Many Indian students have decided to return to war-torn Ukraine to finish their medical education. Although Ukraine and Russia are currently engaged in a prolonged conflict, they have made this decision for several reasons.
The primary reason is that the military situation in Ukraine has hindered internet connectivity for several months, and online lessons are not being conducted consistently there. The medical studies of Indian students in the nation have been completely suspended.
22-year-old Nabeel Syed from Maharashtra has returned to Bogomolets National Medical University in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv. While talking to Print, he said that his parents were against his decision and they call him 8-9 times a day. He took this desperate decision as 10-15 students had already returned to Kyiv last week.
Another reason is that the Supreme Court of India recently ruled that despite several petitions and protests, Indian students who were enrolled in Ukrainian medical schools would not be admitted to Indian medical colleges since the law does not permit such admission. The case is filed for the same and is still pending, and the next hearing is set for Tuesday, October 11. Justice Hemant Gupta, who will retire on October 16, is hearing the case.
As a study abroad expert I can comprehend the dilemma of the students missing their studies due to the war. But I advise the students to wait for one more day and hope for a positive response from the Supreme Court of India. It will be wise to stay back in the home country for another day instead of risking lives in the conflict.
But many students have chosen to return to the nation to continue their education instead of waiting for the verdict because Ukraine is a less expensive option than many Indian medical institutes. Medical aspirants have decided to return to Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Vinnytsia, three western Ukrainian cities far from active battle zones in comparatively safer regions.
Indian medical students returning to war-torn Ukraine are hearing advice like “come at your own risk,” “be prepared for air raid sirens twice a day,” and “expect food prices to be inflated” from their peers and professors.
