India, April 13 -- Since there's a ceasefire, and we can breathe a little easier, I thought I'd write something lighter this time. This morning's newspaper carried a rather interesting piece of news. A nurse in the UK had taken her colleague to court for calling her "aunty" and walked away not only with her dignity intact but also with a rather respectable sum of money. Now, in India, if we started suing everyone who called us 'aunty' or 'uncle,' our courts would need night and weekend shifts, and possibly a loyalty program.

Because here, "aunty" is not an insult. It is a default setting.

You walk into a building, and before you can say your own name, someone has already promoted you. "Aunty, the lift is not working." "Uncle, your car i...