Baksheesh
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Baksheesh is a term used to describe both charitable giving and certain forms of political corruption and bribery in the Middle East and Southwest Asia.
[edit] Origins
The word baksheesh has its origins in the Persian bakshish (بخشش) which means "gift." Bakhsheesh is one of the many Persian words which moved eastward through trade and the Mogul Empire.
[edit] Types of baksheesh
- Charity to beggars. In Pakistan beggars will solicit alms by crying 'baksheesh, baba!'.
- Tipping. This does not correlate with the American system of tipping a waiter. Rather it is a sign of gratitude, respect or veneration. An offering to the gods may be considered baksheesh. A faqir may also ask for baksheesh but there is no thought in his mind that he is begging. In fact, in Pakistan and the Muslim world the giver of alms often salutes the beggar for having been given the opportunity to gain merit.
- Outright bribery. For instance, if a police officer catches you with a chillum full of charas you may have the choice between going to jail or paying baksheesh.
[edit] European Usage
The word also moved westward. In Serbian, as well as Bulgarian бакшиш means "tip" in the conventional sense.
Franklin Roosevelt assured the Zionist leader Chaim Weizmann that Arab objections to the creation of the Jewish state would be ameliorated by a "little baksheesh."
