The recent unrest in West Asia and the deadlock at the Medical College in Jammu are a double blow to Kashmiri students aspiring to study MBBS.
In view of the recent controversy over the medical college in Jammu and tension in Iran, the obstacles for Kashmiri students aspiring to become doctors are increasing. Iran has been the preferred destination for Kashmiri students aspiring to become doctors for decades. Usually, countries like Ukraine, Russia, China and Bangladesh are mentioned when it comes to medical studies abroad, but Iran has been special for the students of Kashmir. The reason is that along with education being cheap, history, culture and faith connect them there.
According to Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA), the number of Kashmiri students in Iran is more than 2,000, of which 95 percent are studying medicine. But in the era of Iran-Israel war and recent protests in Iran, the difficulties of students aspiring to study abroad have again come to the fore. Earlier, due to the war in Ukraine, thousands of medical students from there had to leave their studies midway and return to India.
The main reason for Iran’s attraction is cheap education. The cost of MBBS in any private medical college in India can be more than Rs 1 crore. Along with this, heavy donation fees also have to be paid here. Due to the tough competition in NEET or NEET, admission to government colleges remains out of reach of most students. This is the situation when MBBS seats have increased to about 1.18 lakh. But NEET is still a very tough exam, which is difficult to crack.
Iran offers an affordable option as the total cost of completing MBBS studies there usually falls between Rs 20-30 lakh. That includes fees, hostel rent and living expenses. There are no capitation or donation fees. This means a lot for middle-income families in Kashmir.
Till recently, Bangladesh was also a popular destination for Indian students. But due to the increasing fees there, the expenditure has now started reaching Rs 40-45 lakh, and there are very few places for admission. Iran is a better option because of its government universities and cheap fees. Institutions like Tehran University of Medical Sciences also offer English medium courses at low cost.
Apart from expenditure, Iran’s attraction in Kashmir is also due to historical-cultural reasons. Kashmir is often called Iran-e-Sagheer or Little Iran. It is a legacy of Persian cultural and religious influence dating back to the 13th century, particularly the teachings of Mir Syed Ali Hamadani. Persian language, architecture, poetry and religious customs have left a deep impression on Kashmiri society.
demonstration in tehran
Former Director of International Center for Spiritual Studies at Kashmir Islamic University, Prof. Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi says Kashmir has long had deep cultural and historical ties with Iran. It is a legacy of the Persian influence of fakirs like Shah Hamdan, who spread Islam and its arts in the valley. Persian remained the official and court language for centuries and famous poets like Ghani Kashmiri and Allama Iqbal, who were also from Kashmir, wrote extensively in this language. Iranian influence is also visible in names such as Aftab, Imroz and Firoz, which are of Iranian rather than Arabic origin. As Iqbal wrote, “Afrid ah mard Iran-e-Sagheer” (Shah Hamdan made Kashmir a mini-Iran.)
For these reasons, Kashmiri students find Iran more comfortable. The food habits, social norms, Islamic practices and even the campus environment feel more like our own than countries in Eastern Europe or East Asia. Especially the girl students describe the campus environment as more safe.
According to Nasir Khuehami, convenor of Jammu and Kashmir Students Association, cheap education and long-term cultural ties are the main reasons. “Education is cheap in Iran,” he says. India and Iran have deep academic and cultural ties.
Earlier, studying in Iran was more suitable for the students of Shia sect of Kashmir because the cultural environment and special concessions in admission like Pargis quota were attractive. However, in the later period, students of Sunni sect also started taking admission there in large numbers, especially for medical studies. This also gives an idea of the prestige of Iran’s academic environment, and not just its religious specialty.
Educational exchanges between Kashmir and Iran have been going on since the 1980s, initially focusing on theology and religious studies and later expanding to medicine and engineering.
Most of the Kashmiri students study in Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University and Islamic Azad University etc. in cities like Tehran, Shiraz and Kish. About 95 percent of Kashmiri students are in medical courses in Iran.
The surge in admissions came after 2015 following the relaxation of agreements and restrictions in the education sector. Then during the pandemic, there was further momentum through online education fair and digital admission process. Within a few years the number of Kashmiri students in Iran almost tripled.
Last year, due to the war between Iran and Israel and then protests, the process of return of people started from there, due to which concerns have increased. Many families still remember the chaos of 2022, when Indian medical students had to flee Ukraine midway through their degrees and were uncertain about transfer, recognition and future prospects.
Although there has been no major disruption so far, the situation remains serious. Recent developments are witness to the fact that not only cost and security, but also geopolitical shocks can decide the career path of the youth. Khuehami said that many parents have not been able to contact their children for several days. “Amidst the protests and crackdown, restrictions on social media and internet services as well as lack of communication have increased security fears,” he said.
Foreign Minister S. After speaking to Jaishankar, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said the central government was closely monitoring the situation. “He gave his assessment of the ground situation and the plans of the ministry,” Omar wrote on Twitter. I am grateful for his assurance that all steps will be taken to protect the interests and lives of Kashmiri students and others present in Iran.
Rabia Wani’s younger sister Sehreen of Handwara is in the second year of MBBS in Arak University of Iran. “We are from Kashmir and know what it feels like to live with uncertainty,” he told Outlook. But every instability makes us worried about their safety. We pray for peace in the world.