Raggers: The So-Called Educated and Civilized

 

P. S. Vinayagam*, P. S. Sanju, P. S. Nirmala

 

Department of Computer Science, Pondicherry University Community College, Lawspet, Puducherry – 605 008.

 

ABSTRACT:

Ragging also known as hazing or bullying is an act of exerting pressure on newcomers, forcing them to do unethical, unlawful or inhuman activities. Rather than being a means of familiarizing with freshers, ragging has emerged as a violent activity. Though the educational institutions claim that there is no on-campus ragging, ragging in its most brutal form still continues in hostels. Year after year, ragging continues in educational institutions, but much less is being done to combat this menace. Unless the institutions take strict actions against the culprits, the demon of ragging would continue to make rounds across the campus. Also, the student community should realize the importance of life and education, and abstain from indulging in such heinous crimes.

 

 

 

1. INTRODUCTION:

The Gurukul system of education, in ancient India, was a gift to the shishyas or students. Students approached Gurukuls in pursuit of education. They were taught discipline, respect for others, humanity, devotion, sincerity and of course education. There was no question of separation between students. They were all treated equally. The biggest advantage was that there was no ragging in such a system of education.

 

Over the years, the system of education changed and what we see today is at odds with the Gurukul system. While today’s education system has its own pros, the cons cannot be overlooked. The biggest curse of today’s education system is ragging, that ruins the lives of innocent people.

 

Ragging has become an inseparable part of Indian education. Students, irrespective of gender, are being forced to undergo heinous and vulgar ragging activities. Every year, there are various cases of ragging related deaths, suicides, and physical injury. For few weeks or months, such an incident would be the talk of the town; but, with passage of time, the incident becomes old and gets piled up with the previous ragging incidents. Unfortunately, the number of ragging incidents being reported is very less; while the actual incidents of ragging are numerous.

 

The most cruel form of ragging often happens in hostels. Often the incidents of ragging go unreported because of the fear of worst consequences. Few victims undergo physical and psychological pressures to such an extent that they ultimately end their life. The friendly attitude required in dealing with freshers has been replaced by barbaric activities that humiliate freshers.

 

Ragging is clearly an abuse of the human rights of students. But, the extent to which the human rights of students in educational institutions are protected remains a question.

2. RAGGING:

“Ragging” means the doing of any act which causes, or is likely to cause any physical, psychological or physiological harm, apprehension, shame or embarrassment to a student, and includes

1.      Teasing or abusing or playing practical joke on, or causing hurt to any student or

2.      Asking any student to do any act, or perform anything, which he/she would not, in the ordinary course, be willing to do or perform ("Ragging," 2008).

 

The Hon’ble Supreme Court of India has defined ragging as:

 

"Ragging is any disorderly conduct, whether by words spoken or written, or by an act which has the effect of teasing, treating or handling with rudeness any student, indulging in rowdy or indisciplined activities which cause or are likely to cause annoyance, hardship or psychological harm or to raise fear or apprehension there of in a fresher or a junior student and which has the effect of causing or generating a sense of shame or embarrassment so as to adversely affect the psyche of a fresher or a junior student."

 

2.1   Ragging: Types

Ragging can be divided into the following broad categories.  A single act may be a combination of more than one of the following types of aggression. ("Ragging in India," 2007).

 

i.        Verbal ragging

Verbal ragging is defined as a non-consensual conversation between the senior and freshman, where the senior humiliates the freshman, forces him to answer personally/socially-unacceptable questions/topics, teases/harasses him/her, does an exhibition of his/her superiority leading to mental trauma, uneasiness, discomfort for the fresher. ("Ragging in India," 2007).

 

ii.      Physical ragging 

Physical ragging is defined as a non-consensual act by a senior toward the junior with the goal of hitting, inflicting physical injury or compromising the dignity of the fresher.  Also, the act of asking the fresher to do something which is not normal human physical disposition; could create physical injury, health problems or loss of dignity for the freshman are considered physical ragging.  Possible examples for the former are: beating the fresher, touching the fresher with one’s shoe/feet, hitting the fresher with objects, etc. The latter would comprise asking the fresher to slap him/herself, sit in a ‘cuckoo’ position, drink/eat something inedible, stand for long on one feet, sweep his/her room, etc. ("Ragging in India," 2007).

 

iii.     Sexual ragging

Sexual ragging is defined as an non-consensual act by a senior, that of asking the junior to do something which is damaging or compromises the sexual dignity of the junior; doing an act of sexual nature with the junior.  This shall comprise of asking the junior to strip, etc. ("Ragging in India," 2007).

