Begum - Revision history

PrinceRey4: brief correct formatting for clarity and updated info after review

2026-02-13T22:21:14Z

brief correct formatting for clarity and updated info after review

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:51, 14 February 2026
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	{{Short description\|Turkic ~~Honorific Title~~ for ~~Females, equivalent to "Lady" or "Queen"~~}}		{{Short description\|Turkic honorific title for females}}
			{{Other uses}}

	[[File:A noble lady, Mughal dynasty, India. 17th century.jpg\|thumb\|Begum [[Malika-uz-Zamani]], wife of the [[Mughal Emperor]] [[Muhammad Shah]].]]		[[File:A noble lady, Mughal dynasty, India. 17th century.jpg\|thumb\|Begum [[Malika-uz-Zamani]], wife of the [[Mughal Emperor]] [[Muhammad Shah]].]]

	'''Begum''' (also '''~~begüm~~''', '''~~bagum~~''', '''~~begom~~''', '''~~begam~~''', '''~~baigum~~''' or '''~~beygum~~''') is a [[~~royal family~~\|~~royal~~]] and [[~~aristocracy~~\|~~aristocratic~~]] ~~title from~~ [[~~Central Asia~~\|~~Central~~]] and [[~~South Asia~~]].<ref>{{cite book \|last1=Hemenway \|first1=Stephen Ignatius \|title=The Novel of India: The Anglo-Indian novel \|date=1975 \|publisher=Writers Workshop \|page=107 \|language=en \|quote=Begum (Hindi), Moslem princess or lady of high rank.}}</ref> It is the feminine equivalent of the title ''[[baig]]'' or ''[[bey]]'', which in [[Turkic languages]] means "higher official~~".{{cn\|date=July 2013}} In the constraction of words of the Turkic languages, the suffix "-um / -ım" adds "my", making the word "Begum" as "my Beg~~". It usually refers to the wife or daughter of a ''[[~~beg (title)~~\|beg]]''. The related form ''[[begzada]]'' (daughter of a ''beg'') also occurs.<ref name=begzadi>Moazzambaig, [http://www.digg.com/news/world_news/begzadah Begzadi or Begzada]{{~~dead link~~\|~~date~~=~~January 2018~~ \|~~bot~~=~~InternetArchiveBot \|fix~~-~~attempted=yes~~ }}. [[Digg]].com: Social News. Retrieved July 8, 2011.</ref>		'''Begum''' (also '''Begüm''', '''Bagum''', '''Begom''', '''Begam''', '''Baigum''' or '''Beygum''') is an [[honorific]] title from [[Central Asia\|Central]] and [[South Asia]], often used by leading women in society, including [[Royal family\|royals]], [[aristocrat]]s, [[first lady\|first ladies]] and [[prime minister]]s.<ref>{{cite book \|last1=Hemenway \|first1=Stephen Ignatius \|title=The Novel of India: The Anglo-Indian novel \|date=1975 \|publisher=Writers Workshop \|page=107 \|language=en \|quote=Begum (Hindi), Moslem princess or lady of high rank.}}</ref> It is the feminine equivalent of the title ''[[baig]]'' or ''[[bey]]'', which in [[Turkic languages]] means "higher official". It usually refers to the wife or daughter of a ''[[Bey\|beg]]''.<ref>{{cite book\|author=Yılmaz Öztuna\|title=Devletler ve Handeanlar\|volume=1\|publisher=Ministry of Culture\|location=Ankara\|year=1996\|page=944}}</ref> The related form ''[[begzada]]'' (daughter of a ''beg'') also occurs.<ref name=begzadi>Moazzambaig, [http://www.digg.com/news/world_news/begzadah Begzadi or Begzada] {{Webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190428113016/http://digg.com/news/world_news/begzadah \|date=2019-04-28 }}. [[Digg]].com: Social News. Retrieved July 8, 2011.</ref>

	In [[~~South Asia~~]], particularly in [[Delhi]], [[Hyderabad]], [[Sindh]], [[Punjab~~]], [[Afghanistan~~]], [[Khyber Pakhtunkhwa]] and [[Bengal]], ''begum'' has been adapted for use as an [[honorific]] for [[~~Islam\|~~Muslim]] ~~women~~ of high [[social status]], accomplishment, or rank, ~~similar~~ as in English language the title "[[Lady]]" or "[[Dame]]" is used~~. The honorific may either precede or follow the proper name of the woman~~.		In the [[Indian subcontinent]], particularly in [[Delhi]], [[Hyderabad]], [[Sindh]], [[Punjab]], [[Khyber Pakhtunkhwa]] and [[Bengal]], ''begum'' has been adapted for use as an honorific for [[Muslim women]] of high [[social status]], accomplishment, or rank, as in English language the title "[[Lady]]" or "[[Dame]]" is used.

