[Video] - 'KELING' origin of the word as explained by an Indian

[UltimaOnline]

A new series on the channel where we talk/ discuss about some of the topics that has not been widely discussed around. On this episode, Daview talked about the most controversial word being used against the Indians, especially here in Malaysia, namely "Keling".

 

[bobby]

This is how it came about.....

Last time in the 60s, there were an abundant of Ah Neh workers coming in to SG & MY to work as labourers from South India & then Ceylon....basically the tamil speaking variety.

These were mainly the bachelors and/or husbands leaving their wives and families behind.

After working in the plantations, sewerage and factories, these single men only had time to spend watching movies in the cinemas.

Those days in the 1960s & 70s, the popular shows were the westerns featuring tough guys actors like John Wayne and Clint Eastwood.

These Ah Nehs were very fascinated particularly with Clint Eastwood as he was tough, handsome and always the good guy.

All Ah Nehs wanted to be like this hero and aspire to be as dashing as Clint was.

So whenever their angmo boss ask them what is their name...they will say that it is "Clint" to impress their bosses.

But alas....with the very strong uneducated tamil accent, the name "clint" came across as "ker ling" in the ears on their bosses.

The rest is history......

 

[syed putra]

How did it come to this.
The keling dominated entire south east asia right up to vietnam and parts of philippines and now being looked down upon.
The malay sultanate some have indian blood. Kedah for example, since the days of raja chola 1000 years ago.
The british brought indian prisoners as labourers and that probably tarnished their image unlike in java where indian/ hindu tradition continues and flourish.

 

[laksaboy]

Keling is no more offensive than Pinoy is for Filipinos, but expect quite a few cancel culture SJWs to police your speech by calling it racist or an ethnic slur.

 

[Semaj2357]

hanor, the other more plausible version among the locals was that the Indians had buffaloes and cows in tekka (kerbau road) with bells attached to them and the sound of ke-ling, ke-leng was to signal the imminent arrival of fresh milk / mutton for sale. a lot of the Indians also had their younger brothers help out and the m&ds quoted "lu punya adek' when bargaining and comparing for cheaper prices....it then gave rise to "pun-dek" for short

 

[tanwahtiu]

The young girls wear bangles on their ankles. When they walk pass the bangles made Kiling killings sounds... keling girls coming....

 

[Cottonmouth]

What about Shitskin?
Can he talk about the origins and history of shitskin?

 

[Cottonmouth]

How did it come to this.
The keling dominated entire south east asia right up to vietnam and parts of philippines and now being looked down upon.
The malay sultanate some have indian blood. Kedah for example, since the days of raja chola 1000 years ago.
The british brought indian prisoners as labourers and that probably tarnished their image unlike in java where indian/ hindu tradition continues and flourish.

Lanjiao...