Begum (alsobegüm,bagum,begom,begam,baigum orbeygum) is anhonorific title fromCentral andSouth Asia, often used by leading women in society, includingroyals,aristocrats,first ladies and prime ministers.[1] It is the feminine equivalent of the titlebaig orbey, which inTurkic languages means "higher official". It usually refers to the wife or daughter of abeg.[2] The related formbegzada (daughter of abeg) also occurs.[3]
In theIndian subcontinent, particularly inDelhi,Hyderabad,Sindh,Punjab,Khyber Pakhtunkhwa andBengal,begum has been adapted for use as an honorific forMuslim women of highsocial status, accomplishment, or rank, as in English language the title "Lady" or "Dame" is used.
Colloquially, the term is also used inUzbekistan,India,Pakistan andBangladesh 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 formerFirst Lady of Bangladesh e.g. BegumKhaleda Zia and BegumRowshan Ershad. It has also been used to refer to women of high social status such as philanthropists, activists, authors and many others such asBegum Rokeya andBegum Sufia Kamal.Khaleda Zia andSheikh Hasina, who have alternated as Prime Ministers of Bangladesh since 1991, are nicknamed "the battling begums".[4]
The term became well known in the West, especially in the French-speaking world, due toJules Verne's 1879 novelThe Begum's Millions.
The term had earlier become known inGreat Britain during theimpeachment and Parliamentary trial ofWarren Hastings, formerGovernor-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 ofOudh" (the mother and grandmother ofAsaf-Ud-Dowlah,Nawab of Oudh).[citation needed]
Begumpet is one of the major commercial and residential suburbs of the city of Hyderabad,India. Begumpet stands on land given by the sixthNizam of Hyderabad (in office: 1869-1911) to his daughter as her wedding present when she married aPaigah noble.[citation needed]
Members of thePakistani community of Toronto refer toMississauga,Ontario,Canada (a suburb ofToronto) asBegumpura ("Ladies' Town"). Mississauga has a large Pakistani immigrant community and many husbands work in thePersian Gulf andSaudi Arabia while their wives and children live in Mississauga.[5]
Among theNizari Ismaili people, the title is also used as the official style of the consort of their imam, theAga Khan.
Begum (Hindi), Moslem princess or lady of high rank.
