Students from India say Liverpool is 'so welcoming'

Students from India who chose to pursue their education at the University of Liverpool have described their experiences as "life changing".

Anakha Dileep Rekha and Andrea Neeta Anto said moving to Liverpool had been a "dream come true", and that they relished the chance to share their culture and roots.

They both feature in a documentary which forms part of a new exhibition at Liverpool's Victoria Gallery and Museum.

More than 100 pieces are included in the Indian Perspectives exhibition, which aims to both explore the legacies of British colonial rule and capture people of Indian heritage's experiences of life in the United Kingdom.

Anakha told the BBC: "I was someone who grew up with a lot of passion for music, so coming to a musical city like Liverpool has been a dream come true for me.

"Being able to share a piece of my culture in India was something that I really enjoyed and it has given me a lot of confidence."

Andrea said when she first arrived in Liverpool she was "overwhelmed".

"It was too much to take in but as I stepped into the city and started exploring I genuinely feel like I am at home now," she said.

"It is definitely the people - the people over here are so welcoming."

Works by Liverpool-born artist Tony Phillips and Manchester-born Jasmir Creed also feature in the exhibition which explores Indian culture from the time of British colonial rule in the 19th Century, right up to the present day.

Exhibition curator Amanda Draper said: "It became apparent when we came out of lockdown that the biggest number of students from one country were students from India, so we thought let's do something that celebrates that fact!"

The free exhibition runs until 26 April.

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