What is Desi?

Desi means belonging to India, of Indian origin, or native of India

In Hindi, 'Desh' means Nation. Deshi means belonging to the nation. Desi is a corruption of the word Deshi.

Let us look at how the term Desi is used

Desi Ghee

In India, the real Ghee (rendered from butter) is called 'Desi Ghee', meaning real Ghee.
While Dalda, a shortening made of hydrogenated peanut oil is called 'Vilaiti Ghee', Vilaiti literally meaning foreign.

Desi Khana

Khana means food. This is traditional Indian food. Of course, the food itself varies from region to region.

Desi Bhai

'Desi Bhai', means native Indian brethren.

During 1990s, nationalism started to take root in India. Desi became a native of India who was born in India. It had to also preserve the cultural roots. A term was needed to distinguish Indians born and raised in India from the second generation Indians in UK, USA or Australia.

It became fashionable to call one-self as Desi, as opposed to Indian, Hindustani, or Pakistani.

Current definition of a Desi : An Indian born and raised in India, and proud of it