‘Victim was keen to know about Indian women’

The gang-rape victim from Tata Institute of Social Sciences (Tiss) was always interested in knowing India and the role of women in the country. The victim joined a prominent college in New York only for the tie-up programme in gender and development studies with India.

In a telephonic interview to DNA, the course co-ordinator from the college in New York, John Wells, said that the college is in talks with Tiss and is supporting them in the case. The victim joined the college only for the semester programme which enabled her to come to India and learn gender studies, said Wells.

“She wanted to study in India and we had a course matching her needs. She is not from our college though; she joined us for this spring semester programme in India. She is no more our student, as the course got over on April 23,” added Wells.

He also said that Annie Brown, her classmate in Tiss, who was with her on the fateful night, was also a student at the same college in New York. “Brown had also joined for the same programme. However, they did not go to India together,” said Wells. He further added that he can’t reveal the kind of support the college has extended to the victim. “I believe that she wished to study gender studies in India as she had her origins there,” said Wells.

The college authorities are satisfied with the help their student is receiving from Tiss. “She is getting counselling with the host institute in Mumbai,” said Wells.