 

2.2   Ragging: common myths

The following are some of the myths about ragging found in most people:

1.      Ragging is harmless fun.

2.      Ragging makes the fresher bold.

3.      Ragging does not mean more than cleaning the senior’s room or removing one’s shirt.

4.      Severe ragging is not prevalent anymore.

5.      Colleges are united against ragging.

6.      No one can rag me, if I do not allow it. ("Ragging in India," 2007).

 

All these myths are insensible to any person who applies rational thinking in looking around as to what is happening in the world and what is being reported in the media.

 

The point that senior members of the student community often put forward is that ragging is a means of familiarizing with the freshers and making them feel comfortable in a new environment. If this familiarization process is decent and friendly, then no one would complain of the harassment in campus. What the senior students claim as decent and friendly behaviour is actually indecent, unethical and vulgar behaviour that has physical and psychological effect on freshers.

 

2.3   Ragging: reality – statistics

An anonymous saying goes like this.

Ø  To realize the value of one year, ask a student who has failed a grade.

Ø  To realize the value of one month, ask a mother who has given birth to a pre-mature baby.

Ø  To realize the value of one week, ask the editor of a weekly magazine.

Ø  To realize the value of one hour, ask the person who is waiting for someone dear.

Ø  To realize the value of one minute, ask a person who has missed the train.

Ø  To realize the value of one second, ask the person who has just avoided an accident.

Ø  To realize the value of one milli-second, ask a person who has won a silver medal in Olympics.

 

It is not a matter of numbers.  If the ragging menace is to affect one individual or thousands of individuals or hundreds of thousands of individuals, we need to have one thing in mind.  The personal grief that a family undergoes following the loss of their son or daughter is more severe than the grief of the nation mourning over thousands of such incidents.

 

A bit of ragging related statistics is discussed below. Coalition to Uproot Ragging from Education (CURE) took steps to analyze the interplay of factors on ragging.  As per the report by CURE, since 2005, only 64 cases of ragging have been reported (as on 2007).  This is because not all of the cases of ragging are reported to the University or College authorities.  Even if reported, they do not make way to the media.  Of the 64 cases, 61 were in College and 3 were reported from schools.

 

Out of the 64 cases identified, CURE was able to ascertain the nature of College for 51 cases, and the distribution is presented in table 1.

 

Table 1: Distribution of ragging incidents in various colleges

Source: Ragging in India, CURE Report, May 2007.

 

Taking into account the place of ragging in Colleges, as per CURE, 84% cases of ragging were conducted in hostels (or out-of-campus housing) versus 16% which happened on-campus or other places off-campus.  Out of the 44 cases identified by CURE, 37 were done in hostels, while 7 were on-campus ("Ragging in India," 2007).

 

The types of ragging and the outcome of ragging, as per the CURE report, are depicted in figures 1 and 2 respectively.

 

Since these facts are not reflected to the public, many of us still view ragging as an introduction or familiarization process.  Many of us still do not have a clear understanding of the implications of ragging or its brutal nature. 

 

3.      WHY RAGGING?

The question that often haunts our mind is that why do senior students indulge in ragging, when there are numerous friendly ways of familiarizing with the juniors. Some of the reasons could be:

 

i.        It’s my right

Senior students often mistake that ragging is a part of education system in our country. As a result, they assume that it is their right to rag the juniors, without even realizing the consequences of such an activity.

 

ii.      Basic criterion to quality as a senior

Senior students are of the opinion that, unless and until, they rag the juniors, they would not qualify as seniors. This point creeps into their mind either because of the pressure from their friends circle, or of the view that juniors would not respect them or be scared of them unless they are ragged.

 

iii.     Style statement

Senior students consider ragging as a style statement, whereby they can exhibit their power to the juniors and other students in the campus. They use ragging as a means of popularizing themselves among the students in the campus.

 

iv.     Fun and entertainment

Senior students often claim that ragging is purely for fun and entertainment, and nothing more than that. They assert that singing, dancing, mimicry, playing the fool, are all very trivial things that juniors would never mind to perform.

v.      Psychological desire

Senior students, who have been ragged in the past by their seniors, wait for an opportunity to rag others and satisfy their psychological desires. Those who have themselves enjoyed ragging done on them, would consider it as a fun activity and would try to do the same with their juniors. On the other hand, those with bitter experiences of ragging, assert that, if I could be ragged, why not others; let me do the same with my juniors.

