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Comedian traces Indian American immigration journey in viral reel
Patel, who grew up in Parsippany, New Jersey, was the first Indian-American writer for Saturday Night Live.
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Malvika Choudhary - Wed, 16, Apr 2025
- 13:56 EDT
- 228
Nimesh Patel / Instagram
Indian-American comedian Nimesh Patel has gone viral for humorously charting how the Indian diaspora has come to dominate American life.
In a sharp, fast-paced monologue titled “Who Even Asked Us to Come Here?”, Patel traced Indian American journey through what he called “gas, meds, and beds,” describing the success of Indian-owned motels, gas stations, and medical practices.
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“I thought most Indian people ended up here in the 70s and 80s, which is when my parents showed up. It’s not true,” Patel said in the viral reel.
Patel retold key historical moments, including the 1923 Supreme Court case of Bhagat Singh Thind, a Punjabi World War I veteran who was denied U.S. citizenship with a comic bite: “Is this brown guy white? Nope. Go back to India.”
He then fast-forwarded to the post-1965 immigration boom following the repeal of the Asian Exclusion Act, joking that for 40 years, Indians had been preparing for their return. “They’re gonna need gas stations. They’re gonna need motels. They’re gonna need cardiologists. Gas, meds, and beds, baby.”
The reel sparked conversation online, with viewers praising it as “intelligent comedy” and sharing anecdotes about early South Asian immigration, including Punjabi-Mexican communities.
Patel, who grew up in Parsippany, New Jersey, was the first Indian-American writer for Saturday Night Live. A former pre-med student at NYU who switched to finance and later to stand-up, he became one of the most recognizable Indian-American comedians. His work was known for blending personal immigrant narratives with sharp cultural commentary.
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