Desi: South Asians in New York

“Desi” is a Hindi word for “countryman” or “people of the soil,” but in America it has come to mean any member of the South Asian community, reflecting a growing sense of cultural unity among Indians, Pakistanis, Bangladeshis, Sri Lankans, and Nepalis living in this country. Numbering over 200,000, the members of this diaspora represent a wide variety of cultural and religious traditions—Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Syrian Christian, South Asian Jewish—and immigrant experiences. Through interviews with religious community leaders, Bhangra DJ Rekha, stand-up comedian Alladin, and Punjabi cab drivers, and with running commentary from New York Times journalist Somini Sengupta, this film is an excellent introduction to the vibrant and ever-expanding South Asian communities of New York City.

Aseem Chhabra, “Desi, a huge hit in pardes,” Rediff. March 16 2000.
http://www.rediff.com/us/2000/mar/16us2.htm

V Thakkar, “New York’s South Asians do the talking on new TV show,” Indian Express. March 31 2000.
http://sree.net/quotes/fedesi.html

Michelle Caswell, “Documenting Desis: An Interview with Shebana Coelho,” AsiaSource. May 3, 2002.