As war clouds began to loom over Ukraine, thousands of Indian students living there found themselves in a precarious situation. Some students left Ukraine in time, but many remained in the hope that there would be no war, or if there was, it would not affect their studies. However, hope turned into disappointment when all foreign students were advised to leave. Operation Ganga was a campaign conducted by the Government of India to evacuate Indian citizens, mostly students, during the Russia-Ukraine War. The Government of India appealed to all the countries of Europe, the Indian diaspora, Indian embassies, the corporate world and social and religious organisations to provide all possible support in moving Indian students back home from the troubled area.
Farish was studying medicine in Sumi. He and his friends were helped by people at the Indian embassy to move through the Ukraine border into Poland. From Poland, transit and food was provided free of cost by the Indian government. The repatriation of Farish is but one success story. Tarun Pithode chronicles of the sufferings of the
students and their harrowing journeys, and the role of the Government of India and numerous Indians in rescuing them.
