Desi

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

Desi (or Deshi; pronounced [ˈd̪eːsi] or [ˈd̪eːʃi], Hindi: देशी, Urdu: دیسی, Punjabi: ਦੇਸੀ, دیسی) is a Hindi/Urdu word literally meaning "of the country." In North America and Great Britain, it is used colloquially to mean South Asian immigrants and their descendants. This self-referential colloquialism for those of South Asian heritage living outside the Indian subcontinent was created in the United Kingdom during the early 1960s to late 1980s and is sometimes pronounced "dezzi." A similar (non-pejorative) self-referential word used by Italian-Americans is Paesano (often shortened to Paesan or used incorrectly as Paisan), meaning "countryman".

In this sense, it can include:

"Desi" can also refer to someone or something "local," "regional" or "indigenous" to the subcontinent (as opposed to videshi/bideshi/pardesi विदेशी, وِدسی meaning "foreign").

Contents

[edit] History

The term comes from Sanskrit देश deśa- ("region, province, country"). The word for country is "Des" or "Desh" in many languages in the Asian sub-continent. Desi thus means "of the homeland" in Languages of India and several other South Asian langages. For example, Bangladesh means "Bengali homeland."

During the heyday of the British Raj/Empire, many people from the then undivided Asian 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 the Partition of British territory. Families from the affected areas sought safety in various Commonwealth countries.

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]

[edit] 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 westernized restaurant dishes such as chicken tikka masala,[2] note that most of the 'Desi Food' in the UK and US are provided by the Bangladeshis, who own the majority of Indian Restaurants in the UK and parts of the US.

It may also mean "native" or "traditional." Common examples are "desi ghee," which is the traditional clarified butter of the Asian 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."

The infamous chicken tikka massala is also said to be invented by a Bengali chef in East London after a customer asked for gravy with his chicken tikka.

[edit] Writers

The diasporic Desi community are prolific in English. Some writers of note (alphabetical by last name):

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

[edit] 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. ^ Chandra, Sanjeev; Smita Chandra. "The story of desi cuisine: Timeless desi dishes", Toronto Star, Feb 07, 2008. Retrieved on 2008-05-13. 
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