Ragging is a menace in colleges.

The ugly turn it has taken in the recent years has forced the law enforcement agencies in India to sit up and look carefully.

Is it fun and ‘casual’ teasing of freshers…or is ragging a way of ‘taking out’ your inner negativity/violence?

Is Ragging a ‘sociable’ phenomenon or is it a manifestation of  a sick mentality ???

Let us examine….

What is ragging ? Here is an explanation:

Definitions and criticism:

Ragging is a form of abuse on newcomers to educational institutions in Australia, Britain, India, Sri Lanka and in many other Commonwealth ...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ragging

A traditional and systematical human rights abuse practiced by seniors
upon freshers.
Forms of ragging may vary from a healthy and mild interaction to a
severe physical and traumatic mental abuse leading to victims death.
Though it was practised all around the world but is now confined mainly
to South-Asia. ( www.noragging.com)

Supreme Court of India has this to say:

"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 thereof 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."

History of Ragging

Ragging is quite an old menace.
In 7th and 8th century Greece….new entrants in a sports community were put to the annoying ‘tests’ in order to inculcate in them a certain team spirit .

It is reported that the first Ragging Death occurred in a US university..... In the late nineteenth century.

In India….ragging  was introduced in colleges as a  Leftover of the British Legacy….and over the last 60 years or so….it has taken a very  ugly turn !

Psychology of Ragging

Psychologists say that Ragging has its genesis in the ‘innate’ desire of a certain group of individuals….who wish to demonstrate their supremacy over another group !!!

“Ragging is more of a psychological problem than anything else. Ragging is perhaps the only Social and Human Rights problem in the world in which the victim himself/herself becomes the perpetrator of this crime in a short span of one year. This problem can best be solved by going into the roots of this menace and understanding its psychology. Psychological concepts like Stanford Prison Experiment, Miligram Experiment, Stockholm syndrome, which have close similarities with the psychology of ragging need to be studied carefully to understand this problem and look for appropriate solution”. (http://www.policyproposalsforindia.com/ragging-educational-institutions.html)

Healthy Ragging ??? (http://www.siasat.com/)

Students in the Delhi University felt ragging up to a limit was okay.
Adopting the literal meaning of the word ‘ragging’ — tease, make fun of and rib — they say it gives an opportunity to seniors and freshers to know each other in an amusing way.
They have even coined a term, “healthy ragging”, which they argue is a good way to get informally introduced to seniors, who play an important role in shepherding the freshers.

But there is a thin line…between ‘healthy’ and brutal ragging…
“What do you think about ragging involving merciless beating up of innocents? I was stripped and sexually tortured by my seniors,” an engineer, working in a private sector company, says. “Ragging is one of the worst sins plaguing society. The bullies need to be taught a lesson.” Colleges admit students from different states and culture. “A shy person coming from a conservative family is never prepared for ragging in any form. I was extremely uncomfortable while I was ragged,”

What is your view ???