Ragging In Colleges And Why It Should Be Avoided

 

Source: timesofindia

Getting an education is the “right” of every student, for which they need to take admissions in a school or college. But what if this entry becomes a curse for them!! Education has always been a noble profession, a process of facilitating learning or the acquisition of knowledge, skill, values, beliefs and habits.

Our ancestors received their learning at “Gurukuls” and “Ashrams” later in medieval time, they got an education in “Dharamshalas”, “Pathshalas”, places that are associated with “worship”. And parents are spending money in school, colleges for their children’s betterment but are they receiving the results??  Is it really worthwhile for their children??

I feel deeply worried after going through the news about the inhuman treatment due to the lack of civil senses had meted out to new entrants by seniors in an educational institute called “ragging”. What is ragging? In simple language it means just “bullying”, bullying to new students or juniors or whoever they want or find entertaining. It seems it has become a necessary part of an entry into any institution.

Those who accept the condition prevail, whereas those who oppose it have to bear the consequences. Many times students are asked to perform objectionable actions or gestures which make the newcomers feel guilty and feel grief-stricken. Some even commit suicide out of shame. The question is – “Is human life so worthless that it has to succumb to such treatment? These can be verbal or physical.

The physical aspect was highlighted in the recent incident at a prestigious school, where the student ragged had to be hospitalized with severe burn injuries. Even in colleges, there are so many cases we can’t even imagine. I can't even explain that pain that they go through, as it gives me Goosebumps, every freaking time I think of them!! But all that I had read and been known by others had really made me dumbstruck.  

The only explanation and the justification that the seniors gave for this act is that -“they too had gone through this and therefore consider it to be completely right for others as well. I mean seriously, we are the youth, “the change setter and this is, what we are carrying forward??” therefore we need to stop, and raise your voice!! Education enables people to know the world beyond their own surroundings and transform them to become rational and “real human” in outlook and world view. Is it really doing so?? 

Now, after reading this news, I don’t think so. Today, the education system is no longer dedicated as a place of worship; rather it has become a commercializing business and financing institution, where the main focus is on the name and fame. All that they want is “marks” and a higher number of “toppers list” than neighbouring schools. The heart valves are now eloping anywhere.

Rigging has nowadays deteriorated into an evil activity, although it started during the bring era in India with the aim of instilling in new students respect for enforcing traditions. The seniors, like the school perfect, were supposed to act as a substitute for the teacher of the juniors. However, they gradually began to misuse their authority by becoming vulgar and violent, which have in some cases led to students getting seriously injured or even death in rare cases. Some other students have also committed suicide as a reaction to severe ragging.

The issue needs to be handled very carefully and proper counselling to students and parental guidance will play an important role. The solution is to control ragging by regular patrolling of the school premises by teachers and mature seniors. The government has also passed an act called “anti-ragging” in 2019 but it won’t be useful until we do. They should pay particular attention to the school hostels during non-school hours when ragging is most frequent.

Sensitizing sessions may also be held for the senior students so that they don’t descend to evil practices while ragging fresh students. Youth is the hope of the nation. So the youth should come forward and shoulder the responsibility of nation-building instead of merely fulfilling their selfish needs. Their innovative ideas and thoughts can prove wondrous both to them and to the nation. This strength of the nation just needs to be realized and awakened for the betterment of all.

A genius is not enough; it takes a lot of courage to bring about a change.

Please wake up and be responsible!

Written by - Prathna Vatsalya