Ragging, an evil!

Imagine the scene! You’ve just arrived at you dream school after months, probably years, of
hard work. What would you do first? I expect creating a productive environment in your dorm, or getting
acquainted with different teachers or fellow students. But what if I told you, you would stay up at night,
curled up in a ball in your bed, crying, trying to fall asleep?

Does that sound idyllic? Personally, I would rather get a good night’s sleep, but those are some
of the effects of ragging. The original aim of this practice was to teach the juniors to respect the social
hierarchy existing in schools, colleges and universities. Soon, it became a way to enforce unnecessary
traditions and discipline them. It’s always someone in power, such as a prefect or an authoritative
senior who likes to dominate. As a result, juniors and freshers are made to perform humiliating acts,
which can be suggestive sexual, sarcastic and even physically and mentally traumatizing for the victim. Is
this really the answer for all of us?

Such a recent incident at a prestigious school has shown that this evil has not yet come to an
end. A young boy was driven to almost leaving the school, in the pretext of “not liking it anymore”. After
further investigation, authorities and the school board came to the conclusion that ragging was the
source of such a rash decision.

So, how can we stop and prevent such an old and cruel practice? Schools and colleges must
appoint trained counsellors, who can empathise with students and understand their problems. But, as I
speak from a student’s point of view, it is hard to place your trust in someone you’ve never met, this is
why you must communicate with you parents, teachers or anti-ragging squad any life threatening issues
you are facing at school/college.

I know what it feels like to be a senior, I know it comes with a rush of adrenaline knowing you
are the one in power, and it’s right, being senior gives you power, but the power you use to guide
younger fellows, to make them understand what mistakes to avoid, to make them understand how
important it is to respect the teachers, not to “make them pay” even for being young, of forcing them to
respect you or even making fun of them. How would you, or any of us, like to spend most of your time
running from something you don’t deserve, instead of making the most of your youth.

In conclusion, ragging is something that needs to be stopped, for it is not moral, and in extreme
cases of severe ragging, the victim either commits suicide or gets killed.