HYDERABAD: Even as the Union government is struggling to curb the incidents of hate crime against Africans in various parts of the country, members of the community on Osmania University campus beg to differ. Finding a house in Seetaphalmandi and Tarnaka areas is not much a headache for the African students who come to Hyderabad to pursue their Bachelor and Masters level courses. Also, they rarely experience discrimination on the campus or outside.
Bibo Musab Khidir of Sudan, a third year B.Com student at Osmania University, recalled his experience as an African in India by comparing it with the five fingers of a hand. "We have had good and bad experiences in India. It is a huge country and one can't expect all the people to behave and act in a uniform manner. We have got good neighbours and the people of the city are warm and friendly," he observed. Asked about the documents needed for an African to get a house in the vicinity of the university, Khirid said one needs to give a photocopy of the passport, visa, residential proof and a bonafide of the university.
"General warnings about not doing drugs and bringing in sex workers to the apartment is issued to all foreign students, including the Africans," Khidir said. "The education system in Sudan is not much different from that of India. I came here to see a new country and learn new languages," he added. The African students are ready to pay more rent than Indian students and this is a major reason for easy availability of rooms for African nationals in the area. "Who will not want more rent? We don't care about the nationality of the occupant if the documents are clear and valid," said Viji, a landlord in Tarnaka.
"We check the documents and ID proof and prefer to rent out houses to African students only, as they would vacate within a few years. Where else would they go if we refuse to give them houses?," asked 55-year-old kirana shop owner J B Das, who is also a landlord. However he adds,"The Yemenis are better and more friendly than the Africans, who are cocooned." According to African students, the city has the potential to develop as a knowledge hub for African students in future.
