India, Aug. 2 -- Some weeks ago, four of us, women aged between 60 and 70, entered a lift at an upscale (but not luxury) housing society on Sohna Road, Gurgaon. We were laughing and talking. The lift stopped mid-way and three little girls came in, with two depressed-looking teenaged maids. One of the girls, aged about six, stared at us and said loudly, 'Look at these old ladies.'

A child that age would not act this way unless she had heard similar sentiments expressed by adults. I shudder to think how the less powerful, such as workers and dependent old people, are treated in such a household.

For decades, I have told American students that Indians do not address older people or strangers by their first names but routinely address them ...