Английская Википедия:Desi

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Файл:Location of Indian Subcontinent.svg

A map of the Indian subcontinent, depicting the republics of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh from which Desis originate

DesiШаблон:Efn (IPA: Шаблон:IPAc-en; also Deshi)Шаблон:Efn is a loose term used to describe the people, cultures, and products of the Indian subcontinent and their diaspora, derived from Sanskrit देश (deśá), meaning "land, country". Desi traces its origin to the people from the South Asian republics of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh,Шаблон:Efn and may also sometimes include people from Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and the Maldives.

Etymology

The ethnonym belongs in the endonymic category (i.e., it is a self-appellation). Desi (Шаблон:Lang/Шаблон:Lang desī) is a Hindustani (Hindi-Urdu) word, meaning 'national', ultimately from Sanskrit Шаблон:IAST, derived from Шаблон:IAST (Шаблон:Lang) 'region, province, country'. The first known usage of the Sanskrit word is found in the Natya Shastra (~200 BCE), where it defines the regional varieties of folk performing arts, as opposed to the classical, pan-Indian margi. Thus, Шаблон:IAST (Шаблон:Lang-sa) refers to one's own country or homeland, while Шаблон:IAST (Шаблон:Lang-sa) refers to another's country or a foreign land.

Usage

The word Desi is widely used by South Asians, as well those of the South Asian diaspora, to describe themselves; those of South Asian origin, especially Indians, Pakistanis and Bangladeshis, use the term "as a means of asserting or reclaiming a sense of pride" in being South Asian, "particularly in the face of racism, discrimination, and stigmatization" of minorities in various parts of the world. With regard to usage of the word Desi, Helen Kim writes:

Шаблон:Blockquote Among teenagers who have ancestral roots in the Indian subcontinent, the term Desi is "embraced to elucidate a new inclusive identity of South Asians in the US, who participate as 'public consumers and producers of a distinctive, widely circulating cultural and linguistic forms'." To this end, channels such as MTV Desi have recognized "the transnational nature of Desi youth culture, writers, producers, and VJs" and have shared "a range of topics relating to life in South Asia and the South Asian diaspora worldwide".

"Desi" is sometimes perceived as offensive among some South Asian expatriates, as they claim that it erases the diversity of cultural identities within the South Asian community, and that it primarily identifies the dominant North Indian community while excluding other South Asian groups. Some resist the label, citing historical Indian imperialism and cultural hegemony. They believe that terms like "Desi" impose a homogenous identity and fail to acknowledge the pluralistic nature of South Asian communities. Alternatives like "South Asian" or "Brown" have been proposed, but they also have their limitations and can be perceived as misleading or exclusive. While some individuals find the term "South Asian" inclusive and encompassing, others feel it does not fully capture their specific backgrounds. The complexity and diversity of the diaspora necessitate recognizing multiple identities and resisting the tendency to homogenize or erase particular communities.

Among non-diaspora South Asians, the term Desi is sometimes used to indicate that a person is rural, unexposed to foreign/modern culture, and more deeply steeped in native South Asian culture.

History

The word "Desi" comes from the Sanskrit word "Desh" meaning "country". The word "Desi" is used to refer to something "from the country" and with time its usage shifted more towards referring to people, cultures, and products of a specific region; for example, desi food, desi calendars, and desi dress.

Desi contrasts with the Hindustani language word vilāyati (Anglicised as "Blighty") meaning 'foreign', which more specifically came to mean 'European', and 'British; English' during the time of the British Raj in colonial India. The Bengali word is a loan of Indian Persian Шаблон:Transliteration (Шаблон:Lang), from Шаблон:Transliteration (Шаблон:Lang) meaning 'Iran' and later 'Europe' or 'Britain', ultimately from Arabic Шаблон:Transliteration Шаблон:Lang meaning 'state, province'.

After the passage of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, the United States dramatically increased immigration from the subcontinent. As increasing numbers of students from the subcontinent arrived in the US and UK, their countries of origin were colloquially referred to as Шаблон:IAST. For example, all things Indian including Indian expatriates were referred to as "desi".

Culture

Файл:Buckeye Mela IX - Spartan Bhangra.jpg

South Asian university students celebrate Desi culture through dance at the Ohio State University.

Файл:Surahi in samrup rachna calligraphy.jpg

"Surahi" written in Samrup Rachna calligraphy used to write Hindustani, which is widely spoken throughout the northern part of the Indian subcontinent as a lingua franca.

Frank Anthony, an Anglo-Indian Christian leader who helped write the Constitution of India stated that unlike Europe, “[colonial] India had achieved a basic ethnic and cultural unity.” (the boundaries of colonial India include the modern-day republics of independent India, as well as what is now Pakistan and Bangladesh.)

In the United States, as in other countries, some diaspora desis are creating a "fusion" culture, in which foods, fashions, music, and the like from many areas of South Asia are "fused" both with each other and with elements from Western culture.Шаблон:Primary source inline For example, Urban Desi is a genre of music formed by the fusion of traditional South Asian music and Western urban music. The growing demand of popular programming for South Asians caused MTV to launch the desi-targeted television channel MTV Desi.

In the United Kingdom, desi communities have continued the fusion culture which first emerged during the 89 year rule of the British Raj in colonial India, influencing British music, art, fashion and food. There are now dedicated radio stations catering to British-South Asians such as the BBC Asian Network.

In Canada, desis have established sizable ethnic enclaves in areas such as Brampton, Ontario (suburban Toronto) and Surrey, British Columbia (suburban Vancouver).

Performing arts

The 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 led to the introduction of desi gharanas, in addition to the classical gharanas codified in Natya Shastra. The desi gharanas further developed into the present-day adavus. There is raga in Indian classical music known as "Desi".

Food and drink

Шаблон:Main In regions of South Asia, desi in the context of food, implies "native" or "traditional". For example, "Desi chicken" may refer to a native breed of chicken. This word is also usually restricted to Sanskrit-derived (Indo-Aryan) languages.

Heritage varieties of vegetables and other produce can also be qualified as "desi". "Desi diet" refers to a diet and food choices followed by Indians around the world. Desi daru refers to "country liquor", such as fenny, toddy and arrack. It is differentiated from Indian-made foreign liquor such as Indian-made whisky, rum, or vodka.

Desi pubs

Шаблон:Main In the United Kingdom, the term Desi pub is used to describe a pub which is owned or managed by an Indian landlord, or which serves Punjabi food. They developed during the 1960s and 1970s at a time when some British pubs enforced color bars to prevent Indians and other immigrants from drinking there. Desi pubs are especially common in the Black Country and surrounding areas of the West Midlands. As well as drinking places, they also act as community hubs and meeting places for people from different backgrounds and are considered to be an example of successful integration of Indian immigrants into British culture.

See also

• South Asian culture
• Little Bangladesh
• Little India
• Little Pakistan
• Pinoy, an analogous term for Filipinos
• South Asian Heritage Month
• Indian Arrival Day