One of the most interesting and enduring debates in academia and popular culture is over the use, prevalence, and necessity of the moniker “South Asian.” At its most basic level, the phrase describes the experiences of all the people who either live in the countries often identified as being in South Asia (India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, the Maldives, etc.) or who live elsewhere, but have ancestral roots that tie to this region. Yet, this very point that necessitates some resistance: how can two words possibly encapsulate the breadth of the experience?

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