Balochistan student seeks MEA's help to fulfil his wish to become a doctor

Pakistani Hindu student from Balochistan has approached the external affairs ministry to help him with his education that has been affected by the ongoing crisis.

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Sagar Udassi
Sagar Udassi

In Short

  • Balochistan student seeks govt's help for colg admission.
  • Says procedures washed out crucial years of education.
  • Sagar Adassi, 24, seeks admission in a medical college.

In 2012, Pakistani Hindu student Sagar Udassi (20) and his family moved to India along with his family. He was hoping for a brighter future and an escape from religious persecution in Balochistan.

But due to issues related to bureaucracy, he was forced to wait for three years to clear his HSC exams. It did not end there, till he secured his HSC results, option for NRI's was struck down from All India pre-medical test (AIPMT) -- There is option for Oversees Citizen of India (OCI) which excludes Pakistan and Bangladesh-- and now Sagar (24) has exceeded the age limit.

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Also read: Pakistan human rights watchdog warns army over Baloch protests in Quetta and Karachi

"I did my HSC in 2013 from a college in Ulhasnagar but Maharashtra State Board refused to give the mark sheet (copy of hall ticket is with India Today) asking for a certification from Pakistan and attestation on the forms of Maharashtra Education Board. The board gave me a deadline of one month which got over till the time I understood the procedure. I started from scratch then it took me two years to get my attestation from Karachi Embassy. I went to Pakistan in 2015 for a month and got the relevant certificates, but the authorities in Karachi refused to stamp forms given by Maharashtra Education board. This doomed my chances of studies in Maharastra," said Sagar.

Also read: Sushma Swaraj meets Pakistani refugee Madhu, helps her get admission into school

SELF STUDY AMID CRISIS

During his visit to Pakistan Embassy in Delhi, Sagar met a Baloch native who now resides in Indore. He told them that Madhya Pardesh government has eased the process of college admission for Pakistani Hindus. After which he took an admission in MP and passed HSC with 62 per cent. Although it was difficult to appear from a different, he managed to clear the exams with his self study.

Also read: Baloch activist Naela Qadri Baloch in Delhi to form government-in-exile

"We are not allowed to move out of Thane. I had to study on my own and then take permissions from Thane police to visit MP to appear for the exams," he said.
Udassi family is staying in India for the last five years. They will have to wait for two more years after which they can apply for Indian citizenship. Till then studies of Sagar is in turmoil because he cannot appear for AIPMT as he has exceeded the age limit. Sagar has pleaded to Prime Minister and Eternal Affairs Minister through Twitter for help. He is yet to receive a reply.

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"I have approached different government medical colleges they said that if government can make exceptions. Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj has helped students like me in the past. If she can make help me it will be a great help. But the years wasted waiting for my mark sheet has cost me dear. My uncle and nephews are doctors hence I too wanted to be pursue the same career," said Sagar.

Also read: Baloch Liberation Army accepts attack on Rawalpindi bound Pakistan train in Mach

BALOCHISTAN CONTINUES TO HAUNT

Sagar still remembers the horrors they have to face in Balochistan where kidnapping, forced conversions, blast and murders are an everyday affair. His cousin Rakesh was abducted and killed in Lahore as he refused to convert to Islam.

A doctor friend of Rakesh was let off as he accepted conversion he informed Udassi family about atrocities on Rakesh. This is when Sagar's father thought of leaving the country.

"When I visited Karachi in 2015 our auto rickshaw was approached by two assailants on a motorbike who pointed a gun at me and asked for all my belongings. We were fortunate that the rickshaw driver was a native and he threatened to inform the army. As a child I and my family have seen a blast at a dargah in Fatehpur, Balochistan. We come from a place where people don't venture out of home after 7 pm, here at least we can move about freely," said Sagar.

Also read: Balochistan liberation voices raised in Quetta