GOODBYE COMRADE !

The Chinese have instructed their conductors, drivers and those interacting with the tourists to abandon the usage of addressing tourists as ‘comrades’ and instead use addresses such as ‘sir’ and ‘madam’. Amusing and interesting it is to learn that how far nations have progressed ! in the matters of marketing. They have stooped to subservience in order to achieve economic prosperity. It is known that only the façade of communism exists there otherwise the regime is immersed in capitalism. The comrade culture was but for name sake, but that too matters. With the introduction of ‘sir’ system the last traces of communism too have been drained down.

The shift of stance by the Chinese authorities have prompted me to ponder over the genesis of the two words popular among the opposing ideologies. The ‘sir’ word originated from the French word sire (messire) , however it became famous as the ‘knights’ were addressed as ‘Sir’. The tradition and practice is still prevalent and to this day the ‘Queen’ of England accords title of ‘Knight’ on the citizens of the British commonwealth and the gentlemen Knighted are officially addressed as ‘Sir’. Over the years the sound and power of the word engulfed the disciplined services , bureaucracy , the arena of education and now the corporate world . However, in metros even the ‘proletariat’ address their superiors and peers as ‘sirji’ in jest. It remains an expression of acceptance of subordination. In our subcontinent it has replaced vernacular expressions such as ‘huzur’, ‘janab’ ‘sahab’ and socially people prefer to be prefixed as ‘Sir’ rather than be approached with other Indian feudal salutations. The fact is that if today we cease the usage of the colonial legacy and adopt our previous forms of addresses it will be construed as insubordination and effrontery of the highest order.

The creation of ‘Comrade ‘ is under more romantic circumstances as it gained currency during the ‘French Revolution’ though the origin is Spanish from the ‘camarada’. The English adopted in late 19th century. It is indeed more democratic as treats the person being addressed as equal as it replaced the word ‘mister’. The socialist and communists societies adopted it wholeheartedly and over the years it is identified with the left leaning people but it brought a dramatic change in the society and is associated to those days when revolutionary zeal was alive and spreading. What gives extra strength to the word is that it is unisex and does not distinguish the genders. I remember during our student age one felt elated when addressed as comrade. Notwithstanding its association with the left it is a ‘feel good’ word and spreads goodness owing to its path breaking origins and linked to those who have made sacrifices for society.

Therefore , the surrender of once robust exterior and embarking on the path of submissiveness is not a healthy sign for any society as it will have far reaching consequences difficult to fully calculate at this point. The rural based revolution made them a front line nation and comrades have given confidence to the vast community but ‘sir ‘ will surrender the gains of so many years . The once ‘opium addict’ people have been seduced afresh!