Any idea why mallus are generally very rude?
May 28th, 2007
Nandakumar wonders why mallus are generally very rude,
“See, whether it is due to Communism or not, Mallus do not know how to show respect to strangers. In Tamil Nadu or any other state, if you are a customer in a shop or a client in an office, folks have no problem addressing you “Sir” (or Saar) or “Madam” and referring to you in third person as “This Sir” or “This Madam”. And this ‘Sir’ can be heard even in villages. In Kerala, there is a distinct reluctance to show such respect. If a bill collector or delivery-man comes knocking at your door, he will address you with a silent poke of his jaw towards your face. That is “you” in Mallu, whereas everywhere else, he will show some basic courtesy. Mallus seem to have this funny feeling that addressing a stranger as “Sir” is below one’s dignity”.
One of the best ways to experience the “typical mallu behavior” is to visit a shop. You will be amazed at the behavior of the shop owner. He will treat you as an enemy! 
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May 29th, 2007 at 9:51 am
Well , i am surprised to read this , may be because i found malayalis to be one among the more polite ones .Though i didn’t judge them based on the way they address others;-) rather to me i found they were polite may be because of the way they speak to others ( did i confuse u
)
But yes its a matter of perception i would say !
May 29th, 2007 at 2:20 pm
Also I may add that the shopkeepers, Bearers,Waitors doesnt know what is the meaning of ‘Service’ in Kerala. You go anywhere, the KTDC waiter think he has to be in the chair of Cherian Philip but unfortunately became a waitor and his service to your table will be like he is doing a favour to you. Likewise bus conductors they think they have to be MD KSRTC but unfortunately became a conductor so the travellors have to suffer his arrogance, you go to some enquiry counter at a university or a college or a govt office, they will consider you as an intruder and its very unlikely you get the required information with a polite face and forget about a smile.
May 29th, 2007 at 7:05 pm
Due to our historic communist background the current generation has been bought up with the perception that the worker is always exploited and to prevent that he need not be subservient to anyone. Due to the generalization of this to all sectors we see this kind of terrorizing culture prevalent in any sector. Also this shouldnt be blamed on just communism. We have been masters in organized bullying in every known sector - education - with teachers union making calls, police with their power politics, politics - religion based bullying, social sector - caste organizations demanding their pound of flesh. But slowly we are waking up to the ill effects of this organized terrorism. Maybe coming years we should see a change as more and more competition forces people to change their attitude at least in services. Regarding politics there may not be any change as the biggest drawback of democracy is that organized syndicates can manipulate the course of action. Anyway it is funny that keralites are not put in the same bracket as other indians who are generally perceived to be masters of ‘Yes sir’ culture.
May 31st, 2007 at 12:20 pm
Everybody has frustrations - our Malayali people take it out on others more - be it the bus conductor, cashier, waiter, telephone officer etc. I think it has to do with the “Union” culture - to be antagonistic against each and everything - to be aggro
Having been in Chennai for about 5 years, I found that “generallY’, Tamilians are more polite than us Mallus - they address everyone as SIR etc.
July 22nd, 2007 at 12:25 am
when there is money to make the mallu will bend backward to please.what else explains our success in the hospitality industry?
i do not need the cringing suservience shown to the white skinned .i only expect courteous,civilized behavior whether it is an auto or an office,clerk or a coolie.
August 6th, 2007 at 7:36 am
It seems that all of you pseudo malayali’s have some difficulty in getting used to the culture of the state.I feel that just by calling someone Sir cannot be considered as token of respect.The states where you reside I have seen people adrressing each other Sir ,and that too two beggars would do the same since they dont know the name.But here the word “you” holds enough respect and if you have felt bad then its the narrow mindedness and superiority complex.Be in limits and dont give such gibberish comments about the soil you have born on.These all shows that you all would accept all the crap anyone says.Do you have a character.
(For Nandamkumar and Sunny)People who bend their back for money would be people like.We Mallus holds our head high and earn our living.If you have some financial problem come to kerala and do some job,where you would nt have to bend your back.You can be a lamppost near traffic signals.Asshole
August 17th, 2007 at 10:22 am
i stayed in tribvandrum for 24 yrs and travelled a lot ,now settled in hyderabad ,i have been to all metros in india. There is a big diffrence in how shop owners treat customers in kerala.
in hyderabad Blore Delli chennai and mumbai i have done shopping ranging from street vendors to Hi-fi malls.They treat cuntomer as God because they know that their bread and butter come from customers who buy their service offering.
The problem will end if big retailers will come to kerala and offer their service .
that is why this vyapara vyavasaaya guys are making big hue and cry about that ,they know common people will not come to them because people are fed up by their arrogance and un friendliness.
Please some one teach shop ownners atleast to smile at their customers and treat them friendly.
August 17th, 2007 at 5:06 pm
sajeev you are a useless morom and a fool bafoon ,pity you
August 18th, 2007 at 4:17 am
While i agree that most of the people are little arrogant, I feel i need to figure out what the life of a worker in other state. Atleast in Bangalore where i was living for 6 years, the conditions of workers are really bad. I was shocked to see a worker lady getting up to give her seat to a young chap in a public bus. Another time I witnessed some nicely dressed guy beating a worker inside a bus following a small argument, while his coworkers were silently listening. Blood was coming out of his mouth, and still he did not react. Come on, in kerala atleast worker class have more freedom to express themselves and more social status that is good as a society. Only sad part is they mis-use it sometimes.
