The Hindu : Kerala News : Torture under the guise of ice-breaking Peoplespeak

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Saturday, Nov 10, 2007
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Kerala

Torture under the guise of ice-breaking Peoplespeak

Incidents of ragging continue to be reported in Kerala, despite a range of measures put in place to end the menace. Some sections still seem to consider it as fun. How should society at large, and parents and academics in particular, engage with the issue? Our readers respond:

Photo: Sandeep Saxena

Right spirit: Banter is fine. But ensure that it never crosses the limit on campuses.

Dicey ice-breaking

Ragging was originally meant to inculcate professional etiquette among freshers by shedding their inhibitions. The mild form of ‘ice-breaking’ or teasing by seniors and the practice of running errands for them has now given way to more vulgar acts. Today, juniors are subjected to physical assault and psychological torture (and are even forced to consume alcohol or drugs or perform unnatural sex) in the name of ragging. For the tormentors it is few minutes of fun but for the victim the trauma can be life-long. College hostels and private mansions where freshers stay are the favourite hot spots. The majority suffers in silence for fear of more torture or ostracism. Some are forced to discontinue studies and a some even ones commit suicide. College authorities at times turn a blind eye for fear of losing their reputation. Even genuine complaints are either swept under the carpet or ‘amicably ’settled without taking stern action. There is no dearth of laws to eradicate this menace. The Supreme Court in a landmark judgment based on Raghavan Committee Report has pronounced that the onus of filing criminal cases against offenders lies with the college managements. The All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) has also warned that action will be taken against management, if ragging cases go unreported.

The need of the hour is a holistic approach by students, academicians, sociologists and law enforcers. Steps like separate blocks for freshers, staggered timings etc ensures minimal interaction between seniors and freshers. Awareness campaigns, formation of anti-ragging squads and close vigil by teachers will dissuade students from indulging in this despicable act. Stringent action including suspension or even dismissal should be taken against erring students. At the time of admission, college authorities can obtain written consent from parents that criminal proceedings will be initiated their wards if they are involved in this heinous crime. We must see institutionalised ragging as a criminal offence and also from the perspective of human rights violation.

Reghu P.L.

Thiruvananthapuram

Deal with iron glove

Ragging, in its mild form, might help an individual face life boldly. But now, in the name of ragging, students are subjected to both mental and physical abuse. Victims are plagued by depression and psychic problems for a long time. Senior students must be made aware of this offensive crime and its after-effects. It is seen that in most of the cases the real culprits are not nabbed. The government should take immediate action against these perpetrators, without succumbing to political pressure.

Remya Pauline Rodriguez

Thiruvananthapuram

Cameras might click

Students join institutions with high hopes. They will have different attitudes and tastes and come from different backgrounds. What is needed is a stress-busting get-together with the seniors, not vulgar ragging. Ragging can be regulated by college authorities with the help of parents, students and police. The new-comers should be kept in a different part of the college for some months. If necessary a police outpost must be set up to monitor the situation. If the institution has ample funds closed circuit cameras should be installed. If somebody is booked for that offence, proper punishment,

including suspension, should

be given.

Maju Balakrishnan

Kumarapuram

Let them realise

Many ragging incidents go unnoticed. Students who are affected by the same mostly do not come out in the open due to threats from seniors. Ragging continues unabated primarily due to lack of proper awareness about the impact it will have on all concerned. Teachers, union activists, media and the government should take steps to make the students aware of the repercussions of their action.

Sudeep S.R.

Thiruvananthapuram

Element of sadism

Ragging of the present day is nothing but sadism. It purely is an example of how people derive happiness from others’ sufferings. The concept initially was to inculcate in students a sense of leadership and willpower. But without doubt, now ragging has gone way beyond these aims, become brutal. It is a nightmare for students who go to college with the aim of studying. Some sensitive ones choose to end life. Awareness programs about the ill-effects of ragging, setting up of counselling centres in colleges for victims, anti-ragging squads etc. would help a lot. Teachers and college management will have to deal this with a firm had. Those who indulge in ragging should be dealt with severely and the victims should be offered consolation and the strength to go on. Parents should protest against ragging rather than ignoring it as ‘child-play’. When small incidents of ragging go unnoticed, the tendency for harmful ones increases.

Adila Ashraf Matra

Thiruvananthapuram

The paradox of it

Ragging is an unpleasant experience for the victim and an enjoyable one for the perpetrator. Though ragging is legally prohibited, it still exists in government hostels. Interestingly, it is found that those victims who consider ragging as a temporary “unpleasant icebreaking” session becomes well integrated into hostel life. Those who tried to resist the nasty system become aloof, isolated. This is a paradox of ragging. The inhuman activity helps many students become more vibrant in societal life. It also makes some depressed and sadists. Thus we can say ragging makes someone better off and some others worse off. Can anybody think of a “prudent way of ragging”?

Bijo Joseph

Thiruvananthapuram

Vicious cycle

Ragging has become a cyclic process in the campus. You enter the campus as a first year student and get ragged by seniors. These newcomers try to avenge their humiliation by taking it out on the juniors next year. The punishment given to the culprits should be so strict that it should act as a deterrent for others. Programmes which facilitate interaction with newcomers can be arranged on campuses in the presence of faculty. Special squads should be formed in colleges and hostels involving both faculty and senior students to ensure that kind of violence does not happen in the name of ragging.

Renjan Mathew Varghese

Thiruvananthapuram

Give seniors their due

Many ragging victims may have heart-rending tales to narrate. It’s better to look at the very root of the issue to find a good solution. It all stems from the fact that seniors want to have some fun at the expense of the so-called freshers. What started as teasing has slowly escalated to acts leading to permanent damage to physical and mental states of the victim. Whether ragging can be stopped by force is a big question. Strict measures against ragging will only divide the seniors and juniors permanently, which is not a good solution.

The suggested approach can be called “familiarisation programme.” A team responsible for smooth interaction between the seniors and the juniors must be formed. Very clear listing of dos and don’ts shall be prepared and all negative aspects must be evaluated beforehand.

It is natural for a teenager to oppose any ban. On joining the institution, the juniors tend to walk around with their heads held high, as if they have achieved something by getting the admission. But the seniors want to show that they had achieved the same status much before and would like to humble the juniors. If some opportunities are given to the seniors to show their supremacy, they are satisfied and there ends the animosity towards the juniors – a simple psychology.

Jeyakumar Thomas

Thiruvananthapuram

Origin of ‘ragging’

This has to do with the decades of hype on this subject. The dictionary meaning appears to be, “a practical joke, a prank.” Its origins are shrouded in mystery. It was apparently practiced in Medical and Engineering colleges in the late thirties and forties. In Madras there used to be a special cadre called IMD, for Indian Medical Detachment. They used to be handpicked from among Eurasians who used to dress and behave like Europeans and despise “natives.”

They had a separate hostel where senior residents assembled in a ceremonial gathering, the freshers were brought in and ‘initiated’, piling a few indignities on them, like cutting a swathe through the middle of the hair, smearing a little soot mixed in oil on the face etc., not hurtful. This was followed by some smutty questions and answers. Then the master of ceremonies shook hands with each saying, “Welcome to the fold.” They christened it “ragging.” This was copied by the regulars. They ended the ceremony singing “We medicos never die.” It degenerated into sadistic, demeaning, hurtful attacks. These are not “ragging”. This is sadistic criminal misbehaviour, meriting punitive action, backed by popular revulsion.

P.K.R. Warrier Thiruvananthapuram

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