The word "keling" DOES not mean that these race were slaves or criminals paraded in chains that went "clank clank" while in motion. Instead the word, "keling", along with "Bayi" and "Huan Na" has been bastardised by our local people and uttered with contempt. They use it as a derogatory term. That is the reason why those on the receiving end are not happy. Many a times such utterances has led to bloody encounters.
Infact the term, "Keling ah" refers to the Kingdom of Kalingha, which was a Republic in central-eastern India and comprised of most of the modern state of Orissa, as well as some northern areas of the bordering state of Andhra Pradesh.
Kalinga was a rich and fertile land and had a formidable maritime fleet, which established trading routes linking Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand, Vietnam, Borneo, Bali, Sumatra and Java. The people of the Kalingha were also good seafarers and traders. They brought along their culture to the people of this lands. That is the reason why you can find Indian sounding names in Thailand, Indonesia and many other SEA nations.
The word "Bayi", "Bangali" or "Mangkali" are also wrongly used on turbanned and bearded Sikhs, who are an Aryan race that hail from Alexander the Great and are found in the prosperous State of Punjab (under India). The rest of the Punjab became part of Pakistan since August 1947.
The actual Bengalis are from the Indian state of Bengal and today's Bangladesh. Bangladesh was formed in 1971 after a bloody struggle by the "Razakars and Mukti Bahini" (freedom fighters) led by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. These guerrila force was openly assisted and supported by the mighty Indian Army under the command of General Jagjit Singh Aurora.
That struggle (known as Indo-Pak War - Liberation of Bangladesh) ended with the surrender of the Pakistani Army under the control of General "Tiger" Niazi of Pakistan. Pakistan had held that part (now known as Bangladesh or Bengali Nation), as East Pakistan since August 1947. East Pakistan and West Pakistan (now the remaining portion of Pakistan) were two entities prior to 1971 and separated by thousands of kilometres of Indian territory.
The word "Huan Na" and "Khiaw Thor" has also been wrongly used against the Malay community. It is uttered with contempt by those who used it. The Malays are infact a very peaceful and religious lot. They too feel angry while addressed by such terms. Infact many an elderly Chinese still call them "Gulayu" instead of "Malayu" .
In conclusion, the proper and respectful term for Indians, Sikhs and Malays should be "Intu-lern", "Sikher-lern" and "Malai-lern", respectively.
Please correct me if I am wrong. Thank you
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