Dear reader,
Not a spoiler alert: Even if you have not watched the recent blockbuster romcom from Kerala, Premalu, we encourage you to read further because even knowing the story will not impact your enjoyment of this sweet film that’s running to packed theatres in Kerala and, interestingly, in Telangana.
So, here goes.
An important yet subtly played subtext in Gireesh A.D.’s film, starring heartthrobs Naslen and Mamitha Baiju, is the story of Kerala’s student migration. Sachin, the protagonist who has just completed his engineering graduation, interestingly, from a college in Tamil Nadu’s Salem rather than his home State, awaits his UK visa, ostensibly to migrate to England as a student and eventually “settle” there. Sachin’s desire to find an attractive haven abroad runs so deep that even in the climax of the movie, despite having found love and won the heart of his crush (ah, that airport scene, worth every minute you spent watching the film!), he does not alter his plan to migrate, nor does Reenu, his beloved, discourage him from flying away to greener pastures. She, in fact, prepares herself for a potentially risky, long-distance relationship and bids him adieu.
In a way, this scene is quintessentially Kerala but also applies to many nations worldwide that are experiencing a “brain drain” with an exodus of students who migrate to other countries not only for education but also for job opportunities and the prospect of permanent residency. However, student migration is a double-edged sword and impacts societies in myriad ways. Students leave for individual growth and pursuit of knowledge but their mass movement profoundly influences both the societies they enter and those they leave behind, shaping economies, cultures, and demographics.
Historically, centres of learning have attracted scholars and students from distant lands. One of the earliest instances is the ancient city of Alexandria in Egypt, famed for its library and academy, which drew intellectuals from Greece, Rome, Persia, and beyond to study disciplines such as mathematics, philosophy, and medicine. The Islamic Golden Age of the medieval period saw the establishment of renowned educational institutions like the House of Wisdom in Baghdad and Al-Azhar University in Cairo. They attracted scholars from Europe, Africa, and Asia, facilitating the exchange of knowledge across cultural and geographical boundaries.
Student migration gained further momentum with the emergence of medieval European universities such as the University of Bologna, Oxford, and Paris. These became hubs of intellectual inquiry, attracting students and teachers from across Europe and beyond. The Renaissance and Enlightenment saw a flourishing of arts, sciences, and philosophy in Europe, igniting a renewed interest in education and scholarship. This was followed by the founding of universities in the Americas, Africa, and Asia by European colonial governments.
The Industrial Revolution marked a significant turning point, as advancements in transportation and communication made it easier for students to travel worldwide. Prestigious universities were set up in North America, such as Harvard and Yale, which began to attract students from Europe and beyond.
Globalisation is, of course, the catchword of the 20th and 21st centuries, and this era has seen an unprecedented rise in student migration. International scholarship programmes, student exchange initiatives, and the rise of online education platforms have made cross-border mobility easy and inevitable, enabling students to pursue education in diverse cultural and geographic contexts.
The challenges arise when students do not return to contribute to their home countries. For example, in Latin America, a World Bank analysis revealed that highly educated professionals are more likely to migrate than their less-educated counterparts, leading to a brain drain that can impede economic development and innovation in the region. Similar trends are observed in Africa and many Asian countries, including India. Students who migrate to pursue degrees in medicine or engineering often choose to live and thrive abroad. Their skills are lost to India.
A State like Kerala, renowned for its high literacy rate, is now faced with the contrarian prospect of a shortage of skilled professionals such as engineers, doctors, and technicians. The phenomenon, if not arrested, can impede local development efforts and hinder innovation and growth. Also, the mass exodus of student communities has left behind an aging population of parents and grandparents. This demographic imbalance poses fresh challenges such as reduced economic productivity and strains on existing social welfare systems such as nursing, caregiving, or domestic labour. Finally, mass student migration exacerbates socio-economic disparities within and between nations. This departure of the younger and more educated individuals of a society is called the “hollowing out” of communities, which can perpetuate its own cycle of underdevelopment and social exclusion.
The Kerala Migration Survey (KMS) of 2023 highlights a significant increase in student migration, with serious implications for Kerala’s society and economy. In this piece, Anna Mathews analyses the findings of the survey and uncovers the nuanced takeaways, which are crucial to understand the policy needs of Kerala and India in the immediate future.
Postscript: Back to Premalu, it’s highly probable that Sachin will return to Kerala because Reenu is waiting for him. Or will he? What if he finds a job for Reenu too, and they both settle in the UK? That will be two skilled people fewer, and two aging families left behind. This leads us to several questions. What is the key to maximising the benefits of student migration while preserving domestic communities? Can countries create incentives for graduates to return and utilise their skills in their home countries? What shape can such incentives take? Will technology find an answer to this problem too? Or will the economics have to change first?
We would love to hear your solutions.
For Team Frontline,
Jinoy Jose P.
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