Desi:The Definition Of Ethnic Pride

What is Desi? It is a question some may ask themselves if they are not familiar with the term. Especially if there are not of South Asian descent. Even if one knows the term, they may not know its history. And there is a long history of the term, which is a topic for another time. In this article, we are going to define Desi in the context of being ethnic pride of its people.

The term Desi is defined as “a person of Indian, Pakistani, or Bangladeshi birth or descent who live abroad.” The word is derived from Sanskrit meaning “land or country.” When the term was first introduced it was a loose term. It had many negative connotations in the beginning. But with time, the definition started to mean something positive to its people. It is now a term of ethnic pride.

As South-Asians migrated from around the world, communities grew. And with that migration, the term evolved, reclaimed by anyone who has such heritage. It is a representation of a fusion of history and culture that allows any Desi person to embrace their heritage while living outside of their home country.

Mixed with Western and South-Asian culture, a new culture has evolved. Desi women are finally embracing every part of themselves in this new kind of culture. They are allowing themselves to explore both traditional and modern beauty, fashion, and culture. Even more so, they are becoming more confident and open with who they are.

The Win Of Miss America:

For example, in 2013 Nina Davuluri has crowned Miss America. She is the first winner with South-Asian heritage. This makes her the first “Desi” Miss America. For her talent performance, she danced to the song Dhoom Taana from the film Om Shanti Om. Until her amazing showcase of talent, no Bollywood routine was ever performed on American television. This win for Desi women helped introduce Bollywood films to American society.

Desi Culture in Western Music

Music has also changed thanks to Desi culture. Many types of music, especially hip hop, have evolved into something that is inclusive of this identity. Desis like Akshay Kuma help identify the challenges of South-Asians through their music. At a young age, Pop-culture enthusiast Anjula Acharia-Bath was introduced to Desi urban music making her a fan. This made her a strong believer that music can help change and express anything. In an interview for NPR, she says “…we needed to create something that defined us and was our identity, but makes us feel really good about this bicultural life that we lead.” Thanks to Desi urban music, many Desis can discover their unique identities and explore the beauty of Desi culture while also enjoying art.

Fashion and Beauty:

The Desi community also influences fashion and beauty. There are many female-owned brands that cater to Desi people. And many of these brands both embrace the culture and also allow for self-expression and identity exploration. They also donate to many nonprofits that send help back to their countries of origin. These brands help people feel empowered to be who they are. Especially since they also serve as a reminder of where they come from.

The term Desi has a long history. But it is now well-known for the diversity and inclusion that it promotes to society. Desi culture is expanding into the food, fashion, beauty, movies, and music industry. There is a lot of diversity happening within the culture and with anyone who identifies with it. Being Desi now means that you have grown and evolved into someone with a lot of cultural significance. It means belonging to something greater in our ever-evolving society