Babu (title)

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The term babu, also spelled baboo, is used in modern-day South Asia as a sign of respect towards men. It is a derivation of bapu which means father. The honorific "ji" is sometimes added as a suffix to create the double honorific "babuji" which, in northern and eastern parts of India, is a term of respect for one's father. "Babuji" can also be used as a term of respect for any respected elder or man. In some Indian states, "babu" is also used as a generic word of respect to address men, especially unknown ones, e.g., "Babu, can you help me?" In Bengali, "babu" is used as suffix to a person's name to show respect while calling him by name, e.g., "Sudarshan-babu, could you please come here!" The term "babu" may be suffixed to a person's name, but the term "babuji" is always used by itself.^{[citation needed]}

In British India, "babu" was a term used to describe a native Indian clerk. The word was originally used as a term of respect attached to a proper name, the equivalient of "mister", and "babuji" was used in many parts to mean "sir"; but when used alone without the suffix, it was a derogatory word signifying a semi-literate native, with a mere veneer of modern education.^[1][2] In the early 20th century the term babu was frequently used to refer to bureaucrats and other government officials, especially by the Indian media; in this sense the word hints at corrupt or lazy work practices.^{[citation needed]} It can also mean the pimp or client of a sex worker.^{[citation needed]} The term babu has thus fallen out of favour in polite society, since it may be taken as an insult.

"Babu" also means grandfather in Swahili.^[3] In Nepali it is a means of calling with love and affection to younger brothers, sons, grandsons, etc.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] See also

Look up babu in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

• Sahib
• Effendi
• Babuji
• Babu

[edit] References

1. ^ Nandi Bhatia. "Kipling's Burden: Representing Colonial Authority and Constructing the Other through Kimball O'Hara and Babu Hurree Chander in Kim". http://asnic.utexas.edu/asnic/sagar/spring.1994/nandi.bhatia.art.html. Retrieved 2009-09-12. 
2. ^  "Babu". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). 1911. 
3. ^ See babu in Wiktionary.

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