 

vi.     Befriend freshers

In the opinion of senior students, ragging is a way of befriending the juniors. They claim that through ragging, they come closer to the juniors and become friends with them. This enables them to help their juniors in studies, placements and other extra-curricular activities. 

 

4.      EFFECTS OF RAGGING:

i.        On the victimized student

Ragging exerts physical and psychological pressure on the victim. Those who are brave enough to come forward and take up the issue legally, retaliate later because of pressures from various fronts. The student also faces segregation from fellow students and the senior group, and the relationship between the student and the seniors gets worse.  For those who are ready to compromise with their dignity, the ragging experience may not be very dreadful, but the self-confidence of the student deteriorates, resulting in lack of attention to studies and a loss of career. In extreme cases, such affected students end their life, feeling that it is the only option to get rid of this menace.

 

ii.      On the family

The physical and psychological trauma that a fresher undergoes does not limit to the individual student alone; it extends to his/her whole family and they too suffer the burden of ragging. The mental depression that a family undergoes owing to ragging incidents is very terrible. They fear for the image of their family in the society and the gossips that surround such incidents. There has been an instance of the parent of a ragged student ending her life, fearing for the controversies related to the ragging incident.

 

No parent would wish to see their child suffer. The pain and suffering that parents’ conceal from their child, so as to enable the affected child come out of the stress, shock and suffering, is horrific. Even worse is the kind of pain and grief that they have to tolerate, when their beloved child ends his/her life or is killed by the seniors.

 

iii.     On the students engaged in ragging

While senior students get a sense of authority and power by exerting pressure on juniors in the form of ragging, it basically pinpoints the psychological state of the student indulging in ragging. Senior students have started using ragging as a means to exert their power and make a style statement in the institution. But, they do not realize the fact that once found guilty in the eyes of law, their life is spoiled. The image of their family is trashed, and their own future and career comes to an end.

 

iv.     On the Institution

The reputation of the academic institution, in which violent form of ragging incidents take place, is totally spoiled. Such incidents could affect the existing students and can hamper the prospects of attracting new students. Parents would naturally hesitate to send their children to institutions, where ragging is rampant. Ragging activities also result in violence on campus, thereby further damaging the image of the educational institution.

 

v.      On the society and nation

Today’s youth are the future of the nation. Well disciplined, educated, and sensible youth can change the destination of the nation. Unfortunately, what we see today is a group of youth who do not care about their studies and future, and who have no respect for others life. Ragging incidents prevalent in Indian institutions could hamper the image of our nation and limit the prospects of attracting foreign students to educational institutions here.

 

5.      ANTI-RAGGING INITIATIVES IN INDIA:

Several measures are in place by individuals and student community to eradicate ragging in educational institutes in India. Some of these are discussed below:

 

·        CURE

A small initiative that was taken by two students in 2001 to eradicate ragging has now emerged as Coalition to Uproot Ragging from Education (CURE), a non-profit organisation that strives to eliminate ragging in Indian educational institutions.

 

·        SAVE

Society Against Violence in Education (SAVE) is yet another initiative by students and young professionals, in their stride to eradicate ragging. Initially started in Kolkata, SAVE is the first registered anti-ragging non-profit organisation in India that works for eliminating ragging in educational institutions.

 

·        Aman Movement

Prof. Raj Kachroo, father of late Aman Kachroo who died of ragging, initiated the Aman Movement for eradicating ragging from India. Its mission is to eradicate ragging from the face of India through awareness and education.

 

 

·        Anarth: In the name of education

Another initiative from student community has come up in the form of a short film on ragging. The short film, “Anarth: In the name of Education”, which was released on October 11^th, 2009, the day that is observed as Nationwide No Ragging Day, has come out of the efforts of three students from Netaji Subhas Institute of Technology. The main aim of the short film is to bring out the problems that students face across the country in the name of ragging.

 

6.      RAGGING: THE SOLUTION:

Collective effort of educational institutions, teachers, law agencies, students and media would help end the problem of ragging.

As per the UGC guidelines, those found guilty of ragging shall be punishable with any one or any combination of the following punishments at the institution level.

·        Suspension from attending classes and academic privileges

·        Withholding/ withdrawing scholarship/ fellowship and other benefits

·        Debarring from appearing in any test/ examination or other evaluation process

·        Withholding results

·        Debarring from representing the institution in any regional, national or international meet, tournament, youth festival, etc.

