These students, initially fearing the end of their academic journey, have found a new beginning in Uzbekistan following the Indian Embassy’s collaboration with the university to facilitate their transfers
These students, initially fearing the end of their academic journey, have found a new beginning in Uzbekistan following the Indian Embassy’s collaboration with the university to facilitate their transfers
More than 1,000 Indian MBBS students who fled Ukraine have resumed their studies at Samarkand State Medical University in Uzbekistan. MBBS, which stands for “Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery,” is an international undergraduate medical degree offered in Europe, Asia, and Africa.
Ukraine has been the subject of Russian aggression in the last few months. The international students in the country have been terribly affected by the ongoing conflict, forcing them to look for ways to get out of Ukraine safely.
The Indian students, initially fearing the end of their academic journey, have found a new beginning in Uzbekistan following the Indian Embassy’s collaboration with the university to facilitate their transfers, the Financial Express reported.
Amit from Bihar’s Begusarai, one of the students who transferred to Uzbekistan, shared his harrowing experience of spending a night in a Ukrainian basement during the Russian attack.
“I thought I wouldn’t make it and would either die or be stranded in Ukraine. Once I was back home in India, me and my family were relieved but then began the never-ending cycle of uncertainty about what was next,” Amit told PTI via the news outlet.
Amit was only rescued under the “Operation Ganga” initiative launched by the Indian government. The student was just one of the 18,282 Indian nationals who were evacuated from Ukraine.
After returning to India, Amit faced uncertainty about his future but ultimately decided to move to Uzbekistan.
“I had finished three years of my MBBS in Ukraine, and to start all over again or pursue something else was not an option I wanted to consider. I later decided to move to Uzbekistan,” Amit said.
Despite the higher living expenses in Samarkand, Amit and the other MBBS student evacuees from Ukraine expressed gratitude for the opportunity to continue their education.
Meanwhile, Tanwi Wadhva, who initially studied at Bukovinian State Medical University in Ukraine, shared her online learning experience for eight months and her fears about losing a semester.
Wadhva, who hails from Punjab’s Ferozepur City, found solace in the decision to join the Samarkand State Medical University, emphasizing the university’s warm accommodation of students.
Divyansh from Meerut, echoing the sentiments of his peers, praised Uzbekistan’s universities for offering instruction in English and maintaining a curriculum similar to Ukraine. He also emphasized the perceived safety in Samarkand compared to the uncertain conditions in Ukraine.
Deepika Kaidala Jayaramaiah, a student from Karnataka, spoke of her priority to move to a peaceful country after witnessing the war situation in Ukraine. She expressed gratitude for the opportunity to resume her medical journey in Uzbekistan, emphasizing the importance of peace and stability in her academic pursuits.
Samarkand Vice Chancellor Zafar Aminov said the Indian Embassy approached them to facilitate the transfer of affected students, leading to the enrollment of over 1,000 Indian students with a semester back. He said the university made an effort to hire 30 additional Indian teachers to ensure a smooth transition for the students.
“Operation Ganga” is the Indian government’s initiative to bring back its citizens stranded in Ukraine. It focused on the thousands of Indian students, including those studying medicine, as per Indian Express report. The operation dedicated 24/7 control centers to facilitate evacuations through border crossing points in Hungary, Poland, Romania, and the Slovak Republic.
Amid the closure of Ukraine’s airspace due to Russia’s “special military operations,” Indian students faced uncertainty. The Indian Embassy assured them of alternative arrangements for their return. The evacuation began with flights from Bucharest, Romania, bringing back 219 Indians to Mumbai, followed by subsequent flights to Delhi and Budapest.
Challenges emerged as students attempting to cross borders into Poland and Romania faced entry restrictions, leading to distressing situations highlighted in social media videos.
The government responded by identifying an alternate train route from Uzhhorod in western Ukraine to Budapest, Hungary, to facilitate the evacuation of stranded students. In total, approximately 19,000 Indian students were studying in Ukraine when the Russian invasion began in February 2021.
While some have returned to Ukraine, choosing to reside in the western part of the country, many have opted to continue their studies in countries such as Russia, Serbia, and various European nations.
