In the throes of Indian bureaucracy

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Monday 24 February 2025

Written by Tiina

You ever blow your top over Finnish bureaucracy? Think it is ‘so annoying!’? Try visiting India. I dare you.

We got a first lick when we applied for our visas. Process that could have been an easy-peasy online application required multiple visits to the Indian Embassy at certain times at certain days. Oh, and please remember to bring with you your passport and all the paperwork you already submitted online. And god forbid – do not come on Republic Day! Nothing gets done on Republic Day. Little did we know – it would only get more intense. 

First day in Manipal – it started easy as.  At the Prasanna School Admin Office – passports & visas. We all came prepared. Only half an hour and we got our student cards and T-shirst and photos. Good vibes.

From Prasanna we continued to MAHE main building. Random photo. In the office – again passport & visa. Million questions of why and when and what. The only information we did not give was the size of our shoes. Couple of hours of loitering around. Frustration rising. Photo again. Why? Do not ask questions. Next! 

Back to the Prasanna. Different admin office this time. Passport and visa. New set of questions. What, where and when. Why? No answer. Fuming when realizing your jetlag nap has now been spent sat here. Don’t they have systems that talk to each other?! How many more times passport and visa?!

The answer – too many times. Every time, everywhere, all at once. In India you are your passport and visa. It is futile to fight the system – just surrender. I guarantee, Finnish bureaucracy will feel like a walk in a well-organized park!


 

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