If its only for Educational Purpose theres no wrong in using Pirted softwares.
I hate Buying softwares and I Love buying Hardwares.
I will never buy a software in my life, unless and until I use it for a commercial purpose or I make money out of a particular software.
There are lots of commercial companies who buy the licensed softwares and thats more than enough to support the software producing companies.
And it will never affect the software company because the % share of any particular software used in India is less compared to Developed countries and companies don't think India as a potential market for their softwares.
They concentrate on Big Companies and Developed and Powerful Countries.
Can anyone say how many BRANDED softwares are created in INDIA.
Very Very less. All are created Outside India. So companies don't mind or don't care even if their software is pirated in India or in south asia.
Simply saying I just LOVE using Pirated Softwares as it comes for free.
And also Freewares are not up to standards and they don't have many features as in sharewares or softwares that comes with a cost.
Freewares are sometimes even useless or comes with lots of bugs and can never compete with costly softwares.
Thats one reason who people prefer pirated softwares that really do the job for them.