Babudom – Bad Word?
A Netizen was offended with the use of babu in our Friday's DDT in the story - SAD Refunds – Really SAD State of affairs. “Why do you term all govt officials as BABUS”, he wondered. Maybe babus get angry when they are called babus. The other day a lady officer was so annoyed with us that she asked, “do you think I am a babu ?” We did.
Former Cabinet Secretary TSR Subramanyan's book is entitled Journeys Through Babudom And Netaland.
Babu, in India, is a very respectable word, but used for a government servant, it has acquired a little notoriety and that must be the reason why our Netizen is annoyed with us for calling all Government officials as babus.