	==Title==		==Title==
	{{Main\|Begum (name)}}		{{Main\|Begum (name)}}
			[[File:A fat Begum inscribed Hur Khanum Mughlani, Deccan, ca.1625.jpg\|thumb\|A Begum inscribed Hur Khanum Mughlani, Deccan, ca.1625]]

	== In modern society ==		== In modern society ==
	Colloquially, the term is also used in [[Uzbekistan]], [[India]], [[Pakistan]] and [[Bangladesh]] by Muslim men to refer to their own wives, daughters, sisters or as an honorific address to a married or widowed woman.		Colloquially, the term is also used in [[Uzbekistan]], [[India]], [[Pakistan]] and [[Bangladesh]] by Muslim men to refer to their own wives, daughters, sisters or as an honorific address to a married or widowed woman.

	In Bangladesh the term has been used for the titles of current and former [[First Lady of Bangladesh]] e.g. Begum [[Khaleda Zia]] and Begum [[Rowshan Ershad]]. It has also been used to refer to women of high social status such as ~~phillantrophists~~, activists, authors and many others such as [[Begum Rokeya]] and [[Begum Sufia Kamal]]. [[Khaleda Zia]] and [[Sheikh Hasina]], who have alternated as Prime ~~Minister~~ of Bangladesh since 1991, are nicknamed "the battling begums".<ref>{{cite news\|last=Rowlatt \|first=Justin \|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-42999503 \|title=Bangladesh grows tired of the Battling Begums \|publisher=BBC \|date=2 November 2008 \|access-date=24 September 2019}}</ref>		In Bangladesh the term has been used for the titles of current and former [[First Lady of Bangladesh]] e.g. Begum [[Khaleda Zia]], Begum [[Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib\|Fazilatunnesa Mujib]] and Begum [[Rowshan Ershad]]. It has also been used to refer to women of high social status such as philanthropists, activists, authors and many others such as [[Begum Rokeya]] and [[Begum Sufia Kamal]]. [[Khaleda Zia]] and [[Sheikh Hasina]], who have alternated as Prime Ministers of Bangladesh since 1991, are nicknamed "the battling begums".<ref>{{cite news\|last=Rowlatt \|first=Justin \|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-42999503 \|title= Bangladesh grows tired of the Battling Begums \|publisher= BBC \|date= November 2008 \|access-date= 24 September 2019}}</ref>

	The term became well known in the West, especially in the [[Francophone world\|French-speaking world]], due to [[Jules Verne]]'s 1879 novel ''[[The Begum's Millions]]''.		The term became well known in the West, especially in the [[Francophone world\| French-speaking world]], due to [[Jules Verne]]'s 1879 novel ''[[The Begum's Millions]]''.

	The term had earlier become known in [[United Kingdom\|Great Britain]] during the [[impeachment]] and [[Parliament of the United Kingdom\|Parliamentary]] trial of [[Warren Hastings]], former [[Governor-General of India]], which lasted from 1787 until 1795. One of the major charges against Hastings was that he had unjustly confiscated land belonging to the "Begums of [[Awadh\|Oudh]]" (the mother and grandmother of [[Asaf-Ud-Dowlah]], [[Nawab of Awadh\|Nawab of Oudh]]).{{cn\|date=July 2013}}		The term had earlier become known in [[United Kingdom\|Great Britain]] during the [[impeachment]] and [[Parliament of the United Kingdom\| Parliamentary]] trial of [[Warren Hastings]], former [[Governor-General of India]], which lasted from 1787 until 1795. One of the major charges against Hastings was that he had unjustly confiscated land (and thus taxes) belonging to the "Begums of [[Awadh\|Oudh]]" (the mother and grandmother of [[Asaf-Ud-Dowlah]], [[Nawab of Awadh\|Nawab of Oudh]]).{{cn\|date=July 2013}}

