RA-wannabe
Oct 25, 10, 8:27 am
I've been to Singapore and apparently they call Sikhs as babu Singhs. Anybody know how it came about?
Singapore - Alternative Name for Sikhs
View Full Version : Alternative Name for Sikhs
beergut
Oct 26, 10, 1:34 am
Apparently it's a sign of respect
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babu_(title)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babu_(title)
RA-wannabe
Oct 28, 10, 8:10 am
so it's ok for me to call the doorman babu singh? Is it some kind of compliment or some form of Singlish? Is it condescending? Any Singaporeans here?
GUWonder
Oct 28, 10, 8:23 am
so it's ok for me to call the doorman babu singh? Is it some kind of compliment or some form of Singlish? Is it condescending? Any Singaporeans here?
Since there are other last/family names (beside Singh) used by male followers of Sikhism, I would stick to addressing the doorman as I do in other countries, and address the person without any sort of reference to religion and/or other ethnic roots. Also, it's not unheard of for turbaned doormen -- beards included -- to be followers of other religions (beside Sikhism).
Baba/Babu Singh is used in Malaysia and Singapore; whether or not it elicits the same kind of possible responses as the use of "Sardar-sahib"/"Sardar-ji" in South Asia or not, I wouldn't know since it is not a reference I or my associates use.
Since there are other last/family names (beside Singh) used by male followers of Sikhism, I would stick to addressing the doorman as I do in other countries, and address the person without any sort of reference to religion and/or other ethnic roots. Also, it's not unheard of for turbaned doormen -- beards included -- to be followers of other religions (beside Sikhism).
Baba/Babu Singh is used in Malaysia and Singapore; whether or not it elicits the same kind of possible responses as the use of "Sardar-sahib"/"Sardar-ji" in South Asia or not, I wouldn't know since it is not a reference I or my associates use.