I work in education with quite a number of Indian colleagues. One, who has a Ph. D. (doctorate) from an Indian university, introduced himself, when we first met, seven years ago, as Doctor Thakka. I introduced myself as Dave. We became, I think, good friends. (At least, we often ate together, at his home and in restaurants, and my wife and I went on local excursions with him, his wife and daughters. We stayed with him and his daughters in India. He and I have spent very many hours talking together, discussing work and all manner of other things.) In my own cultural terms, I'd say he's quite a close friend.
I no longer work with him but we exchange Emails. Always, I’ve been “Dave” and he’s been “Doctor Thakka”, so in Emails it’s Dear Dave/Dear Dr. Thakka (though he does sign mails with his first name). If he and I used a similar naming system, I (with a mere M.A.) would be “Mr. Dave”.
I’m aware, to some extent, of differences in forms of address (names used) in Indian and in British culture, but have a couple of questions:
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What does the existing “ naming custom” between Dr. Thakka and myself say about the actual nature of our relationship, now in its eighth year, from his point of view?
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Is he ever likely to say “Please call me Palash” (his first name) or is this “respect marking” likely to continue indefinitely?
