Maa –
Maám – Maami ‘s Musings
I wish I was Sridevi. Come on guys, we share one thing for sure which is age. She is a tad bit older than me, but what the hell. Listen to this, "Sridevi was very caring, the kids say it was great fun shooting with her. Navika tells us, "She told us not to call her aunty but Sri Ma'am. She had no starry airs whatsoever and was very sweet and kind."
Navika and her brother were less than 15 when they acted in English Vinglish and they weren't calling Sridevi Aunty, not because she wanted to feel she was of their age, but in a professional working environment some etiquette need to be followed and here ma'am is appropriate. Then you have me and my ilk who are called maami and Aunty by all and sundry. We too get irritated and want to tell everyone don't call us Aunty call us ma'am.
Now back to my title for this blog - what is the exact qualification to be a maami? Or to be called a maami?
Married to your mama is totally right. Other than that, women who are married, women who have children, women who have strands of grey hair, women who wear saree, women who apply oil to their hair and plait it and decorate it with a string of malli poo, all qualify to be addressed as maami. WHY?
We just love western culture so much so from toilet to our food we have made changes. But when it comes to addressing a person we fail so miserably. Get into a bus and a teenager comes to you and asks “ aunty can I sit next to you” .. I am not her aunty.. she can call me maám.. that s perfectly fine.. but no.. they will have to call me aunty.
Other day at work, we were all enjoying our evening tea near the stair case, a young girl, who claimed to be a journalist came near us and wanted to know our names and what we do in the office. I work for radio and the Radio Jockeys introduced themselves and she was so happy that she could recognize their voices .. I am a copy writer and since I don’t host shows I am not recognizable.. fine.. but she turned to me and asked.. so aunty what do you do here.
I wanted to tell her that I sweep and mop after everybody leaves.. but me being me.. went on to explain that I work as a copy writer .. and she was very appreciative and said “oh that s nice AUNTY”.. now I lost it.. with a very assertive tone I asked her for how long she has been a journalist.. she said 2 years.. I told her.. when you enter a corporate office and see a bunch of people, you don’t address them as uncles and aunties.. nobody is your aunt here.. ask for the name and if you feel it is not respectful to call them by name, add a mr or ms prefix and call the person or just say maám or sir. Her face fell but am sure she wont do the same mistake again.
My colleagues felt that I was a tad bit harsh.. but that did not bother me.
If people think that if I am called aunty, I take it as a dig at my age.. no.. not at all.. I know my age and perfectly happy with the number too. It s just that I don’t like to be called aunty at work place.. that s all.
We have men who are above 40 work in the same office and am sure none of these youngsters will dare to call them uncle.. it will always be sir..
A guy who is 35 years old called a lady who was 53, aunty. She just accepted and left it at that. But when her daughter who is around 19 called the same guy uncle, he just could not take it. Told the girl to call him by name. The age difference is almost the same and why that guy never realized what he was doing.
High time we change this scenario. So ladies, next time you are called maami, aunty etc.. just turn around and say your name and ask them to address you with your name.
.
Navika and her brother were less than 15 when they acted in English Vinglish and they weren't calling Sridevi Aunty, not because she wanted to feel she was of their age, but in a professional working environment some etiquette need to be followed and here ma'am is appropriate. Then you have me and my ilk who are called maami and Aunty by all and sundry. We too get irritated and want to tell everyone don't call us Aunty call us ma'am.
Now back to my title for this blog - what is the exact qualification to be a maami? Or to be called a maami?
Married to your mama is totally right. Other than that, women who are married, women who have children, women who have strands of grey hair, women who wear saree, women who apply oil to their hair and plait it and decorate it with a string of malli poo, all qualify to be addressed as maami. WHY?
We just love western culture so much so from toilet to our food we have made changes. But when it comes to addressing a person we fail so miserably. Get into a bus and a teenager comes to you and asks “ aunty can I sit next to you” .. I am not her aunty.. she can call me maám.. that s perfectly fine.. but no.. they will have to call me aunty.
Other day at work, we were all enjoying our evening tea near the stair case, a young girl, who claimed to be a journalist came near us and wanted to know our names and what we do in the office. I work for radio and the Radio Jockeys introduced themselves and she was so happy that she could recognize their voices .. I am a copy writer and since I don’t host shows I am not recognizable.. fine.. but she turned to me and asked.. so aunty what do you do here.
I wanted to tell her that I sweep and mop after everybody leaves.. but me being me.. went on to explain that I work as a copy writer .. and she was very appreciative and said “oh that s nice AUNTY”.. now I lost it.. with a very assertive tone I asked her for how long she has been a journalist.. she said 2 years.. I told her.. when you enter a corporate office and see a bunch of people, you don’t address them as uncles and aunties.. nobody is your aunt here.. ask for the name and if you feel it is not respectful to call them by name, add a mr or ms prefix and call the person or just say maám or sir. Her face fell but am sure she wont do the same mistake again.
My colleagues felt that I was a tad bit harsh.. but that did not bother me.
If people think that if I am called aunty, I take it as a dig at my age.. no.. not at all.. I know my age and perfectly happy with the number too. It s just that I don’t like to be called aunty at work place.. that s all.
We have men who are above 40 work in the same office and am sure none of these youngsters will dare to call them uncle.. it will always be sir..
A guy who is 35 years old called a lady who was 53, aunty. She just accepted and left it at that. But when her daughter who is around 19 called the same guy uncle, he just could not take it. Told the girl to call him by name. The age difference is almost the same and why that guy never realized what he was doing.
High time we change this scenario. So ladies, next time you are called maami, aunty etc.. just turn around and say your name and ask them to address you with your name.
.
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