Of Names And Addresses

IT IS INTERESTING TO STUDY the varying cultures in different Indian organisations in terms of how people address each other, particularly seniors.

- Indranil Gupta

In government and bureaucratic circles, the convention of using a Mr or Mrs, Shri or Shrimati, or the Ji suffix to the family name indicate that formality remains universally prevalent. Manufacturing behemoths of veteran vintage and Indian origin, somehow have stayed true to such formal traditions. Being deferential to the seat of power and according respect to designation have been the mainstay of the structure of these organisations as well as related society. The highly placed within a political or business structure would be addressed as per their role such as Madam Chairman or Your Excellency.

But as one enters the portals of relatively younger organisations, especially service businesses, especially those touched by global cultures, formality gives way to a loosening up, enough to give credence to first names.