Indian students in Nepal plan to return as soon as situation normalises
For thousands of Indian students who chose Nepal for its affordable medical and higher education opportunities, a pall of gloom descended on campuses, as the Gen Z uprising brought the country to a standstill. Most students are still in the confines of their hostels, waiting for normalcy to return, as the edition went to print. A few students who managed to reach the airport could take a flight back to India, but a large number of students are hopeful for the bus services to resume by Monday, which may ease the situation.
Akshay Kumar Verma, 22, a second-year MBBS student at Chitvan Medical College CMC, Bharatpur, Nepal, says, "The situation here is uncertain, and we do not know if it will become completely normal soon. A supermarket that students relied on to buy daily essentials nearby has been burnt down by protestors. The college administration has suspended classes and cancelled supplementary exams, confining around 50 students to their hostel. With colleges shut and exams postponed, our academic schedule is in limbo. We worry that the course duration may get extended, and this is adding to the fear we already face about our safety," says Akshay who is from Lucknow.
Deafening Silence
The lack of communication from the college administration has been equally concerning. "We have not heard from the administration; they have simply asked us to stay in touch with our families and the embassy. There are nearly 100 Indian students enrolled in this college, and this silence from our hosts has exacerbated the fear and isolation," Akshay says.
Gorakhpur boy Pritam Mishra, 24 name changed, a final year MBBS student of Universal College of Medical Science, Lumbini district, is however relatively calm, having seen such "turbulences" during his four-year stint. As a member of the Global Medical Society GMS Nepal, he and his team members are in constant touch with the Indian Embassy which they say "denies any help". With partial curfew, and huge power cuts in Kathmandu and Pokhara, many of the students are feeling mentally drained, he adds. Anuj name changed, a 2nd-year MBBS student from Bihar at CMC is equally wistful. He says, "Our classes have been suspended, exams postponed, and even the results of the last semester are delayed." Meanwhile, universities have postponed exams until late October or shifted classes online.
With inputs from Divyansh Kumar, Debasmita Dasgupta and Rajlakshmi Ghosh
POSTED BY : EDUCATION TIMES
DATE : 15/09/2025
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