Punita Parekh, Senior Manager Marketing at CNBC TV 18 fervently seconds the No Sir No Madam movement. Punita pursued a mass communications program at prestigious IIM-Calcutta, after completing her Bachelors in Arts degree. In 2004, she joined CNBC TV 18 as a content marketing executive. At CNBC TV 18, she curates content and creates brand awareness for clients.
Punita asserts that she has been a part of the media industry for about fourteen years. During her journey, she has never seen the industry entertaining the archaic Sir/Madam culture. Punita opines that the corporate sector is gradually becoming well-informed.
Punita shares that she never referred to her CEOs as Sir or Madam. Rather the higher executives become embarrassed in the presence of such terminology. They insist that all the members of the team should address each other by their respective names. Employees become more comfortable when the environment at a workplace is informal.
Punita accepts, “I did not know about the No Sir No Madam format. However, I was naturally attuned to addressing my seniors as well as juniors by their name.” This creates a casual and relaxed relationship. Therefore, juniors find it easier to approach the seniors with their problems, which results in higher productivity.
Punita Parekh adds that although she has had no experience of salutation based culture within her company, she had it while working on projects.
As a marketing professional, Punita has to deal with people from multiple domains. While organizing a logistic award program for a company, Punita came across a hierarchical structure within that company. Thus, she unwillingly had to address her clients as Sir/Madam.
Punita has seen the same hypocrisy within the bureaucratic society which is more prevalent in the government sector. The autocratic nature of the system concentrates the power in one stratum. This creates an imbalance in the social classes which directly affects the idea of respect.
The academic sector follows old traditions and protocol. Punita affirms that we cannot immediately reject such custom as it has been the norm for years. She had to refer to her professors as Sir or Madam as she knew that they might be otherwise offended. These authority figures demand respect under a protocol, and students become accustomed to these practices.
She perceives knowledge and awareness to be extremely essential. Thus, she wants to see an implementation of positive change within the academic sector. Punita believes that people need to remove their egos and help one another to survive.
Punita appreciates the effort made by the No Sir No Madam initiative to address an extremely crucial issue. She thinks it is necessary to spread more awareness and reach out to people. Primarily, the downtrodden section needs to be guided more for them to acquire the same outcome and respect.
In conclusion, Punita states that we all have the same goal of achieving success and fulfilling ambitions. Therefore, she views the custom of salutation to be inessential and regressive in nature. It is necessary to have a liberal and modern outlook for the country to climb the stairs of development.
Add comment