Babu (title)

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The title babu, also spelled baboo, is used in South Asia as a sign of respect towards men. It is a derivation of bapu which means father or grandfather. 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 Bangla "babu" is used as suffix to a person's name to show respect while calling him by name e.g., "Mohan 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. In the Saurashtra language, "babu" may refer to a younger brother, male, (sibling). In Bangladesh, Babu or "Shona" is used more broadly, similar to the terms fellow or brethren, but, only in reference to those younger than oneself.[clarification needed]

Civil servants

In British India, babu often referred to a native Indian clerk. The word was originally used as a term of respect attached to a proper name, the equivalent of "mister", and "babuji" was used in many parts to mean "sir".[1] Since early 20th-century, the term babu is frequently used pejoratively to refer to bureaucrats of Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and other government officials,[2] especially by the Indian media,[3] while the Indian bureaucracy is called "babudom", as in the "rule of babus", especially in India media.[4][5][6]

Other uses

"Babu" also means grandfather in Swahili, like "papu" in Greek.[7] It is cognate with "baba" in Slavic languages, and ultimately with "papa" in Germanic and Romance languages. In Nepali, Eastern Hindi/Bihari, Bengali, Telugu, and Oriya languages, it is a means of calling with love and affection to spouses or younger brothers, sons, grandsons etc.

See also

References

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  7. See babu in Wiktionary.


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