Suketu Patel opens up about identity crisis, says wife Hallie encouraged him to embrace his roots
Indian-American influencer Suketu Patel revealed how his American wife, Hallie, helped him reconnect with his cultural roots and embrace his Indian identity. Sharing his thoughts on their joint Instagram account, halfpastchai, Patel admitted, “My wife made me more Indian, reported gujaratsamachar.com.”
In a candid video, Patel spoke about the identity struggles many Indian-Americans face growing up in the US. “Everyone around them is white. So you try and be that. I tried to be white all throughout my high school years. But then I ran into this girl… Hallie was the first person to ask about my culture and be like, ‘What does this mean? Why do you do this?’” he said.
Patel says he tried to fit into a ‘white’ identity in high school but his wife’s curiosity about his culture changed everything
Hallie’s genuine curiosity, Patel explained, encouraged him to embrace his background and traditions. “It made me start to think—I love who I am, I love my culture. I think I lost a lot of that because I tried to be someone I wasn’t. I truly think I’m more Indian because of Hallie. She just helped me be more myself,” he concluded.
Netizens reacted warmly, calling the story ‘wholesome’ and praising Hallie for encouraging Patel to embrace his culture.
The video has since garnered nearly 58,000 views, with many viewers leaving heartfelt comments. One user wrote, “This is so wholesome!! I hope I make my husband comfortable to be himself!!” Another said, “Hallie is an amazing person for encouraging you to be yourself and embracing your culture.”
Some even shared their own experiences, with one non-Indian user admitting, “I used to date only Indian men because of the culture and the accent.”