	[[Begumpet]] is one of the major commercial and residential suburbs of the city of [[Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh\|Hyderabad]], [[India]]. Begumpet stands on land given by the sixth [[Nizam of Hyderabad]] to his daughter as her wedding present when she married a [[Paigah family\|Paigah]] noble.{{cn\|date=July 2013}}		[[Begumpet]] is one of the major commercial and residential suburbs of the city of [[Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh\| Hyderabad]], India. Begumpet stands on land given by the [[Mahboob Ali Khan \| sixth]] [[Nizam of Hyderabad]] (in office: 1869-1911) to his daughter as her wedding present when she married a [[Paigah family \|Paigah]] noble.{{cn\|date=July 2013}}

	[[~~Mississauga~~]], [[~~Ontario~~]], [[~~Canada~~]], a suburb of [[Toronto]]~~, is referred~~ as ''Begumpura'' ("Ladies' Town") ~~by members of the [[Pakistan]]i community of Toronto~~. Mississauga has a large Pakistani immigrant community and many husbands work in the [[Persian Gulf]] and [[Saudi Arabia]] while their wives and children live in Mississauga.<ref name="Begumpura">{{Cite web \|url=http://www.mediamonitors.net/tahir1.html \|title=Muslim immigrants to Canada facing discrimination and social problems \|access-date=2009-06-24 \|archive-date=2012-07-04 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120704221737/http://www.mediamonitors.net/tahir1.html \|url-status=dead }}</ref>		Members of the [[Pakistan]]i community of Toronto refer to [[Mississauga]], [[Ontario]], Canada (a suburb of [[Toronto]]) as ''Begumpura'' ("Ladies' Town"). Mississauga has a large Pakistani immigrant community and many husbands work in the [[Persian Gulf]] and [[Saudi Arabia]] while their wives and children live in Mississauga.<ref name="Begumpura">{{Cite web \|url= http://www.mediamonitors.net/tahir1.html \|title= Muslim immigrants to Canada facing discrimination and social problems \|access-date=2009-06-24 \|archive-date=2012-07-04 \|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120704221737/http://www.mediamonitors.net/tahir1.html \|url-status=dead }}</ref>

	Among the [[Nizari Ismaili]] people, the title is also used as the official style of the consort of their imam, the [[Aga Khan]].		Among the [[Nizari Ismaili]] people, the title is also used as the official style of the consort of their imam, the [[Aga Khan]].

	==See also==		==See also==
	*[[Begum (disambiguation)]]
	*[[Bibi (title)]]
	*[[Khanum]]		*[[Khanum]]
	*[[Khatun]]		*[[Khatun]]
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	== References ==		== References ==
	<references/>{{Authority control}}		<references/>{{Authority control}}
	[[Category:Noble titles]]		[[Category:Noble titles of women]]
	[[Category:Women's social titles]]		[[Category:Women's social titles]]
	[[Category:Royal titles]]		[[Category:Royal titles]]
	[[Category:Turkic culture]]		[[Category:Turkic culture]]
	[[Category:Turkish titles]]		[[Category:Turkish titles]]
	~~[[Category:Indian surnames]]~~
	[[Category:Pakistani names]]		[[Category:Pakistani names]]
	[[Category:Titles in Pakistan]]		[[Category:Titles in Pakistan]]
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	[[Category:Titles]]		[[Category:Titles]]
	[[Category:Titles of national or ethnic leadership]]		[[Category:Titles of national or ethnic leadership]]
	[[Category:Mughal ~~nobility~~]]		[[Category:Nobility from the Mughal Empire]]
			[[Category:History of women in India]]
			[[Category:Urdu surnames]]

>AliusEmreus: “begüm” has been added

2021-06-17T11:34:21Z

“begüm” has been added

New page

{{Short description|Turkic Honorific Title for Females, equivalent to "Lady" or "Queen"}}

[[File:A noble lady, Mughal dynasty, India. 17th century.jpg|thumb|Begum [[Malika-uz-Zamani]], wife of the [[Mughal Emperor]] [[Muhammad Shah]].]]

