How to address Indians in Social settings?

XOXO · Post by **XOXO** » Thu Sep 15, 2011 9:29 am

Pre USA days and in my teens I addressed most of the Indians in social contact as Uncles and Aunts or Didis (sister) or Bhaiyaas (Brother).

USA days were fine with everyone adressing everybdoy with their first names.

Now back to Post USA days in India when I am not in my teens or 20s anymore,I find it difficult to address people in social settings when faced. Email and all is fine when one can write Mr. So and So or Ms So and So...but how one does it when face to face?

I normally address my employees by first name but I have difficulty in addressing a senior social contacts.

For example, I address my senior social contact (age 60+) as Sir and he addresses me as Madam. Now I mentioned him to address me by my first name and he said I would if I address him by his first name. Somewhat it just doesn't feel right in Indian setting. What would one do?

I am averse to addressing non-personal contacts as Aunts or Uncles these days.

So is it:

Mr or
Ji or
....
....
...
What you guys/gals do while in India? when you are in conversation with social contacts?

VS007 · Post by **VS007** » Thu Sep 15, 2011 9:42 am

I switched in Saaar.

PS: When in rome..

RocknRoll · Post by **RocknRoll** » Thu Sep 15, 2011 9:51 am

VS007;410173I switched in Saaar.

PS: When in rome..

Agree.
Just do what you see others doing in your region.
Hard to generalize for India because every state/region has different ways of addressing people..

okonomi · Post by **okonomi** » Thu Sep 15, 2011 6:05 pm

Would it be bad manners in desh, when one does NOT address a person in front of the face with anything ?

for example, to ask if she/he would like some (more) coffee:
Aunty/uncle, would you like some coffee ? or simply Would you like some coffee ?
or in a more formal setting,
Sir/Ma'am would you, could you, have some green eggs and ham ? or the same without the Sir/Ma'am.

When I visit desh, I do not address people with anything, once I make eye contact and they are close enough to listen to what I say.
When one has to draw a person's attention, especially in a public place, then I usually wait patiently till I make eye contact and make a head/hand gesture to have them approach closer. I had noticed that the locals ( in the south) are not averse to calling out. Somehow, they are able to make their sound go through the cacophony in the public place.

Pani Puri · Post by **Pani Puri** » Thu Sep 29, 2011 8:16 pm

It happened yesterday. ... father of a 24 years old girl whome I knew earlier. Suddenly came to know that he is that girls father & yesterday he was assigned to work under me.
I was confused how to address him.

hope4best · Post by **hope4best** » Thu Sep 29, 2011 11:10 pm

Pani Puri;413191It happened yesterday. ... father of a 24 years old girl whome I knew earlier. Suddenly came to know that he is that girls father & yesterday he was assigned to work under me.
I was confused how to address him.

Lucky you, just kidding :wink

Just ask him, how he'd like you to call him. Problem solved.

R2I-2010 · Post by **R2I-2010** » Fri Sep 30, 2011 2:45 am

I find it difficult how to address somebody who is 10-15 years older than me. Address them as brother/sister or uncle/aunt. I remember, when I was about 20 years old I had called somebody kaka (uncle) who was most likely 23-24 years old. When I realized it as I was walking away from him i was so embarrassed.

mkngtrbl · Post by **mkngtrbl** » Fri Sep 30, 2011 9:33 am

Depends on the setting. Social or official. I invariable end up with Sir / Madam or last name followed by 'ji'