Rishi Diwan, Co-Founder of SupplyMr asserts the immediate need to adopt No Sir No Madam culture in India.  SupplyMr helps to consolidate the suppliers and offer transparency in pricing.  It also enables an instant delivery network in special economic zones.

Rishi has earned education from the prestigious Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta (IIM-C).  Furthermore, he has completed his engineering from the esteemed Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi (IIT-Delhi).  Before incorporating SupplMr, Rishi has engaged in various sectors, including manufacturing, FMCG, and E-commerce.

He believes — Sir/Madam culture is archaic, and it is time that we encourage No Sir No Madam initiative.  He shares his experience of working in manufacturing industry, which, by nature is traditional.  He recalls, dealing with a manager whom he addressed by first name.  The manager got upset and lectured Rishi, on calling him as ‘Sir’.  He carried on as if he was the King.

Moreover, Rishi adds that he felt cornered every time he was in the same room with that manager.  This made it difficult for him to give his opinions while working on projects.  When you force Sir/Madam culture on someone, it makes them feel inferior, he believes.

On the other hand, Rishi reminisces of an amazing experience where Sir/Madam practice did not exist.  While working at Amazon, he was directly reporting the operations head of India.  He remembers this manager giving them the liberty to call him by his first name.  Rishi confesses that this made a huge difference in his work-place.  When you remove Sir/Madam barriers, it makes everyone feels respected and recognized irrespective of their background.

Everyone likes working at a place where they feel like they matter and are treated equally.”  It is easier to adapt to No Sir No Madam culture because it emphasizes on parity.

At SupplyMr, Rishi makes sure that his employees are not obliged to address their seniors as Sir/ Madam.  “I noticed significant improvement in communication between my juniors and me, after implementing No Sir No Madam practice.  I believe this first-name culture reduces the communication distance from ‘three feet’ to ‘two feet.”

Sir/Madam practice has existed in the government sector for decades.  Bureaucrats use so-called Sir/Madam culture to suppress their juniors and also the public.  It is a form of exploiting civilians, who approach them for any kind of work.  He opines that Sir/Madam culture is a form of emotional violence when forced on an individual.

The most adversely affected group of people because of Sir/Madam taboo are workers who do petty jobs.  Rishi claims that they are bullied by the name of giving respect.  He has seen his associates being rude to their drivers and house help.

This practice of demanding respect under the garb of Sir/Madam culture has created a mental block.  People from lower socioeconomic groups feel that they do not deserve a better life.  Therefore, it is highly important that we abolish Sir/Madam culture.  We are human beings first and thus everyone should feel equal and respected in a society.

Rishi has seen the effects of not treating an individual equally.  He shares a story of his close relative developing a psychological disorder.  The person developed a Bi-polar personality disorder because of being treated as subjacent.  No sir No Madam movement not only enhances communication but also makes asking for help easy.

Working in several sectors, he noticed that people are now willing to change.  He enunciates — people tend to incline towards No Sir No Madam culture owing to its benefits.  It is everyone’s duty to bring this change.  It is important to bring this to revamp from an early stage.  He recommends that children should be taught about the importance of equality and respect in schools.

Rishi indicates “It is miserable that we are required to work towards annulling this culture.  Rather, it ought to have been expelled long back.”  He suggests that first-name followers and believers should conduct seminars to promote No Sir No Madam initiative. 

He ceases by saying that we need to address the psychological need.  No Sir No Madam drive is one way to address the growing mental issue.

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