On March 8, Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented the 'Best International Creator' award to American content creator Andrew Hicks at the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. Mr. Hicks is known for his expertise in Hindi and Bhojpuri and has established his unique presence among his users on social media in India. Through his captivating chronicles of his travels and culinary adventures in India and the United States, Hicks has achieved great acclaim, especially for his fluent, if distinct, accent in Hindi. His original content has attracted many fans, on Instagram he has over 940,000 followers and on YouTube he has over 440,000 subscribers.
At the award ceremony, Prime Minister Modi personally presented the award to Drew Hicks, recognizing his tremendous influence as an international content creator. The audience erupted in laughter when PM Modi jokingly asked Hicks to speak in his distinctive Bhojpuri style. Though nervous, Mr. Hicks expressed his ambition to bring pride to India through his efforts.
Andrew Hicks, a US citizen with outstanding linguistic skills in Hindi and Bhojpuri, has captivated social media audiences with his viral Instagram and YouTube videos. Known for his unique accent and engaging content, Hicks receives millions of views on his videos.
In a recent Instagram post, Andrew Hicks expressed his amazement at his journey from being a garage-based YouTuber to meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and winning his first International Creator Award.
Andrew Hicks, who lived in India for 12 years, credits his language skills to his upbringing in Varanasi and Bihar. Under the influence of his father's business, he migrated to Varanasi at the age of five and later to Bihar, where his father ran a business specializing in Madhubani paintings. It was in Bihar that Hicks learned Bhojpuri and Hindi. During his stay in India, Hicks immersed himself in the local culture, learning Hindi and Bhojpuri from rickshaw drivers, peddlers, and friends. His skill in negotiation, a quintessentially Indian skill, further enriched his cultural experience.
Andrew Hicks shows his deep connection to India by frequently collaborating with video bloggers fluent in Indian languages, such as Korean video blogger Yachen Lee, who is fluent in Bhojpuri. As a YouTuber, Hicks shares his own experiences through travel vlogs in both India and the United States.
In an interview, he proudly declared, “Mera passport American hain par mein dil se Bihari hoon” (My passport is American, but I'm Bihari through and through) and became an American citizen. Despite this, he emphasized his strong affinity for Bihar. Hicks' passion for Indian food, especially samosas, is evident in his laments about the high prices and poor quality of snacks in the United States compared to his experience in his native India. With her language skills, cultural immersion, and engaging content, Hicks continues to influence the digital landscape, bridging cultures and engaging audiences around the world.
