HARD LESSONS

Approximately 22,500 Indian students were evacuated from Ukraine by the Government of India. Now, some of those students have approached the Supreme Court seeking formulation of a policy as a special measure to enable the Indian medical students who were studying in Ukraine to continue their medical education

- Shaan Katari Libby

Column/Indian Students Studying Abroad

THE invasion of Ukraine by Russia brought to the fore a completely unexpected angle as far as some of us were concerned the fact that Indian students form the majority of international students living there, and the sheer number of medical students in particular.

According to BBC, Ukraine was home to over 76,000 foreign students, according to government data from 2020. Nearly a quarter of the students were from Africa, and India accounts for the highest portion with over 20,000 students studying medicine, engineering and business and an important part of the country's economy.

Traditionally, the Indian diaspora is an important part of India's "soft diplomacy". It is said to have played a critical role in the Indo-US Nuclear deal. They also remit money back to India, and hence contribute to the growth of the country. The diaspora has ensured that India is well-known and well-regarded across the world.

This is not to say a diaspora in general, and the Indian diaspora in particular have been all positive...there has been support rendered to questionable groups, movements and fundamentalist/extremist parties.

Nevertheless, the diaspora is undeniably an important part of our extended networks/reach across the globe. Whether one can call the students temporarily studying in a foreign country a formal part of the diaspora is arguable, but nevertheless-they are Indians abroad who represent India. Hence to hear stories of how they were stranded, not given sufficient warning, treated badly by authorities and so on was upsetting to say the least, and it was tragic to hear of the student who died when he stepped out to buy food.