Ragging: A Lurking Evil in Institutions
Over the years, we have come to understand that ‘ragging’ in educational institutions is a matter of utmost concern for everyone in the country. It is not a new phenomenon. Ragging started off as a notorious social interaction between seniors and juniors in schools and colleges.
It was a western concept that slowly and steadily escalated to Indian educational institutions. The excuse being ‘welcoming’ a fresher, except in a barbaric manner. It can be traced back to as early as 7th or 8th century A.D.
It did not start with the education system straight away. In Greek culture, new entrants to the sports community were subjected to all kinds of humiliations to inculcate a team spirit in them. Eventually, the education system too adopted it.
In India, it became extremely prominent only after independence. Till the late 60’s ragging was never a serious problem in India as it was relatively in a much milder form. Mainly because higher education was confined to some particular sections of the society and hence limited.
In today’s world it an interaction which can take a very brutal, inhuman and anti-social form at times. It is an act that violates the dignity a person. Many such cases have been reported in the past few years and the numbers have only increased.
Some gruesome cases that have been reported:
- In 1986, a 17-year- old first-year medical student of Annamalai University, Tamil Nadu was brutally murdered by a senior who was said to be a Karate expert. He killed him because he refused to submit to his whims.
- In 2003, an engineering student of Engineering College Jalpaiguri in West Bengal was admitted to hospital after he was subjected to a long brutal ragging session by his seniors. The victim was beaten up with iron rods and cycle chains for refusing to strip before the seniors!
- Naveen Kujur, a 22-year-old student of Architecture from the School of Planning and Architecture (SPA) in Delhi also faced similar consequences. He was unable to walk after a night long torture.
- AIIMS has had quite a history with this practice. In 2009, AIIMS had to expel two seniors for two months after they were caught ragging juniors. Recently in August, it suspended five medical students after a complaint was forwarded by some juniors. One of the students got seriously injured during the ragging.
- The most recent case is that of IIT Kanpur. On 10th of October 2017, it suspended 22 IInd Year B.Tech students on for ragging their juniors. The suspended students will not be allowed to appeal for mercy till they complete their period of suspension, IIT-K decided. Also, the President and other officials of the Student Gymkhana were expelled from their post for ignoring the students’ complaints. The department took action against the students involved in ragging only after one of the professors at the institute highlighted the matter through his blog.
These are just some of the horrid cases that got reported. Unfortunately, hundreds of cases do not get reported even though there are anti-ragging committees in most of the premier educational institutions now.
Various regulatory bodies have spelt out measures to control the menace of ragging, and the Apex court of the country has also given guidelines for preventing this practice in the educational institutions. A National Anti-Ragging Helpline was also launched by the Indian Government.
Impact on the victims:
Psychiatrists say that ragging can leave a permanent scar on the victim’s mind which can lead to self-esteem issues. One alienates herself/himself from the world due to lack of confidence. It can have extremely long-lasting effects and a traumatic stress disorder. It causes physical, emotional, psychological and social problems.
Students are scared to voice their opinions about ragging as a practice because of the fear of ‘not fitting in’ or they choose to keep quiet in order to complete their studies peacefully.
Symptoms that have come to notice in the recent years are random crying spells, complaints of nightmares, loss of complete interest in any activity etc.
Students have even taken their own lives as the stress gets way too much for them to take. Extreme cases of suicides and culpable homicide have also been reported. As a result, the idea of revenge is planted in their minds which only results in more menace.
What can be done?
One of the most difficult problems attached with ragging is denial. Students refused to accept that they have ever faced or indulged in ragging. The practice is so prevalent all around the world; it is even present in the movies we watch that students tend to believe that it is a necessary practice to make them ‘strong’ and fit to face difficult circumstances in life.
We need appropriate awareness to create a sense of realization that ragging does not do anyone any good. Neither the victims nor the ones who encourage it to get any good out of it. We need to sensitize the society about the dehumanizing effect of ragging.
Complete anonymity should be granted to the students who want to file a complaint. The University Grants Commission (UGC) passed UGC REGULATION ON CURBING THE MENACE OF RAGGING IN HIGHER EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, 2009. Proper execution and implementation of laws like these are extremely crucial for the well being of the students. We, as a society need to work together if we want to end this practice.
