En achaney aanenikishtam

Not very long time ago in one of the Gulf states, a police bike pulled over to an accident site. Nothing serious, the indicator of the toyota is smashed, it is the honda's mistake. The toyota man and honda man stood shook hands before commencing the examination to see the extend of damage. The police arrived. He too shook hands with the men exchange courteous words before they got into business of charging the guilty. There this is a very common sight. It would seem very odd for a person who is used to driving on the indian roads. The arab culture is very courteous. It has elaborate vocabulary for the "hello" occasions. (also known as stroking rituals in Transactional Analysis)

I have my ways of "helloing" friends and those younger than me. But how does we malayalees show respect for the elderly?. In north india they touch feet. That is not a practice seen in Kerala. "namaste ji" the use of "ji" and "aap" to show respect. What are the cultural equivalent in Kerala? There is the use of "Taangal" for "aap" denoting respect. But i dont think they use anywhere other than stage plays and mythologies/fictions dubbed for malayalam television channels.

"How do we show our elders respect nowadays?" i asked Parashu.
"Have never thought about it!! " Parashu replied with 'is that important?' look on his face.

We have non verbal ways of doing it. When a young malayalee meets and elderly. He stops the conversation if he was chattering with a friend while the elder comes by, stubs the cigarette or beedi or keeps off the path when he see the shadow of the elder approaching. Then there is the classic pulling down the lungi/mundu that has been lifted and knotted above knee length. I almost thanked God for the lungi. But then those were pre- 'spadikam' days. Many hands of full sleeved shirts have been chopped since. Many versions of 'narasimham' has hit theatre since.