An Indian-American woman named Dhara has gone viral after sharing the compelling reasons why she chose to return to India with her husband and twins after living in the United States for 17 years. Dhara, who moved to the US at the age of 15, eventually married an Indian-origin man and had their children there, but the couple made the big decision to return to their motherland.
In two recent videos shared on Instagram (@twinsbymyside), Dhara explained the primary motivations behind their relocation.
Reason 1: Community and Cultural Belonging
Dhara’s first and most personal reason for the move centered on her desire for her children to grow up immersed in their heritage.
“In India, my twins are growing up with our prayers, our stories and what culture really feels like, not just what it sounds like on a holiday,” she explained in her video.
She emphasized the desire for her children to develop a deep sense of community and belongingness that she felt was missing in their US experience.
Reason 2: The Crippling Cost of US Healthcare
The second, and highly practical, reason for the family’s return was the rising cost and inflexibility of the US healthcare system, which she said hit home once she became a mother.
Maternity Leave Shock
Dhara highlighted the stark difference in parental support:
- US Experience: After having twins, she was entitled to only six weeks of maternity leave to recover and adjust to motherhood. She felt expected to return to “normal life” while still healing and exhausted.
- Indian Contrast: In India, women are entitled to a significantly longer 26 weeks of maternity leave.
Skyrocketing Insurance Premiums
Beyond the short leave, the financial burden of health insurance in the US became unsustainable for the family:
- High Deductibles: Dhara revealed that the family had to hit a massive $14,000 deductible every single year before their insurance would even begin to provide assistance. She clarified that this meant they paid out-of-pocket for every doctor visit and test until that yearly deductible was met.
- Rising Premiums: The couple’s insurance premiums continued to rise, reaching a point where the cheapest quote they received was $1,600 per month—and this figure did not even include their twins.
- Stressful Process: She described the experience, stating, “Even simple concerns became expensive, slow, and stressful,” with the couple forced to jump through hoops just to receive basic care.
Accessible Healthcare in India
Dhara stressed that her experience in India has been a complete contrast:
“In India, healthcare doesn’t feel like a luxury. We have access to good doctors, quicker care and a support system that actually feels accessible,” she said.
Dhara’s videos, articulating a dilemma faced by many Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), have resonated deeply, achieving over 2.2 million views on Instagram and garnering significant attention on X.