Nirmala Sitharaman: No sir, memsaab, madam, call me Raksha Mantri
India's army officials were confused: How do you address the country's first woman defense minister? During Nirmala Sitharaman's visits to our country's frontiers, she has been greeted with different salutations: Jai Hind, memsaab; Jai Hind, sir and Jai Hind, madam. However, noticing their dilemma, Sitharaman resolved jawans' issue. "You can just call me Raksha Mantri please," she said.
Why was there confusion over how to address her?
As PM, Indira Gandhi acted as defense minister twice. However, it was only after Modi's cabinet reshuffle in September that India got her first-ever full-time defense minister, Sitharaman. Since the beginning Sitharaman's entourage was questioned: what would be an appropriate address for her. Generally, an army officer's wife is addressed as "memsaab". "Sir" is a generic term also used to address women officers.
Sitharaman is among the few women handling the country's defense
Sitharaman is part of a club of about 15 women who handle their country's defense portfolio. Spain's Maria Dolores de Cospedal, Italy's Roberta Pinotti, Kenya's Raychelle Omamo and Australia's Marise Payne are some others. Neighboring Bangladesh's PM Sheikh Hasina also handles the defense portfolio.
