Word "Babu"

[Guest guest]

What is the origin of the word "babu" in Hindi?

 

I have heard an explanation that it means ba-bu (farsi:

literally "with smell".) The story says that the British

found their clerks in Calcutta smelly (fish and musterd

oil diet - as the story says), and hence the word was born.

 

I never believed in the story, but recently I have heard it

from someone with some familiarity with old Hindi texts.

 

What about the word "babul" used in songs by a departing

girl for her dear father?

 

There is a famous song that uses the word "babul":

 

"Babul Mora Naihar Chhooto Jaaye,

Chaar Kahaar Mil, Mori Doliya Uthaye

Mora Apna Begaana Chhooto Jaaye".

 

It is said to have been composed by Nawab Wajid Ali Shah (-1887),

the last Nawab ruler of Lucknow, when he was banished from

Lucknow in 1854.

 

Anyone knows more about the word?

 

I have noted that the word "babu" is used in south also.

Hobson-Jobson mentions the word being used in 1781.

 

Can we rule out the ba-bu story? Any examples of pre-British

usage?

 

Yashwant

[Guest guest]

Regarding pre-British occuremce of the word 'bAbu':

 

Gorakh bAnI [PrayAg edn.] page 87, 'om namo sibAi bAbu

om namo sibAi'. GorakSa Bijaya [bengali, Visva

Bharati]

mentions 'bAbu' and 'bApu' interchangeably. SArALAdAsa

MahAbhArata [Oriya] uses the word 'bAbu'in the sense

of 'bApu'.[MIA *bappa]

 

All the above uses are reminiscent of the Skt. word

'tAta', and are used in a like environment of a

kinship metaphor.

 

Best Wishes.

 

Jogesh Panda

 

 

 

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[Guest guest]

Thanks. If Gorakh bAnI contains the words of Gorakhnath

himself, that would make the usage go back to 9-10th

century. I think it establishes that "bAbu" and "bApu"

are related. What is the date of SArALAdAsa MahAbhArata?

 

Let me include other suggestions I have received.

 

All evidence suggests that it has been (and often still

is) a term indicating respect. It seems to have become

associated with clerks only in the british period.

Hobson-Jobson records its use for distinguished Indians

in the british period.

 

Interesting questions are

 

- how far back does "bappa" go?

- is it related to "baba"?

 

Yashwant

 

----

In telugu - babu is a term used with the meaning

of boy or young man - there is nothing pejorative

about it.

 

I am guessing that the Brits used it in the term

of "boy" like how the slaves were called here in

the US. Addressing someone in a lower position.

 

----

 

Although I cannot be entirely certain before I do the

literature check (I do not have time for that at present), I would

offer the guess that babu is simply a variation of baapuu (and

is thus related to baap(a), baabaa, etc.). This term can mean

father but it also commonly plays the role of a term that seeks

to convey affection, friendship etc. -- to establish a relationship

(especially as an elder brother) or collegiality. (

 

A mother's use of baabuu for her child is a parallel

development. Recall also baabaa suit for toddler clothing.) The

deservedly famous K.L. Sehgal song to which you refer has a further

endearing or diminutive suffix "la" added to baabu, by which the

departing girl means her father (cp. sonu : sonul(a) etc.)

 

baapuu, baabaa are related to English words such as paapaa, not

through a historical connection but because very young children

have a tendency to go for relation words with labial sounds. Roman

Jakobson published an article on Mama and Papa long time ago. I

do not have a reference, but it should be in his collected

writings.

 

The story you have heard gives an interesting folk etymology

and/or an insulting colonial joke.

 

----

 

I have been told be several scholars that it is the deshi form of

'prabhu'.

 

---

 

 

 

INDOLOGY, Jogesh Panda <yogeshpanda> wrote:

>

>

> Regarding pre-British occuremce of the word 'bAbu':

>

> Gorakh bAnI [PrayAg edn.] page 87, 'om namo sibAi bAbu

> om namo sibAi'. GorakSa Bijaya [bengali, Visva

> Bharati]

> mentions 'bAbu' and 'bApu' interchangeably. SArALAdAsa

> MahAbhArata [Oriya] uses the word 'bAbu'in the sense

> of 'bApu'.[MIA *bappa]

>

> All the above uses are reminiscent of the Skt. word

> 'tAta', and are used in a like environment of a

> kinship metaphor.

>

> Best Wishes.

>

> Jogesh Panda