August 30th, 2007 at 11:44 am
politeness and courtesy is still verymuch a virtue of mallus in north kerala.its achayanism and trivandrumism topped with communism thats made the rude malayali.shopkeepers though are no exception even in south.
September 6th, 2007 at 1:30 pm
Hey this post seems to be a one man’s experience. See basically in any part of India you don’t find the courtesy u can find when u go to some other Japanese or European countries. I have travelled to most cities in India and I feel its all the same. I will say I found better response in Kerala. I found it is the best state as far as hygenic senses are considered. And regarding the addition of suffix Sir with every word by Tamil people - it comes so common for them. Thats bcause they got trained from days earlier like that doing some small jobs in big industries. And I find they are basically fearful people.
And I suppose Nandakumar — ” not adding Sir ” that’s fine for me — Have u ever tried calling the waiter or shopkeeper as “Sir”? If not, think why should you be?
We should try to be calm rather than nagging on such silly issues which can create hatred and misconception among Indians about their own countrymen.
February 7th, 2008 at 8:23 pm
Hi,
I’ve been reading the comments written about the general behaviour of mallus. Well, I’ve seen both extremes. So I guess they’re like anyone else. I’ve lived in Kerala for 17 years. There were times when I got lost, people consoled me and guided me, made me feel at home.. treated me like family, basically. There were also times when I went to a post office or a shop and got completely ignored or been rude to. Similar things has happened to me outside kerala and outside India. You can’t isolate a class of people and say that they’re better or worse than the rest. “Common people” are the same everywhere in the world. Upbringing and culture may have caused minor differences on the surface.. but most people think alike.
February 22nd, 2008 at 10:56 am
If you are good people are good
I do not agree with this topic
Depand how you deal with people why u wait for other to smile or show interst in you you are not GOD also
if you will first smile then otherwill give you reponse
Ple do not describe any state or country people are good and
bad depand how individual treat with other
people in India generally are serious nature becuse last
50 year we are rulled by the party and politican who give nothing to India still many part of India no good water, no jobs gurantees, no cleanness , cities are dirty now bit changing ,
Some people are rich have everthing some are still in the street and sturgalning for food and good water
in this situation how can you think people smile and speak with you. people in Kerala are educated and serious about what is going on India they are serious and not happy with many things done by the state as well as centeral goverment
But other state people do not know what is going on what is happning with India or they even less bother about the problem of India look Kerala how clean and fine compare to Tamilnadu or other state, even small Hotels in Kerala very need and clean you will not find even 5 start Hotels clean in other part of India
when you campare some things then find what is good
I wish you all try to find out what is GOOD in other state which we can implement other part of India
BAD is eveywhere is BAD
Be Indian and Kerala is another beutiful part of India and its people are our people Indian
jay Hind
S. Kumar
March 21st, 2008 at 8:22 pm
being a mallu,i have to say that mallus are quite rude compared to people from other states…they dont know how to talk to a customer…i seriously believe that this problem will continue to exist as long as no big players from the industry come to kerala….also as long as the communists are there….kerala will never prosper
April 1st, 2008 at 10:06 am
quite true. but then, as someone just said, if u smile at someone, th chances ar they wil smile back. thats true too.
April 2nd, 2008 at 9:45 pm
Shopkeepers in TVM and kollam are rude compared to other places in india, go to kannur, calicut you will be received with nice smile…I really pity for guys who thinks ‘addresing SIR’ is politeness.When I was doing my engg in CET ,we used to have a canteen cashier who calls every TDH as sir,Once after couple of pegs he revealed us that wheneven he address someone as ‘Sir’ he really would be cursing them. I am not saying mallus are 100% good nice and al.But we guys are straight forward and better in so many ways compared to many other indian communities
May 16th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
The shopkeepers in Kerala don’t know to treat customers. If they find that they can cheat people, they will. Once money reaches their hands, they are not responsible for the product they sell. Their after sales service is the worst!!!
July 15th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
I do not agree that Mallus are rude..
I was born and brought up in Kolkata and moved to Kerala in 1999. Since then till now i never had a bad experience. Whenever i needed help, people in kerala helped me and ofcourse with a smile. Though a malayalee by birth, speaking in local language has always been a challenge and difficult. But people over here made me comfortable.
A few bad experience cannot bring an entire community into fault.
Exceptions are there everywhere.
August 31st, 2008 at 3:15 am
This post is absolutely ridiculous. Politeness doesn’t mean that every time you need to address the customer ‘Sir’. I am sure Nandakumar must have spent considerable time in other states hearing that flattering three letter word, which will make him feel elite. And suddenly when he arrived in a state where nobody called him ’sir’, he couldn’t digest the fact and blamed it on mallu ego. Pathetic mate , dnt be a cry baby for such silly things.
Compare the auto rickshaw drivers in Kerala and other states, u ll get the answer. You may not find a driver who call you sir and help u with ur luggage, but im pretty sure that he will not ask a single paisa more than what is there in the meter. I presume u know what is happening in other states. If not please come to bangalore and travel in an auto (If u dont know kannada u ll pay double money for sure….) BTW,It is not written anywhere that waiters, auto drivers, and other so called ‘low class’ employees cannot have self esteem. Welcome to God’s own country!
September 19th, 2008 at 11:03 am
Generally frankly speaking Mallus are very clever,they will do anything and everything till their job is done, once done they act like strangers,