Ramaswami: In fact, a 19 March a central government higher education institution said in a press release, “hostellers are directed to leave for their hometowns at the earliest for their own safety. International students may take decision in their best interest’. This is a complex situation of clearing hostels to ensure social distancing, but at the same time promoting travel to hometowns (before or after lockdown) which need not guarantee physical distancing.