Bibi (title)

Bibi () is frequently used as a respectful title for Muslim, Christian and Sikh women in South Asia when added to the given name.

Bibi, like Begum, is used as a surname by many women in the region.

In Anglo-Indian, the term bibi came to be seen as a synonym for mistress.

Etymology

The word "Bibi", which made its way into the Pashto and Urdu language, was originally borrowed from Classical Persian ( bī-bī). It was translated as "grandma" (chiefly in Pashto, Dari, Tajik). Besides this it was also used as respectful title to address senior women.

Notable people known by this title

• Aisha Bibi, 12th-century noble woman, after whom a memorial and village are named in modern Kazakhstan
• Bibi Mubarika, a 16th century Yusufzai Pashtun Empress consort in the Mughal Empire. She was a wife of the first Mughal emperor Babur.
• Bibi Ambha, the Hindu origin mother of Sikandar Lodi
• Asia Bibi, a Catholic Christian worker accused of blasphemy in Pakistan
• Bushra Bibi, wife of Imran Khan and First Lady of Pakistan
• Sultana Chand Bibi (1550–1599 CE), also known as Chand Khatun or Chand Sultana, Indian Muslim woman warrior
• Islam Bibi (1974–2013), Afghan policewoman and human rights activist
• Noorjahan Kakon Bibi, female freedom fighter in Bangladesh
• Mukhtaran Bibi (born 1972, now known as Mukhtār Mā'Ä«), human rights activist
• Pari Bibi, noblewoman of the Mughal Empire buried in Lalbagh Fort, Dhaka
• Taramon Bibi, female freedom fighter in Bangladesh
• Taj Bibi, empress consort of Emperor Jahangir and mother of Emperor Shah Jahan

See also

• Baba (honorific) - inverse

References