Confusing 'Em Indians
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is visiting New Delhi on her official visit to India, to energize Indo-American relations at a time economic and geopolitical challenges lie ahead of the two allies.
But, Ms. Clinton is perturbed by the constant use of the male honorific by Indian officials, of both gender. Her protocol officer has pointed out the mistake to his Indian counter-part, but Clinton’s hosts continue to address her as Mr. Clinton, Mr. Secretary, Sir, and so on.
“She is not too happy being addressed as Mr. Clinton. She is proud of her femininity and cannot understand why even Prime Minister Singh calls her Mr. Secretary,” said a spokesman of the State Department. “But she is more than happy to forgive and forget, in the spirit of our President Barack Obama.”
Introducing her at a private event with members of the Indian Chamber of Commerce, Home Minister P. Chidambaram said, “We are delighted to host Mr. Secretary of State Clinton Sir…” before correcting himself.
“The problem is her pant-suits. People in this country are not used to women wearing the kind of suits she adorns all the time,” said an analyst at the Indo-American Research Institute in New Delhi. “Perhaps she can wear something a bit less dull.”
The Obama administration is desperate to secure Delhi’s co-operation on three key global issues which are among its key policy objectives – nuclear non-proliferation, climate change, and a new world trade treaty. It is hoped that Clinton’s visit will help improve dialog between the two administrations.
