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The number of Indian students pursuing higher studies in Britain has increased nearly five-fold in as many years despite the steep fee hike, the Indian envoy to the United Kingdom has said.
"The number of students studying here has gone up from 3,800 five years ago to 18,000 last year, the same as in the USA, despite the steep hike in fees," said Kamalesh Sharma, Indian High Commissioner, the chief guest at a meeting held to celebrate India's Republic Day, organised on Monday night by Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, UK.
Speaking at the same function, Lord Navnit Dholakia, deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords said, "In the olden days educated Indians were queuing up to come to the UK. But now the biggest problem for the UK is to how to stop them from going back to India."
Sharma also pointed out that out of the 21,500 work permits issued last year for software engineers by the UK, 85 percent were from India.
Referring to the rapid progress India has made in the last few years, Sharma said that last year, Indian companies invested $2 billion in mergers and acquisitions world-wide. He pointed out that apart from acquiring the Tetley and Tyfoo tea companies, Tatas opened a design centre in Coventry, employing 1,000 people.
Sir Gulam K Noon, founder of the multi-million dollar Noon products, lauded the way secularism was being practiced in India and told the gathering, "I am very proud to say I am born in India."
Lord Dholakia said that reflecting the growing India-UK relations, delegation after delegation from the UK were now visiting India. Not only did Prime Minister Tony Blair visit India while returning from China, US President George W Bush is now planning a visit to New Delhi, he pointed out.
The function was also attended by Maneck Dalal, chairman of the BVB, Dr Atul Khare, director, Nehru Centre and K S Bhardwaj, Minister for Press and Information in the High Commission.