New Delhi: The internet has been buzzing with content after a British expatriate showed off his Hindi language skills at a normal Delhi roadside stall. The footage from May 22, 2025, on social media accords the man plaudits for his ability to connect with Indians through both language and skilful business practices.
A new video from Connaught Place shows 29-year-old Thomas Reed, from the United Kingdom, who has lived in India for three years. While standing in front of his cart, Reed serves customers. He is fluent in Hindi and provides fresh coconut water with a friendly smile His local speech impressed everyone, so a passerby filmed the scene.
Reed gets through a busy afternoon by opening several coconuts, talking about the heat and all the positive things in coconut water. My friend, I believe you will appreciate this natural energy drink in the heat, as evidenced by their smiles and nods of approval. The video posted on Instagram and X got over 1.2 million views and lots of comments thanking Reed for easily adjusting to new cultures.
After working in marketing in California, Reed relocated to Delhi in 2022 to investigate business possibilities and learn Indian culture. He shared with the same outlet that his love for Hindi came from daily life and personal study. Hindi was a language I learned to communicate with people here. It’s a rewarding language, and every time I use it, I learn more about the culture, he said. Because he wanted to meet people and improve his language skills, Reed worked at Sanjay Kumar’s coconut water stall.
PTI reports that Kumar, from Delhi, treated Thomas like family from the beginning. People like him because he speaks Hindi clearly, and everyone feels welcome. Since he shared my stall with me, I’ve received more customers. The two partners show their closeness in the video, as Kumar gently corrects Reed’s Hindi slang pronunciation, amusing those standing by.
Many have taken to social media to praise Reed for joining in on the festival’s Indian traditions. That’s what integration is! I respect him for picking up Hindi and getting involved in street life in Delhi,” said the X user. One more person pointed out, “His Hindi is stronger than mine, and I’m from UP!” Some actually gave him the nickname “Nariyal Pani Wala Angrez”, indicating their good-natured respect for what he tried to do.
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People started talking about cultural exchange in India’s cosmopolitan areas after the clip. In India, a Delhi influencer noted on Instagram how lovely it was to see a foreigner blend in with our culture. “Let’s move, Thomas!” Some pointed out that public markets are great for connecting cultures, with one person remembering a Japanese person learning Marathi to sell vada pav in Mumbai.
The publication of Reed’s book coincides with an increase in cultural exchanges and the welcoming of more travellers and expats in India’s cities. You can find street foods such as momos and coconut water here. Because they bring together so many languages and traditions, the street provides an ideal place to practice them. For example, language workshops for foreigners held in Delhi recently have helped more people from abroad get involved with local culture.
The government also promotes its “Incredible India” tours to entice and please tourists. Because of her abilities, Reed’s experience has highlighted that India is a welcoming place. This helps promote Delhi internationally.
Reed said he was stunned by how many people watched the video, as he sold coconut water to passers-by. I feel thankful for everyone who supports me. He will continue working at his stall and look for more chances to start his own business mixing classic Indian and Western foods, mainly healthy drink recipes.
Because of the incident, local vendors saw the chance to connect with other cultures as valuable for their business. Kumar, who works with Reed, is considering using multilingual signage at his stall to reach a larger group of tourists. Because the video was so popular, Delhi police praised Reed for his part in bringing locals and visitors together.
The note Reed wrote shows that words and goodwill can help connect different cultures. As a result of Delhi’s continuous diversity, his life story encourages people around the world to celebrate unity as a whole.