From bhaiya to "SAAR"

There’s a small time south Indian point just outside the gate of my college where I often go in my exam days to ease the frustration caused during the 2 hours of scrutinizing sessions we have to face at regular intervals in our semester. The place is not exactly awesome but is good enough to be termed as “a decent change” from the meals we are served in our mess. As in the case of most such establishment’s the India, the place is normally flooded with shabby looking, mostly illiterate men for waiters (no disrespects but that’s just the way it is).

Today after my exam, which was boring by the way, I went there to have a cup of coffee. As soon as I was seated one of the waiters swiftly approached me and said “SAAAR!!!!! kya lenge SAAR” and as I sat there a though crossed my mind which has prompted me to write this blog.

Few years ago had I gone to any such place, the waiter would have promptly asked me “kya lenge BHAIYA?” It has been in these past few years only that this “SAAR” has crept beyond the domains of sparkling offices and corporate Indians and onto tip of almost everyone’s tongue (even my dad called me sir the other day!!!!!). Nowadays, everywhere I go more often than not, I am acknowledged with sir or sirji only.

On a lighter note it’s been a while since Indian women are being referred to as MADAM, it’s nice to see that Indian men are fast catching up, but this SAAR signifies something more.

As far as I am concerned, I have done nothing different in the past few years to command such titles. This consistent referral to “SAAR” is a part of a broader change being witnessed by our society.

Maybe it signifies the emergence of a new class of Indians, quite similar to the babus. Indians who are confident, Indians who dress up smartly and command respect.

Or maybe we just picked up another fancy word out of the British vocabulary, messed it up (“SAAAAR!!!!!”), made a fashion out of it and now just can’t get rid of it.
Whatever it is I am sure that the rate with which the trend is catching up, I am sure that in no time I would proudly be able to say “India is my country and all Indians are SIRS and MADAMS.”