"Dev will be paraplegic for the rest of his life."
An Indian student who was left paralysed after an alleged assault in Australia is worried about what the future holds for further support as he is set to lose funding.
Devarshi ‘Dev’ Deka moved to Hobart in 2023, giving up a government job in India to study at the University of Tasmania (UTAS).
He said: “It was my dream to come to Tasmania, to Australia.
“Tasmania seemed to be the perfect destination for me.
“I had a dream to make something for myself.”
In November 2023, Dev went on a night out with friends to celebrate securing a part-time job.
However, he ended up being rushed to hospital after an alleged assault and was placed in a medically induced coma.
The Indian student regained consciousness but was a changed man.
He said: “My body has a mind of its own.
“It doesn’t want to move according to my wish like I was before.”
Dev now lives with a severe brain injury, his left eye no longer works properly and he can’t use his legs.
He said: “[It’s] very grim and bleak, very bad last few months.
“If I want to make a move in the bed, if I want to turn to the side, I need to call up the nurses to help me do that.”
Dev has received treatment at the Royal Hobart Hospital and the city’s repatriation centre, where he is currently being cared for.
But his friends and family are worried about the next stage of his recovery.
His friend Rishabh Kaushik said: “Right now, Dev’s being supported by his insurance company while he’s making medical progress.
“But once he’s done with his medical progress, there is no support available here for him.”
As an international student, Dev does not have access to Centrelink or the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
If Dev is to remain in Hobart, he will require specialist equipment and support once he eventually leaves the repatriation centre.
Rishabh said: “This support is going to cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, which not us, not his parents, not the community can afford right now.
“And this is why our ask is for the government to help us so that we can make arrangements for Dev when he gets out of here.”
Without government support, Dev’s only option would be to return to India, potentially before his student visa expires in March 2025.
If he does go back to India, the flight will be covered by insurance, but not ongoing medical support.
Rishabh said: “According to doctors, Dev will be paraplegic for the rest of his life.
“Going back to India is no solution for him, especially when the nearest hospital from his hometown is 130 kilometres away.”
Since hearing of his plight, Rishabh has acted as Dev’s advocate.
Rishabh explained: “When I heard about Dev, I really wanted to go and see him.
“I saw Dev in the hospital bed… and I looked at Dev and I thought, ‘this could be me, this could be anybody else’.
“And ever since, I haven’t stopped caring for Dev.”
A financial assistance application has been made with Tasmania’s Victims of Crime Service, but it could take many months for an outcome.
Presently, Rishabh has set up a GoFundMe page to help with Dev’s short-term costs. But he hopes the government will find a way to support his friend in the long term.
He continued: “Because this happened here in Hobart, in Tasmania, in Australia. It happened on this soil. Our ask is to help us in supporting him to live here.
“Whether that means getting support from NDIS to help him with his medical equipment, a support worker, whatever support he needs, or any other source.”
Rishabh has also been helping Dev’s parents Kula and Deepalee Deka, who have been in Australia for the past month.
Mr Deka said: “I humbly request to this government that my son should be kept here, given full protection to his career, along with his health condition.”
They spend most of their time with their son. However, they have been abused when returning to their accommodation at night.
Rishabh said: “Unfortunately, so many times they’ve described to me instances where they’ve suffered racist attacks.
“People have called them names, people have started yelling [at] them on the streets for no reason.”
Ever since the alleged assault, UTAS has been providing a range of support for Dev and his family.
Pro-Vice-Chancellor Dr James Brann said: “This is a terrible situation for Devarshi and his family, and the university has been doing all we can to support them.
“We have a dedicated student care coordinator in regular contact with the family.”
The university has included a place to stay but it is unknown how long that will last.
Dr Brann continued: “Devarshi’s parents are currently staying in university accommodation and we’re working now to figure out how we can best continue to help.”
The court case involving Dev’s alleged assault is yet to be finalised.
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