RAGGING

BY: Amandeep Kaur BBA Sem. 4

DEFINITION
The word ragging means the act of taunting, teasing, playing a practical joke on someone or holding comic parades and other activities during certain period of a college A traditional and systematical human rights abuse practiced by seniors upon freshers

AROUND THE WORLD

Ragging is termed with different names in different parts of the world e.g.. Hazing, fagging, pledging, horse-playing, bullying etc. First ragging related death occurred in 1873 in Cornell University in the US In 1980s strict laws were made and Universities and Colleges devised alternative methods of interaction. Bullying, a milder form of ragging is still being practiced in some schools. It involves teasing of students coming from different backgrounds.

FORMS OF RAGGING
SEVERE RAGGING
Causes: o Revenge o Sexual desires o Be like me o Ego and ego hurt o Anger disposable bins o Disillusioned o Union interference

MILD RAGGING
Causes: Jealous and envy A sigh of relief Dreams realized For the sake of it Fun in troubling and embarrassing

VULNERABLE LOCATIONS FOR RAGGING

Hostel blocks and messes Vacant class rooms Canteen Stadiums or playgrounds Student activity centers Bus stands

 Ragging gives a sense of authority It can be a means of retaliation Satisfaction of sadistic pleasures Peer pressure Ragging makes a fashion statement Old ritual

THE PSYCHOLOGY BEHING RAGGING

THE VICIOUS CIRCLE

Students believe that they were ragged so they have the right to rag their juniors They believe that it is the only way by which seniors and freshers can interact Students are inculcated with the logic that seniors who rag them will help them later Each student has a different level of emotional sensitivity. Students are unaware of this and they expect that what they have gone through during their ragging must be endured by their freshers too

CONSEQUENCES OF RAGGING, SHOCKING BUT TRUE

How ragging affects the Victim

An unpleasant incident of ragging may leave a permanent scar in the victims mind that may haunt him for years It demoralizes the victim who joins college life with many hopes and expectations Though incidents of physical assault and grievous injuries are not new, ragging also simultaneously causes grave psychological stress and trauma to the victim Those students who choose to protest against ragging are very likely to face isolation from their seniors In extreme cases, incidents of suicides and homicide have also been reported

How ragging affects the Victims Family

One can imagine the plight of a ragging victims family, especially his or her parents who see their child suffering in pain and stress. Besides incurring medical and other incidental expenses to rehabilitate their child, they also have to bear the trauma of seeing his or her prospective career coming to an end

How ragging affects the Educational Institution

Severe media barrage in extreme cases of ragging lowers the character of the educational institution and destroys the respect and faith it commands from society Those who indulge in ragging bring a bad name to their college thereby hindering its reputation and goodwill in society

How ragging affects the Raggers

Ragging does not spare even its perpetrators. Those found guilty of ragging may be suspended, blacklisted and even permanently expelled from college

Raggers should be given rigorous imprisonment up to three years or a fine up to Rs.25000/-, or both. The educational institutions may prescribe other punishments such as suspension from classes, from the hostel, etc.

Some major incidents of Ragging in India

Nagedra AV, 25, was found dead in Chandigarh's prestigious Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research on 19 April,2010 Sinmoi Debroy, 21, was found hanging from the ceiling fan, dead, in his hostel room in Chennai on 4 April Premlatha, 22, committed suicide by consuming sulphuric acid in the chemistry lab of the B S Abdur Rahman Crescent Engineering College Satwinder Kumar, 28, ended his life on 3 March. He was a student of the Advanced Training Institute, Mumbai

HOW TO GET RID OF RAGGING???

The HARD Approach

More accountability of the college staff in case of any ragging incident. Surprise checks by the hostel warden especially during the nights. System of ragging complaint to be made friendlier and safer for the freshers. Faculty members to stay in close contact with the freshers and instill in them a sense of confidence

The Soft Approach

Introduce the concept of sub-group mentorship, with few chosen seniors responsible for the well being of different groups of freshers Second year students must be sensitized about the evils of ragging and the various myths about it Efforts to be made to make ragging a social evil, by highlighting its ill-effects and thus establish a public opinion against it In an event of severe ragging, victim must be given an option to change the college Create a massive nationwide awareness about ragging

CONCLUSION
Ragging is a problem of the students and by the students; and therefore, the solution to it also lies with the students.

On the whole, the best way to stop ragging is realization by the senior himself. He should understand that by doing ragging, it is his weakness which instigates him not his strength, he is not respected but feared, he embosses bad memories than sweet moments It is concluded and hoping that in a few years of time with our earnest effort, we all together can eradicate the social scar called ragging. We are sure, a new enlighten India is waiting for us at the end of this dark tunnel