. NEW DELHI: Even after nearly all Indian medical students returned from Iran following the outbreak of war, one 22-year-old youth from Kashmir chose to stay back, saying he could not leave the country “when it is in distress”. Now living alone in a nine-storey hostel in Ahvaz after the last remaining Indian students left, Asif Gulzar said he was safe and had made the decision with his family’s support.Gulzar, a third-semester MBBS student at Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences in Khuzestan province, told TOI , “I am here by choice and I am safe. I realised I cannot leave Iran when it is under attack.”Around 2,000 Indian medical students returned to India in phases after the war started on Feb 28. Gulzar life around him remained stable and essential supplies were available despite the conflict. He also said internet connectivity in Iran was very poor and he was using a paid VPN borrowed from an Iranian friend so he could remain in touch with his family. “When innocent people are suffering, I cannot choose the easy option and leave only for my own comfort,” Asif Gulzar said. He added staying silent in the face of such suffering would have remained with him for life.Fond of reading revolutionaries such as Bhagat Singh, Gulzar said he had drawn from the idea that silence in the face of oppression amounted to complicity. With classes suspended for now, he said he had been spending time reading the works of thinkers, philosophers and revolutionaries, while also writing poetry to capture the atmosphere around him. Nasir Khuehami, national convenor of the Jammu & Kashmir Students Association, which helped facilitate the return of Indian students, including around 1,200 from Kashmir, told TOI that almost all of them had returned. “If someone has chosen not to return, there is little we can do in such a case. We did our best to ensure the return of every student with the help of Indian authorities,” Khuehami said.About the AuthorKalyan DasSpecial Correspondent at The Times of India, Dehradun, covering global issues with special focus on South Asia, defence, crime, sports and human interest stories. Have profound love for knowing about food and cultures around the world.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosModi Govt’s Women Quota Bill Crashes In Lok Sabha, Fails 2/3 Majority TestSad Day For Women’: Priyanka Chaturvedi Breaks With INDIA Bloc In Lok Sabha RowNo Nari Shakti! Women’s Bill Fails Lok Sabha Test, Protest Erupt | ‘Women Won’t Forgive’Trump’s Expected Pakistan Visit May Include Kashmir Talks, Report Fuels SpeculationStrait of Hormuz Open: What Iran’s Move Means for India Amid Ceasefire TensionsDelimitation Debate: Data Shows Hindi Belt’s Lok Sabha Share Fell More Than South Since 1951Amit Shah Targets Congress, Backs Women’s Quota And Delimitation PushHeated Exchange In Parliament As Rahul, Rijiju Spar Over Women’s Reservation BillUnmanned Fighters Set To Take The Lead In Aerial Combat, CATS Warrior To Lead Change For IndiaWomen’s Bill: Rahul Gandhi Accuses BJP Of Trying To Change Electoral Map, Takes ‘No Wife’ Jibe At PM123Photostories8 beautiful short baby girl names that mean grace and elegance6 markets that define the soul of Himachal PradeshGoa’s 5 posh localities for luxury living and real estate investment in 2026Struggling to stay consistent? These 5 workout quotes for women can change how you see fitnessWeekend binge eating vs daily overeating: Which is more harmful to your liver?Top 7 South Mumbai’s high-end neighbourhoods shaping India’s luxury real estateSmriti Irani indulges in authentic Bengali sweets: 8 traditional sweets of Bengal you need to try during summer10 delicious banana desserts you can easily make in minutesRed Banana vs Yellow Banana: Which is healthier? Full nutrition comparison of taste, benefits, and daily useForget wheat flour and try these traditional dishes made with rice flour123Hot PicksIran warDelimitation Bill DefeatPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingNashik TCSAmir HamzaAnti-Islam influencerStrait of HormuzSue BirdIce SpicePahalgam Pony Wallah StoryWomen Quota BillE Coli Smuggling CaseErika Kirk Event
NEW DELHI: Even after nearly all Indian medical students returned from Iran following the outbreak of war, one 22-year-old youth from Kashmir chose to stay back, saying he could not leave the country “when it is in distress”. Now living alone in a nine-storey hostel in Ahvaz after the last remaining Indian students left, Asif Gulzar said he was safe and had made the decision with his family’s support.Gulzar, a third-semester MBBS student at Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences in Khuzestan province, told TOI , “I am here by choice and I am safe. I realised I cannot leave Iran when it is under attack.”Around 2,000 Indian medical students returned to India in phases after the war started on Feb 28. Gulzar life around him remained stable and essential supplies were available despite the conflict. He also said internet connectivity in Iran was very poor and he was using a paid VPN borrowed from an Iranian friend so he could remain in touch with his family. “When innocent people are suffering, I cannot choose the easy option and leave only for my own comfort,” Asif Gulzar said. He added staying silent in the face of such suffering would have remained with him for life.Fond of reading revolutionaries such as Bhagat Singh, Gulzar said he had drawn from the idea that silence in the face of oppression amounted to complicity. With classes suspended for now, he said he had been spending time reading the works of thinkers, philosophers and revolutionaries, while also writing poetry to capture the atmosphere around him. Nasir Khuehami, national convenor of the Jammu & Kashmir Students Association, which helped facilitate the return of Indian students, including around 1,200 from Kashmir, told TOI that almost all of them had returned. “If someone has chosen not to return, there is little we can do in such a case. We did our best to ensure the return of every student with the help of Indian authorities,” Khuehami said.
