But Why?...The Question Remains

It is probably a reflection of their numbers in the US

• One-third of the total number of Indian students who go to the US are from Andhra. According to Visu International, a Hyderabad-based educational consultancy, in 2007-08 alone, the number stood at 30,000
• The highest number of ‘knowledge-based visas’ in the world are issued by the US consulate in Chennai; AP accounts for 40 per cent of them
• The new US consulate in Hyderabad will process 500 visa applications a day from February

Brand America sells in Andhra Pradesh

• Thousands throng to the Visa God (presiding deity of the Chilkur Balaji temple near Hyderabad) in the ‘application season’ to pray or give thanks for a US visa
• Marriage offers pour in after visa is secured
• Respect, social status and dowry value increase exponentially for families once offspring has a US degree
• Purchasing power too—families begin to acquire property and gadgets, and make their first trips abroad
• Areas in Hyderabad like Amirpet and Chikadpalli have wall-to-wall coaching classes for IIT and US aspirants
• Maximum numbers of US visa applications said to be from Visakhapatanam and Vijayawada; reps from US universities visit these places
• US fever spreading to smaller places like Karimnagar and Mehboob Nagar

After the deaths....

Counsellors and community associations feel that students going to the US from small towns are unprepared for the realities of American life and transition from a conservative to a liberal society. "It is possible that many students who find themselves in an alien country have no idea how to use their new-found freedom," observes Anoop Kumar of Visu International. They should be counselled on:

• Culturally appropriate behaviour and using politically correct language
• Safety precautions like not moving around alone at night in dodgy neighbourhoods, not taking up high-risk jobs like late night shifts at gas stations
• Seeking support from community associations and university bodies in difficult situations
• Not flashing expensive items
• Giving up valuables when mugged