The nation was reminded of our failure to prevent the issue of ragging in schools when Aman Kachroo, a 19-year-old, tragically passed away. This problem persists as incidents continue to happen, leading to injuries, suicide attempts, and even fatalities. It is inappropriate to claim that hazing is a harmless method of fostering unity among students considering the seriousness of these occurrences. Ragging is not an innocent tradition; instead, it is a structured form of torment that can greatly impact an individual’s mental and physical health.
Reports of attempted suicide after being ragged by seniors have reinforced the prevalence and damage of this phenomenon. During the early 1990s, ragging was acknowledged as a problem and has since been extensively debated and discussed in search of a solution. Unfortunately, it appears that authorities have consistently failed to comprehend the underlying psychological complexities associated with this menace. They have made little progress from where we were a decade or two ago, as they have primarily focused on the law and order aspect of ragging while neglecting its psychological implications.
Despite the fact that ragging has resulted in the loss of many innocent lives and shattered numerous promising futures, it is unique among social and human rights problems as the victim often becomes the perpetrator of the crime. It is truly difficult to fathom how a victim subjected to severe torment can quickly develop a close friendship with their abuser and subsequently adopt and perpetuate the same customs onto their juniors. In reality, ragging is accompanied by a series of false beliefs, ingrained mindsets, and manipulation, which contribute to the establishment of a strong belief system – a psychology behind this evil.
There are various misconceptions surrounding the concept of ragging. Many people believe that it helps seniors and freshmen to interact, develop friendships, build emotional connections, grow personally, overcome shyness, and prepare for real-life situations. These myths are not only believed by students but also by teachers and individuals who have attended or heard about college experiences.
There is a widespread belief in myths about ragging, with people from all walks of life being easily influenced. The issue lies in the mindset problem of defining and establishing boundaries for ragging. Whenever the topic is discussed, it inevitably becomes a debate between mild and severe forms, causing people to overlook the fact that even tragic incidents of ragging started off as harmless or enjoyable activities for someone. This makes it challenging to determine when exactly ragging crosses a line. It is crucial to recognize that strictness alone cannot provide a solution, as it will only result in confusion.
Ragging is driven by the lack of respect for individuals from diverse backgrounds in our schools. Consequently, when students enter college, ragging becomes a means to express the animosity they have developed towards individuals from other communities. It is unfortunate but true that ragging in our country primarily targets individuals based on their caste, region, language, religion, economic status, and other societal diversities. It can be argued that bullying in schools serves as the foundation for the emergence of ragging in college.
Across the globe, individuals engage in bullying to establish dominance by ridiculing certain characteristics or backgrounds that may be perceived as different or amusing. These can range from accents and physical appearances to hometowns and economic statuses. While Western schools have recognized bullying as a significant offense and have implemented educational measures, India, with its vast diversity, continues to face a more pressing problem of school bullying that remains largely unaddressed.
Over time, these activities lead to a psychological mindset that affects both young individuals and society as a whole. It is paradoxical how movies like 3 Idiots and Munna bhai portray ragging scenes, which people find amusing despite their previous protests against it. As a result, implementing anti-ragging laws becomes difficult when society fails to acknowledge ragging as a harmful social problem but instead finds humor in it.
The society should take responsibility for implementing anti-ragging laws in order to resolve this issue. Conviction and consensus are necessary for tackling the problem of ragging, as there is currently a lack of agreement on this matter. It is important to understand that strict laws alone cannot solve the mindset issue associated with ragging. To bring about significant change, it becomes crucial to address the underlying causes of this problem. It is essential to acknowledge that ragging involves older students using psychological tactics to intimidate their juniors.
The text highlights that juniors may go through a distressing experience that alters their character and can result in a traumatic bond and manipulative behavior. It raises the question of whether it is acceptable to use extreme measures for bonding, even if it means sacrificing freedom, self-esteem, individuality, or life itself. Efforts have been made to tackle the issue of ragging by enforcing laws and Supreme Court rulings against it and setting up a 24-hour helpline. However, the persistence of underlying foundations supporting ragging hinders progress in addressing this problem.
Educational institutions have failed to effectively address the root causes of ragging and have disregarded the need for student contemplation on this matter. To tackle this issue, it is imperative for institutions to cultivate critical thinking skills and offer students opportunities to question and comprehend the factors that perpetuate this harmful practice. This introspection and awareness should involve all individuals involved, not just students. In India, ragging has persisted due to the awareness of educational authorities who either ignore it or blame victims, advising them to report incidents and seek legal action.
Currently, the college community views ragging as a traditional ritual. Unless individuals take action on these issues, college authorities will continue to attribute ragging deaths to academic pressure, most incidents of ragging will go unreported, seniors and teachers will continue to believe that ragging is a beneficial exercise for personal growth, the media will continue to focus on sensational stories about ragging, parents and society will fail to comprehend the suffering of ragging victims, and ultimately, the harsh measures to prevent ragging may lose their effectiveness, resulting in an unsolvable problem. While anti-ragging laws can help secure convictions against those responsible, they alone are insufficient in preventing this form of torture. The primary responsibility for addressing this sadistic practice rests with educational institutions themselves.
The Supreme Court has reiterated its previous order from 2007, declaring ragging as a violation of human rights. It has instructed all educational institutions to implement stringent measures for the prevention of ragging. The Court’s approach is based on the recommendations made by the committee led by R. K. Raghavan, which stresses that it is the responsibility of the institutions themselves to put an end to ragging. Holding authorities accountable for negligence is deemed as the most effective solution to this problem. The Raghavan Committee highlights the importance of involving educational institutions, government authorities, media, and civil society in eradicating ragging. They propose establishing anti-ragging squads and committees at district, state, and national levels to ensure continuous surveillance against this practice.
