One of the happiest moments of my life, says Indian Ambassador to Indian students headed home
Kyiv/New Delhi, March 10 (Agency) As Indian students from Sumy are set to return to India today, Indian Ambassador Partha Satpathy described their safe evacuation from the war zone as one of the happiest moments of his life. Addressing students in Lviv station on board a train that was to take them to Poland, Satpathy said that whenever he floundered for ways to get the 600-odd Indian students out of Sumy, his daughter would call him and tell him to think that she is among those students, and this is the attitude with which all the Indian Embassy staff worked—thinking of the stranded children as their own.
He also reminded the students to make it a point to thank the Ukrainians for helping them get out, and for all the facilities provided for their safe evacuation. A smiling Indian Ambassador, with relief writ on his face, said: “Students, this is perhaps one of the happiest moments in my life, because I see all of you finally safe and sound. “What I wanted to share with you is it’s been very difficult for all of you, I know, seven to eight days in the bunker, but it’s been equally difficult for all of us who’ve been trying to get you out, and the only message is, when I would feel really difficult how to get my boys out, my daughter would call me up and say, Papa think that I am there with them, and this is, believe me, the attitude with which we’ve all of us worked in the embassy, we’ve all believed that our children are there.”
“And this is something that we should all be proud of, that all of us Indians are back home safe, soon you will be, 20,000. And you will now go to Poland, arrangements are being made. I have just one request from all of you, this is a very difficult time for all of the people of Ukraine too, they have helped you, the railways has helped you, the border point will help you, please be patient, and appreciate what they have done, be strong, be safe. Soon you will be with your parents, and my message to all the parents – we promised to bring every Indian back; this was the PM’s direct objective, get every Indian back; this is what we have done and I’m so happy now that you’ll all be with your parents.”
“All arrangements have been made to take you to the Polish border, my only appeal to you is, keep saying thanks to the Ukrainians, the country and its people are going through tough times, and they have helped us a lot; please remember this and after you reach India please thank everyone,” he said. On Wednesday, Indian Ambassador Satpathy flagged off a train with 600 Indian students at Lviv Railway Station to take them directly to Poland from where they would board flights to India.