Students at the Osmania University have put Telangana back on the boil, but at stake is the academic year for thousands of youngsters who may or may not be passionate about the cause for a separate state.

Praveen is a postgraduate in Zoology pursuing his PhD at the Osmania University. As he pays homage to fellow student Venugopal Reddy, who burnt to death apparently for the cause of separate Telangana, Praveen says losing an academic year will be a small price to pay for a much bigger cause. "We may lose an year but the next few generations will be happy."

"From MLAs and MPs, all have to resign and come to road for the cause of Telangana. Then only we will stop agitation and write exams," another student says.

There are 370,000 students in Osmania University and affiliated colleges, but not everyone feels they can afford to lose an year.

"If my exams gets postponed even further, I stand the risk of losing an year and that will become a real problem for me later on," says Karan, an engineering student.

The university has postponed exams indefinitely but hopes to restart the academic schedule.

"My appeal to all students is to immediately start attending classes and help us to bring normalcy and help us to save the academic year of the students," says Osmania University Vice-Chancellor Tirupati Rao.

Observers say all will be well if an assurance on Telangana comes by January 28, the deadline set for the Centre by political representatives.