videsh

Videsh is a Hindi noun meaning foreign country or the outside world. It is used in reference to international affairs, foreign travel, or comparisons between India and other nations. The term also appears in other South Asian languages with similar forms and meanings.

Etymology: Videsh is derived from Sanskrit vidēśa (विदेश), formed from vi- meaning “away” and deśa meaning “land” or “country.” In modern Hindi, the form videsh is common, and the related adjective videshi means foreign or of foreign origin.

Usage and phrases: Videsh occurs in many compound terms and phrases. For example, vidēs niti refers to foreign policy; vidēśī mudrā (videshi mudra) means foreign currency; expressions such as “videsh meṁ” convey the sense of being abroad. In journalism and governance, videsh is used to denote the foreign or international sphere as a policy area or topic of discussion.

Distinctions: Videsh as a noun denotes the foreign land or the international arena, while its adjective form videshi describes foreign-origin or foreign-made people and things. The term also appears in various formal and bureaucratic expressions to designate international relations, diplomacy, and cross-border affairs.

See also: Foreign policy, International relations, Foreign currency.