Lancaster University is to set up an annual scholarship in memory of Anuj Bidve, the Indian postgraduate student who was murdered on Boxing Day in a suspected racist attack in Salford (see news story).
The Anuj Bidve Memorial Scholarship will fund a graduate from India’s Pune University, where Anuj studied, to study M.Sc. in Lancaster University’s engineering department where he was reading postgraduate micro-electronics.
“The scholarship is a fitting and lasting way of remembering Anuj, who was an outstanding student,” said University head, Vice-Chancellor Mark E. Smith.
The scholarship, which would cover the fee and accommodation cost, had been agreed in accordance with the wishes of Anuj’s family and it’s hoped the first beneficiary would come to Lancaster in October.
23-year-old Anuj, whonwas a graduate of Pune University, was shot dead in an unprovoked attack on Boxing Day while out in Salford with friends.
20-year-old Kiaran Stapleton has been charged with Anuj’s murder and is due to appear in the Manchester Crown Court next month. Three other people arrested on suspicion of Anuj’s murder have been granted bail until March pending further inquiries. A fourth man, aged 19, had his bail cancelled.
Despite the tragic incident, which sparked widspread outrage, the UK is still regarded as a safe place for overseas students and migrants. This week, web site Immigration Matters reported that UK universities had seen a 13.7% increase in applications from overseas candidates from non-EU countries, despite changes to Tier 4 student visa rules and the abolition of PSW this April.
A very fitting response to this awful event. Despite the fact that this dreadful murder happened elsewhere it was one of Lancaster's own that was lost. Our students are such a huge part of our town.