Bibi (title) explained

Bibi, also spelled Bebe, is frequently used as a respectful title for Muslim, Christian and Sikh women in South Asia when added to the given name.^{[1] [2]}

Bibi, like Begum, is used as a surname by many women in the region.^[3]

In Anglo-Indian, the term bibi came to be seen as a synonym for mistress.^[2]

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 a 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, 16th a Yusufzai Pashtun Empress consort in Mughal empire. She was wife of first mughal emperors Babur.
• Bibi Ambha, the Hindu mother of Sikandar Lodi^[4]
• 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 right activist.
• Noorjahan Kakon Bibi, female freedom fighter in Bangladesh
• Mukhtaran Bibi (born 1972, now known as Mukhtār Mā'ī), survivor of a gang rape in Pakistan
• Pari Bibi, noblewomen of 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.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Bibis and mistresses. Nevile. Pran. 2000. English. The Hindu. 31 October 2018.
2. Book: Hyam, Ronald. Empire and Sexuality: The British Experience. 31 October 2018. 1990. Manchester University Press. English. 9780719025044. 115. Bibi is a Hindustani word meaning 'high-class woman', which in Hobson-Jobson 'Anglo-Indian' parlance came to mean native mistress..
3. Web site: A. R. Gatrad . Aziz Sheikh . Muslim birth customs . Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed2001;84:F6-F8 doi:10.1136/fn.84.1.F6 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150205214845/http://fn.bmjjournals.com/content/84/1/F6.full . 2015-02-05 .
4. Book: Pant, Poonam. Role of Women in Medieval Indian Politics, 1236-1627. 31 October 2018. 2001. Tarun Prakashan. English. 123. Bibi Ambha, a Hindu beauty who enamoured Bahlol Lodi displayed a Machiavellian diplomacy..