Bhutanese students caught in Telengana crisis

January 31 – The wave of agitation in the southern Indian state, Andhra Pradesh for a separate state of Telengana that began about two months ago, has left Bhutanese students in a state of dilemma.

The Telengana region covers 10 of Andhra Pradesh’s 23 districts, including Hyderabad, the capital. The state has seen violent protests for and against the proposed new state affecting life and educational institutes in various sectors of the state, including Hyderabad city.

Speaking to Kuensel, Bhutanese students in Hyderabad told Kuensel that frequent strikes and protests affected their classes and examination as well.

The president of Bhutanese Students Association (BSA) of Hyderabad, Sonam Dorji, a fourth year law student of PG college of Law, Osmania University said that the situation was worse two weeks ago.

“The issue is calmer these days,” he said. “Our semester exam was rescheduled several times after which it was cancelled. We were told that we might have to give the exams along with the next semester exams in April-May.”

Students told Kuensel that they used to stay late every night and prepare for the exams only to be told in the mornings that the exams are cancelled. “It’s very disturbing and frustrating,” said one.

There are about 140 Bhutanese students studying in Hyderabad, said the BSA president, of which around 45 both under graduates and MA students are on government scholarship.

Indian media states that over 40 people, including students committed suicide during the agitation, followed by mass resignation of politicians over the issue, with some demanding for statehood, while others pitching for a unified state.

The director of University Foreign Relationship Office, Osmania University, Dr Swamy said that safety of foreign students including Bhutanese students are ensured. “The situation is under control as of now and the aexams would be conducted in April,” he said.

Ugyen Lhamo, a final year law student from Pendekanti Law College, Osmania University, said that the frequent rescheduling of exams and classes being cancelled really hampered their studies. “We have to give exams of two semesters together,” said Ugyen Lhamo adding that each semester has five papers.

“I hope that the issue would resolve soon but if it continues, chances are that we might get backlogs, which means we waste one year and this is a problem for students who are on scholarship,” she said.

There are nine Bhutanese students in Pendekanti Law College. “Students pursuing Law and Masters programmes are affected mostly with the exams being postponed,” she said. “It’s disturbing and we are all worried.”

Another student studying in Warrangal, told Kuensel that sometimes those on protest just barged in when classes were going on, asking everyone to leave. “We don’t have a choice but to quickly rush out of the classes,” said Sonam.

Indian media reported that the Telengana demand has been in existence for almost five decades. More than 400 people died in violence over the demand for a Telengana state in 1969. Primarily a student-driven protest, it turned historical for the number of people who took part in it. Osmania University was the movement’s source since then.

With the recent announcement made by the centre government on the formation of a committee to examine the demand for a separate Telangana, the situation is reported to be quite stable as of now.

source: kuensel