Beyond ‘Teacher’ and ‘Sir’: What Happens When We Use First Names at Work
We rarely think about how we address our colleagues—but those small words shape our workplace more than we realise. Honorifics like teacher, sir, and madam may sound respectful, but they often create distance, hierarchy, and emotional disconnection. This blog reflects on why first names can build warmer, more humane academic spaces—and why being called simply Lakshmi matters to me. There is something fascinating about the way we call each other at work. In the Indian academic landscape—perhaps more than in many other professions—honorifics travel faster than names. Teacher, Sir, Madam, Ma’am: they float through staff rooms, corridors, office chats, and WhatsApp groups like an inherited etiquette we rarely pause to question. But lately, I have been thinking about what these words actually do. Honorifics sound polite, but they also carry the weight of hierarchy. They are meant to convey respect, yet often create distance—especially when used among colleagues who are almost of the same ag...