In a recent interview with PTI, former Indian envoy to Canada, Verma, highlighted the significant challenges Indian students face abroad, urging parents to conduct thorough research before investing heavily in education. During his tenure since 2022, he reported a troubling trend where, at one point, two bodies of students were returned to India weekly due to suicides driven by academic and financial pressures. Verma emphasized that many students, overwhelmed by the weight of perceived failures, took their own lives rather than confront their families.

His comments come amid escalating diplomatic tensions between India and Canada, particularly following the recall of Verma and five other Indian diplomats due to their designation as "persons of interest" in a murder investigation linked to a Khalistani separatist. Despite this backdrop, Verma stressed that his warnings are based on personal parental experiences rather than political issues. He underscored the need for Indian families to carefully evaluate educational institutions in Canada, noting that many students enroll in lesser-known colleges with substandard education and overcrowded living conditions.

Verma criticized the financial burden on Indian students, who pay roughly four times the tuition fees of domestic students. He pointed out that families often make significant sacrifices, such as selling property or taking loans, to fund their children’s education, only to see graduates struggling to find appropriate employment. He urged families to ensure the value of their investments by researching the quality and facilities of chosen institutions. 

With over 427,000 Indian students currently enrolled in Canada, Verma's message serves as a critical reminder for families to prioritize due diligence before making life-altering decisions, particularly as the diplomatic row continues to unfold.