Desi

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This article is about South Asian people. For other uses, see Desi (disambiguation).

Desi (or Deshi; pronounced [ˈd̪eːsi] or [ˈd̪eːʃi], Bangla: দেশী, Hindi: देसी, Marathi: देशी, Telugu: దెశీ, Tamil: தேசி, دیسی, Punjabi: ਦੇਸੀ) refers to the people and culture of the South Asian diaspora.

It includes British Asians, British Sri Lankans, British Indians, British Bangladeshis, and any other persons of South Asian heritage — with ancestry from India, Sri Lanka or Bangladesh — living outside of South Asia. Emigrants from South Asia are thus known as Desis.

The word is originally from Sanskrit, literally meaning "from the country" or "of the country". Note: The term is often used on slang basis and does not have any scientific, racial or ethnic meaning.

Contents

History

The term comes from Sanskrit देश deśa- ("region, province, country"). Its first usage is found in Natya Shastra, where it defines the regional varieties of folk dance and music, as opposed to the pan-Indian margi (classical).

The word for country is "Des" or "Desh" in many languages in the Asian sub-continent. Desi thus means "of the homeland" in many languages of India, and other countries of the subcontinent. Typically, "desi" is slang commonly used by Indians.

During the heyday of the British Raj, many people from the then-undivided Indian sub-continent emigrated to the UK or to other British colonies, in search of education and opportunity. The diaspora from what is now called South Asia increased dramatically following the riots and massacres of Partition. Families from the affected areas sought safety in various Commonwealth countries. Starting in the 1960s, the U.S. dramatically increased the amount of immigration permitted from Asia, leading to large immigration from the subcontinent.

Similarly, the split of the East Pakistan Wing from West Pakistan in 1971 required that the newly independent country obtain a name. The Awami League and the Bengalis (both East and West Bengal, even before partition) had colloquially referred to their homeland as 'Bangla-desh' meaning the homeland of Bengalis. The National Assembly then adopted 'Bangla Desh' as the name for the country.

Communities that have remained distinct in South Asia have tended to mix in diaspora. Some second or third generation immigrants, but not all, do not think of themselves as belonging to a particular nation, sub-culture, or caste, but as just plain South Asians or Desis. Some Desis are creating what can be called a "fusion" culture, in which foods, fashions, music, and the like from many areas of South Asia are "fused" with elements from Western culture.[1] For example, urban desi is a new genre of music formed by the fusion of traditional Indian and Western urban music.[2]

Performing arts

Natya Shastra refers to the regional varieties of folk dance and music elements as "desi", and states that these are meant as pure entertainment for common people, while the pan-Indian margi elements are to spiritually enlighten the audience. The medieval developments of the classical Indian dance and music lead to the introduction of desi karanas, in addition to the classical karanas codified in Natya Shastra. The desi karanas further developed into the present-day adavus.

Food

In the U.S. and U.K., "Desi food" most often refers to dishes commonly served in the South Asian communities of the diaspora, especially westernised restaurant dishes such as chicken tikka masala.[3]

It may also mean "native" or "traditional." Common examples are "desi ghee," which is the traditional clarified butter of the Indian subcontinent, as opposed to more processed fats such as vegetable oils. "Desi chicken" may mean a native breed of chicken. Heritage varieties of vegetables and other produce can also be qualified as "desi."

Desi Diet refers to a diet and food choices followed by the typical Indian around the world.

Internationally notable Desis

Notable people in the diasporic Desi community include:

Writers

Screenwriters

Artists

Musicians/singers

Actors

Directors

Doctors

  • Dr. Sanjay Gupta M.D., American neurosurgeon and CNN's Chief Health Correspondent
  • Dr. Vilayanur S. Ramachandran M.D., Ph.D., American neurologist and Director of the Center for Brain and Cognition

Scientists

Miscellaneous

See also

References

  1. ^ Kvetko, Peter. When the East is in the House: The Emergence of Dance Club Culture among Indian-American Youth. September 4, 2006.
  2. ^ http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=95739927
  3. ^ Chandra, Sanjeev; Smita Chandra (February 7, 2008). "The story of desi cuisine: Timeless desi dishes". Toronto Star. http://www.thestar.com/DesiLife/article/300969. Retrieved on 2008-05-13. 
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See also
1 An overseas departments of France in the western Indian Ocean and southwest Pacific Ocean
v • d • e
Pakistani diaspora
Asia
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Elsewhere
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