After a thorough scanning we try to approach that person either by scrap or by email if possible.”

After conducting more than 50 interviews and the going through responses he got from his readers he is now into upgrading his website.

“Though I have won many notable awards for music I was more recognised among my online friends as a hero after I won the Orkut Heroes award,” says Sameep Kulkarni, a sitarist, one of the heroes of Zazo’s blog. Orkutheroes.com has become a platform for many online communities to take it further from mere online work to real meetings and groundwork.

If you as an individual or as a community have done something motivating, you can contact Zazo at zazo@orkutheroes.com