'''Begum''' (also '''begüm''', '''bagum''', '''begom''', '''begam''', '''baigum''' or '''beygum''') is a [[royal family|royal]] and [[aristocracy|aristocratic]] title from [[Central Asia|Central]] and [[South Asia]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Hemenway |first1=Stephen Ignatius |title=The Novel of India: The Anglo-Indian novel |date=1975 |publisher=Writers Workshop |page=107 |language=en |quote=Begum (Hindi), Moslem princess or lady of high rank.}}</ref> It is the feminine equivalent of the title ''[[baig]]'' or ''[[bey]]'', which in [[Turkic languages]] means "higher official".{{cn|date=July 2013}} In the constraction of words of the Turkic languages, the suffix "-um / -ım" adds "my", making the word "Begum" as "my Beg". It usually refers to the wife or daughter of a ''[[beg (title)|beg]]''. The related form ''[[begzada]]'' (daughter of a ''beg'') also occurs.<ref name=begzadi>Moazzambaig, [http://www.digg.com/news/world_news/begzadah Begzadi or Begzada]{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}. [[Digg]].com: Social News. Retrieved July 8, 2011.</ref>

In [[South Asia]], particularly in [[Delhi]], [[Hyderabad]], [[Sindh]], [[Punjab]], [[Afghanistan]], [[Khyber Pakhtunkhwa]] and [[Bengal]], ''begum'' has been adapted for use as an [[honorific]] for [[Islam|Muslim]] women of high [[social status]], accomplishment, or rank, similar as in English language the title "[[Lady]]" or "[[Dame]]" is used. The honorific may either precede or follow the proper name of the woman.

==Title==
{{Main|Begum (name)}}

== In modern society ==
Colloquially, the term is also used in [[Uzbekistan]], [[India]], [[Pakistan]] and [[Bangladesh]] by Muslim men to refer to their own wives, daughters, sisters or as an honorific address to a married or widowed woman.

In Bangladesh the term has been used for the titles of current and former [[First Lady of Bangladesh]] e.g. Begum [[Khaleda Zia]] and Begum [[Rowshan Ershad]]. It has also been used to refer to women of high social status such as phillantrophists, activists, authors and many others such as [[Begum Rokeya]] and [[Begum Sufia Kamal]]. [[Khaleda Zia]] and [[Sheikh Hasina]], who have alternated as Prime Minister of Bangladesh since 1991, are nicknamed "the battling begums".<ref>{{cite news|last=Rowlatt |first=Justin |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-42999503 |title=Bangladesh grows tired of the Battling Begums |publisher=BBC |date=2 November 2008 |access-date=24 September 2019}}</ref>

The term became well known in the West, especially in the [[Francophone world|French-speaking world]], due to [[Jules Verne]]'s 1879 novel ''[[The Begum's Millions]]''.

The term had earlier become known in [[United Kingdom|Great Britain]] during the [[impeachment]] and [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|Parliamentary]] trial of [[Warren Hastings]], former [[Governor-General of India]], which lasted from 1787 until 1795. One of the major charges against Hastings was that he had unjustly confiscated land belonging to the "Begums of [[Awadh|Oudh]]" (the mother and grandmother of [[Asaf-Ud-Dowlah]], [[Nawab of Awadh|Nawab of Oudh]]).{{cn|date=July 2013}}

[[Begumpet]] is one of the major commercial and residential suburbs of the city of [[Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh|Hyderabad]], [[India]]. Begumpet stands on land given by the sixth [[Nizam of Hyderabad]] to his daughter as her wedding present when she married a [[Paigah family|Paigah]] noble.{{cn|date=July 2013}}

[[Mississauga]], [[Ontario]], [[Canada]], a suburb of [[Toronto]], is referred as ''Begumpura'' ("Ladies' Town") by members of the [[Pakistan]]i community of Toronto. Mississauga has a large Pakistani immigrant community and many husbands work in the [[Persian Gulf]] and [[Saudi Arabia]] while their wives and children live in Mississauga.<ref name="Begumpura">{{Cite web |url=http://www.mediamonitors.net/tahir1.html |title=Muslim immigrants to Canada facing discrimination and social problems |access-date=2009-06-24 |archive-date=2012-07-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120704221737/http://www.mediamonitors.net/tahir1.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Among the [[Nizari Ismaili]] people, the title is also used as the official style of the consort of their imam, the [[Aga Khan]].

==See also==
*[[Begum (disambiguation)]]
*[[Bibi (title)]]
*[[Khanum]]
*[[Khatun]]

== References ==
<references/>{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Noble titles]]
[[Category:Women's social titles]]
[[Category:Royal titles]]
[[Category:Turkic culture]]
[[Category:Turkish titles]]
[[Category:Indian surnames]]
[[Category:Pakistani names]]
[[Category:Titles in Pakistan]]
[[Category:Titles in India]]
[[Category:Titles]]
[[Category:Titles of national or ethnic leadership]]
[[Category:Mughal nobility]]