dehati

Dehati is a term used in several South Asian languages, especially Hindi and Urdu, to describe things related to the countryside. As an adjective, it denotes rural, rustic, village-based, or agrarian characteristics. As a noun, it can refer to a person from a rural area or to communities and cultures associated with rural life.

The word is derived from the Hindi term dehati, meaning rural or village-based life. It is used across media, literature, and everyday speech to distinguish rural from urban contexts. In practice, dehati can carry neutral, affectionate, or sometimes pejorative connotations depending on tone, audience, and intention.

In popular discourse, dehati is frequently used to discuss rural issues such as agriculture, regional languages and dialects, folk music and dance, traditional attire, and village governance. In contemporary politics and journalism, the term is often employed to contrast rural and urban perspectives on development, infrastructure, and social change, though it can risk caricature if used stereotypically.

In culture and media, dehati imagery appears in songs, films, and literature that portray village life, landscapes, and communities, contributing to a broader discourse on rural identity in South Asia. Related terms include dehat and the broader concept of the rural-urban divide.