[INDOLOGY] mAtAjI

[Howard Resnick]

Thank you, Suresh. In saying that the custom is pan-South Asian, may we assume this includes Muslims? Jains? Indian Christians? Others? 
Thanks again,
Howard

On May 23, 2013, at 6:58 AM, Suresh Kolichala <suresh.kolichala at gmail.com> wrote:

> This phenomenon is pan-South Asian. It is very common to address women as 'mother' 'maa/amma/aayi' and men as 'father' 'baapu, ayya, appa'. It is also common across linguistic families to address sons and daughters endearingly as 'mother' and 'father'.
> 
> Suresh.
> 
> On Thu, May 23, 2013 at 9:31 AM, Howard Resnick <hr at ivs.edu> wrote:
> Thank you, Matthew, for raising these key questions. Gaudiya [Bengali] Vaishnava communities, expanding around the world, typically follow and teach this "rule" of addressing women as 'mother.'  Are they merely propagating a Bengali Hindu custom? Or does it include Bengali Muslims? Is the custom, to any degree, pan-Hindu? pan-South Asian?
>         Thanks to Jonathan and Somadeva for their information.
> 
> Howard
> 
> 
> On May 23, 2013, at 4:33 AM, Matthew Kapstein <mkapstei at UCHICAGO.EDU> wrote:
> 
> > This thread included the comment that in Bengal men address even their daughters as Ma, and so far as I know this is indeed the case.
> >
> > Two questions:
> >
> > Is this so widespread outside of Bengal?
> > Among Bengalis, is the use confined to Hindus or is it current among Muslims as well?
> >
> > Both of these questions, of course, are pertinent to the issue of whether or not this should be
> > considered 'Hindu' usage?
> >
> > Matthew Kapstein
> > Directeur d'études,
> > Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes
> >
> > Numata Visiting Professor of Buddhist Studies,
> > The University of Chicago
> >
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> >
> >
> 
> 
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