“Ragging, an Evil” By:- Navita
Ragging is an old and cruel practice, prevalent since the British era. Although, initially, it was limited to English colleges and universities eventually, it spread to the Indian educational system as well.
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. They do not think twice before misusing their authority. As a result, juniors and freshers are made to perform humiliating acts, which can be suggestive sexual, sarcastic and even physically and mentally traumatising for the victim.
In extreme cases of severe ragging, the victim either commits suicide or gets killed.
There are laws to punish the perpetrators. However, sometimes that’s not enough. Young students must communicate to their parents, college counsellors or anti-ragging squad any life threatening issues they are facing at school/colleges.
Schools and colleges must appoint trained counsellors, who can empathise with students and understand their problems.
Above all, students and parents must be made aware of the ills of ragging and how it affects the victims and their families, only then ragging can be prevented.