The abrupt war in Ukraine between Russia and the Ukrainian defence has taken many across the world by surprise and especially Indian students who have been studying medicine there. Countless students from across the length and breadth of the country go to Russia and Ukraine to study medicine since the price of the courses is relatively cheaper and the qualifying rank required is not as tough as it is among the limited seats available in Indian institutes.
Given the situation there, the task for them is to now leave the country even as the bombs rain around them. The Indian government has made tremendous efforts to evacuate its citizens after the airspace closed forcing them to bring the students via land borders and from neighbouring countries back home. The first few flights bringing students back home touched down over the last few days bringing relief to the anxious parents back home. Flights are expected to continue over the coming days.
However, unfortunately, social media has been rife with comments questioning why the students go to countries like Ukraine in the first place to study medicine. The comments were prompted by the Prime Minister himself questioning the motive of the students and quite unkindly questioning why they were there when they could choose to study in India itself, which he keeps saying is the Vishwaguru and the centre of learning.
These comments as well as those on social media are poorly timed. The reality is that students travel abroad to study for various reasons and one could argue that travelling abroad gives the students an exposure to a wider world view, besides the experiences to the students. That’s not the only point. Indian citizens are in various countries of the world right now for various reasons.
It is not the job of the government to be questioning their motives or reasons to be there. Instead, the government has a responsibility to bring them back simply because they are Indian citizens and for no other reason. They may be students and they may have gone for work, or even for holiday. The fact that they are Indian citizens, the government of India has a responsibility towards them.
While the government is doing its best to evacuate them given the circumstances, to suggest that they are doing them a favour by evacuating them is a poor test. The comments by the Prime Minister suggest that it is a burden on the government to get back the students stuck abroad, while also indicating that in some ways students are responsible for getting caught in the crossfire of a war. This is nothing short of victim-blaming and deeply insensitive, to say the least.
It would be wise that the government and its foreign missions desist from such a judgemental tone and indeed focus on the job at hand that is reaching out to those in need and bringing them home. It is their bounden duty towards fellow citizens.
