EXPERIENCE IS THE TEACHER OF ALL THINGS
-Julius Ceaser

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Of Sikh, Singh and Bengali

Is there any difference between the three? To most people of Malaysia there is no difference between them. I for example during my schooldays in the 70s see my Sikh friend as a Singh, Sikh or commonly called Bengali. When I buy bread in those days it was known as roti bengali and least known to my knowledge who actually bake those bread and I see them as the Bengali jual roti who came in bicycle laden with a big round basket on the pillion rack . He will be wearing the white sarong and a white turban on his head. That is as far as I knew as Benggali. I was ignorant too as which community they are from; Sikh or Mamak.

Besides calling them by Singh, we also use to call them Bai. Among Malays Bai might be popular to identify the Sikhs. Till today most Malaysians due to ignorant still refer the Singh as Bengali or Bai. I am sorry if what I write offend the Sikh because all these are due to ignorant and has been cultivated in our minds for a long time. So, its the responsibility for the Sikhs to educate the public and correct this wrong and misleading adressing the Sikhs as Bengali. However changing from bad to good will take time. As Leo Tolstoy said, "Everyone think of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself....."

Recently the Sikh get offended when the MB of Perak refer the Sikhs as Bengali on his speech on when wishing the Sikh on Vaisakhi day.

YB Karpal Singh responded HERE.

Hope any readers to this blog can clear the air: Sikh, Singh, Bengali and also how and where does the word Bai come from. Lets educate the public. Oopppssss..... I am a Malaysian Malay.

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