·        Suspension/ expulsion from the hostel

·        Cancellation of admission

·        Rustication from the institution for period ranging from one to four semesters

·        Expulsion from the institution and consequent debarring from admission to any other institution for a specified period. Provided that where the persons committing or abetting the act of ragging are not identified, the institution shall resort to collective punishment.

 

Framing anti-ragging regulations alone would not suffice. Educational institutions have to ensure that the regulations and anti-ragging measures are being effectively implemented in the campus. They have to make a point clear that it is not senior students’ right to rag the newcomers. Students should be made to realize that rules are made to be followed and not to be disregarded. It is the duty of authorities of educational institutions to take up ragging cases very seriously and punish the wrong-doers. Such an act would be a lesson for others, who desire to rag their juniors.

 

The institution should ensure that introduction sessions are held in the presence of teachers, so that newcomers are not ragged by the seniors. If senior students use ragging as a means of familiarizing with the juniors, then this should be strictly banned. The institution can arrange for alternate methods of familiarizing with juniors, viz., sports and games, competitions. Posters on ragging should be displayed across the campus to sensitize the students against the ills of ragging. Short films on ragging should be filmed to students – both seniors and juniors together – in the presence of faculty members.

 

Also each and every educational institution should have an online or offline complaint system to bring the ragging incidents to light. They should ensure that there are teacher counselors and outside counselors who can provide counseling to newcomers as well as the seniors. There should be surprise visits to canteens, auditorium, playground where ragging is more likely to take place. Surprise visits to hostels by wardens, anti-ragging squad is also needed. Free helpline numbers in each institution would help the newcomers bring the issue to the notice of the concerned authorities.

 

It is also the responsibility of the student community to understand the fact that ragging is not a means of familiarizing with freshers, rather it is an act that spoils the relationship with juniors. Ragging done at extreme level results in the death of the victims. To the outside world, it would appear as a loss of one life; but, the underlying fact is that a whole family is almost dead because of ragging related deaths.

 

The student community should realize that they are not savages to cruelly kill innocent students. They should understand that the future of our country lies in their hands. It is not what Swami Vivekananda wanted to see. He said, “Give me 100 energetic young men and I shall transform India”. The vision that Swamiji had of young men was different from what we see today. The young men and women of today have transformed themselves into cruel monsters, who deem it fit to use violence to have fun. It is high time now that youngsters realize the importance of life, education, society and nation, and abstain from indulging in such heinous crimes. The seniors should realize that if the juniors start ragging them, how would they feel? Wouldn’t they be antagonized by such heinous activities?

 

Moreover, it is the responsibility of the new comers to inform their parents about any objectionable ragging incident that happens to them. If parents deem fit, the issue should be taken to the concerned authorities, so that strict action could be taken against the wrong-doers. Unless the victims come forward and complain, the culprits would stay behind the scene and continue ragging their juniors. Juniors should make a point clear to the senior students that they are not fun dolls, with whom the seniors could play and make fun for their own amusement; they are human beings with their own dignity, which should, at no cost, be spoiled.

 

7. CONCLUSION:

Ragging has emerged as a dreadful experience for the newcomers, rather than being a means of familiarizing with them. Framing anti-ragging measures in universities and colleges alone would not suffice. It is the responsibility of the university and college authorities, and the teaching fraternity to ensure that the anti-ragging measures are being strictly followed across the campus. While on one hand, senior students understand the consequences of ragging and have reduced or almost stopped campus ragging, the very same students indulge in most threatening, unlawful and unethical ragging measures in hostels, day after day and year after year. Unless and until the student community comes forward and pledges to curb the menace of ragging and devise friendlier approaches of familiarization with freshers, it is disheartening to say that the demon called ragging would continue in colleges and universities, year after year. When we are aware that ragging is a evil, then why not eliminate it. 

 

8. REFERENCES:

1.       A short film ‘Anarth’ on ragging screened: By the students, for the society. Available from: URL: http://www.punjabnewsline.com.

2.       Agarwal H. Familiarisation and its ways. Available from: URL: http://noragging.com/index.php/Research/Reports/Familiarisation-its-ways.html.

3.       Garg R. Ragging: A public health problem in India. Indian Journal of Medical Sciences. 63 (6); 2009: 263-271.

4.       Ragging in India: A summary report on incidents, social perceptions and psychological perspectives. Available from: URL: http://www.noragging.com/analysis/CR2007_05-16_RaggingInIndiaSummary.pdf.

5.       Ragging, violations of human rights and our struggle against it. Available from: URL: http://www.no2ragging.org/Newsletter_ Feb08.pdf.