<p>Former Managing Director of Google and Twitter Parminder Singh recently took to X and shared a very interesting observation regarding ethnicity.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In his post shared on April 14, Singh emphasised how Malaysians often refer to Sikhs as Bengalis. He further explained that not just Sikhs, but everybody from North India is perceived as Bengalis in the country.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Singh decodes 'historicity' behind the 'ethnic' confusion</strong></h2>

<p>Singh, clarifying the confusion, said that the people in Malaysia tend to refer to everyone from North India as Bengalis. He said that he was made aware of this by fellow Malay Indians in a meditation retreat in Malaysia.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/malaysia-opens-visa-free-doors-for-indian-chinese-travelers-from-dec-1-663157">Malaysia opens visa-free entry for Indian, Chinese travelers from Dec 1</a></p>

<p>Explaining the historical reason behind the confusion, Singh said, ''British India had three sea ports - Calcutta, Madras, and Bombay. British Malaya was served by ships from Calcutta and Madras. Most North Indians used the Calcutta port, the majority of whom were Sikhs recruited for army, police, and security jobs. To the Malay people, everyone who didn't come from Madras, essentially everyone from North India, was a Bengali."</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">In Malaysia, Sikhs are often referred to as Bengalis! I recently learned this fact and the fascinating history behind it. British India had three sea ports - Calcutta, Madras, and Bombay. British Malaya was served by ships from Calcutta and Madras. Most North Indians used the…</p>
— Parminder Singh (@parrysingh) <a href="https://twitter.com/parrysingh/status/1779353391040483614?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 14, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>''In a lighter vein, some of them insisted on calling me Parry Dada (the Bengali term for elder brother). I suppose this is the opposite of how many of us North Indians tend to label everyone from the South as 'Madrasis'," he explained.</p>

<h1><strong>Netizens share their own anecdotes&nbsp;</strong></h1>

<p>Netizens appreciated the observation shared by Singh and wrote their own stories of how their ethnicities and cultures were misunderstood by people of other nationalities.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"That is so amusing. Reminds me of what a salwar-kurta/kameez is called in Odisha. It is called, believe it or not, Punjabi!!! Imagine telling the shopkeeper there 'Show me colourful Punjabis'," said one user.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Malaysia urges Meta and TikTok to tackle harmful content on platforms</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/malaysia-urges-meta-and-tiktok-to-tackle-harmful-content-on-platforms-709634/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>''Yea all over the world we are undersrood differently as per their own perception, based on lack of knowledge but in reality we the Sikhs carry values of of each one of those. We are like a VIBGYOR of the world communities and hence all names are acceptable," wrote another netizen. (sic)</p>

<p>"This is why colloquially many south Asians used to refer to every white person as “Angrez” (Angrez means English, not French/German/Scottish etc). And it's the reason the name for Sind/Hind/Indus became a mistaken label for all South Asians - Panjab Sind Gujarat Maratha," said a third user.</p>

<p>''Interesting. In East Africa, Sikhs are called Kala Singha. An earliest immigrant Sikh was one Kala Singh and Indians with beard and similar turban like Kala Singh got the same name tag," wrote another netizen.&nbsp;</p>


Former Managing Director of Google and Twitter Parminder Singh recently took to X and shared a very interesting observation regarding ethnicity. In his post shared on April 14, Singh emphasised how Malaysians often refer to Sikhs as Bengalis.

Former Managing Director of Google and Twitter Parminder Singh recently took to X and shared a very interesting observation regarding ethnicity. In his post shared on April 14, Singh emphasised how Malaysians often refer to Sikhs as Bengalis. He further explained that not just Sikhs, but everybody from North India is perceived as Bengalis in the country. Singh decodes 'historicity' behind the 'ethnic' confusion Singh, clarifying the confusion, said that the people in Malaysia tend to refer to everyone from North India as Bengalis. He said that he was made aware of this by fellow Malay Indians in a meditation retreat in Malaysia. Also Read: Malaysia opens visa-free entry for Indian, Chinese travelers from Dec 1 Explaining the historical reason behind the confusion, Singh said, ''British India had three sea ports - Calcutta, Madras, and Bombay. British Malaya was served by ships from Calcutta and Madras. Most North Indians used the Calcutta port, the majority of whom were Sikhs recruited for army, police, and security jobs. To the Malay people, everyone who didn't come from Madras, essentially everyone from North India, was a Bengali." In Malaysia, Sikhs are often referred to as Bengalis! I recently learned this fact and the fascinating history behind it. British India had three sea ports - Calcutta, Madras, and Bombay. British Malaya was served by ships from Calcutta and Madras. Most North Indians used the… — Parminder Singh (@parrysingh) April 14, 2024 × ''In a lighter vein, some of them insisted on calling me Parry Dada (the Bengali term for elder brother). I suppose this is the opposite of how many of us North Indians tend to label everyone from the South as 'Madrasis'," he explained. Netizens share their own anecdotes Netizens appreciated the observation shared by Singh and wrote their own stories of how their ethnicities and cultures were misunderstood by people of other nationalities. "That is so amusing. Reminds me of what a salwar-kurta/kameez is called in Odisha. It is called, believe it or not, Punjabi!!! Imagine telling the shopkeeper there 'Show me colourful Punjabis'," said one user. Watch: Malaysia urges Meta and TikTok to tackle harmful content on platforms ''Yea all over the world we are undersrood differently as per their own perception, based on lack of knowledge but in reality we the Sikhs carry values of of each one of those. We are like a VIBGYOR of the world communities and hence all names are acceptable," wrote another netizen. (sic) "This is why colloquially many south Asians used to refer to every white person as “Angrez” (Angrez means English, not French/German/Scottish etc). And it's the reason the name for Sind/Hind/Indus became a mistaken label for all South Asians - Panjab Sind Gujarat Maratha," said a third user. ''Interesting. In East Africa, Sikhs are called Kala Singha. An earliest immigrant Sikh was one Kala Singh and Indians with beard and similar turban like Kala Singh got the same name tag," wrote another netizen.

North Indians are mistaken for Bengalis in THIS country. The simple reasoning dates back to British rule

A Malaysian restaurant has started an in-car dining service for its motorist patrons as a way to serve meals amid a Covid-19 lockdown that is limiting people from going to eateries. The Southeast Asian nation is struggling with a resurgent wave of the coronavirus that has infected more than 200,000 people and killed hundreds in recent months. To curb the spread, officials came up with a lockdown with rules including banning people from eating at restaurants in mid-January, allowing only for takeaway and deliveries. Getting around this, a restaurant chain in the city of Cyberjaya just outside Kuala Lumpur came up with a plan to bring their menus and meals to waiting customers without having to leave their steering wheels.

Lockdown-weary Malaysians get appetite for drive-in dining

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