I received a letter the other day raising an intriguing question and I've decided to reply in public through this column. "I notice you have different ways of addressing the people you interview," it began. "Some you call Mr X or Mrs Y, others you refer to as minister and then, sometimes you use their first names. But I don't think I've ever heard you address them as sir. Why? And how do you decide what to call them?"
The question took me back two decades to an interview with David Waddington, who later became Britain's home secretary. In 1983 he was Mrs Thatcher's minister of state for immigration. It was going to be my first big high-profile political interview. Samir Shah, now chairman of the BBC, was the producer of Eyewitness, the television programme I was working on, and my boss.
"Remember Karan," Samir advised as we walked to the studio. "You either call him Mr Waddington or minister but not sir."
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Tiger and Charlie hit five straight birdies, share lead
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Smriti, Renuka sparkle as India crush WI by 211 runs
The opener's 91 helps pile on the runs in 1st ODI before Renuka's fifer bundles out WI
Big win for Liverpool, Everton hold Chelsea
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Atletico seal late win at Barca, top La Liga
Atletico Madrid came from behind to snatch a last-gasp 2-1 victory over Barcelona and claim leadership of La Liga on Saturday.
Lenders auction more gold as Reserve Bank steps up scrutiny
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DAMANI NIXES BAT PICK FOR CHAIR OF VST INDUSTRIES
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Dozen auto firms set to be excluded from PLI scheme
These automobile companies have not been able to start investing as planned
Apex auto tester looks to accelerate to green lane
India's primary vehicle research and testing body plans to expand facilities that are focused on so-called new energy vehicles, seeking to keep pace with the government's rapidly accelerating green mobility drive.
Pakistan govt forms panel for talks with ex-PM Khan's party
The Shehbaz Sharif-led Pakistan government, on Sunday, formed a negotiation committee to start formal talks with jailed former prime minister Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party after it threatened to give a call for civil disobedience.
Trudeau under fire; liberals eye Freeland
Pressure continues to mount on Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to quit, even as a movement is afoot within the ruling Liberal Party caucus for him to be replaced by Chrystia Freeland, who was Deputy PM and Finance Minister till her bombshell resignation, on Monday.
