Ragging, the abhorrent practice of harassing and bullying newcomers in educational institutions, has long been a blight on student life. While the devastating effects on victims are well-documented, I think as times have changed, we have formed supportive groups, the government has passed strict laws and I firmly believe that due to the efforts of leading support groups such as (S.A.V.E) no2ragging.org, incidents of ragging have certainly gone down. However, even in 2024, the actions of some individuals continue to cause significant suffering and pain to innocent students.
In this article, we investigate the motivations of the ragger and the rise of new forms of ragging. So, what’s churning within the mind of a senior who inflicts ragging?
The allure of power is a significant driver. Having possibly endured ragging themselves, some seniors see it as a way to establish dominance and claim their newfound position within the student hierarchy. A chance to wield the power even if that experience is negative for the junior. Peer pressure plays a big role. Surrounded by seniors who rag, a student might feel compelled to participate, fearing ostracism or even becoming a target themselves.
Often, seniors believe they’re upholding a time-honored custom, a misguided belief passed down through the years. Empathy can be sorely lacking too. Having gone through the ordeal themselves, they might downplay the severity, thinking, “I survived, so can they.” This lack of empathy blinds them to the potential long-term consequences their actions can have on the emotional well-being of their juniors. A group of seniors, none of whom had particularly enjoyed being ragged themselves, participated in ragging the new students. They felt pressured by their peers to conform and feared being ostracized if they refused.
In some cases, ragging can be fueled by a desire for revenge. A senior who endured severe ragging themselves might feel compelled to inflict that same pain on the next generation, perpetuating the cycle of abuse. This can be particularly damaging as it normalizes ragging and fuels a sense of helplessness within victims.
Seniors from privileged backgrounds might target students from less fortunate families, viewing ragging as a way to assert their social dominance. This can exacerbate existing feelings of inadequacy or insecurity in the victim.
In medical colleges, ragging is more prominent. Every other day, a group of medical college seniors in India allegedly force their juniors to perform demeaning tasks like mimicking sexual acts and consuming foul-tasting concoctions[1][2] . This clearly indicates a power dynamic, with seniors exploiting their position to exert control and humiliate the new students. This highlights the complex interplay of social pressure, insecurity, and the need for belonging that can contribute to ragging.
New Forms of Ragging: When Pressure from Professors Turns Deadly
In top premier institutions, a culture of extreme academic rigor is mistakenly celebrated as a mark of excellence. Professors who perpetuate this tradition view their harsh treatment as a necessary toughening-up process. This approach fails to consider the individual needs and vulnerabilities of students, creating a climate of fear and anxiety. Professors who pressure students to extremes might be masking their own insecurities. This pressure can manifest as arrogance or a dismissive attitude towards student struggles.
Professors who are into teaching, themselves are burnt out due to long duration of overtime work and for years of such workload. I remember one conversation with my friend who studies Electronics and Communication Engineering (it’s a really hard branch, all my friends cry during exams). His professor demands extreme rigor and told me “He makes students cry in exam.” Then he went on further and said to me, he will do similar things if he became a professor one day. I then asked, why? He said, revenge! I was shocked.
There are no strict consequences for such harassment. Professors in college think of themselves as gods. They are powerful enough to destroy someone’s career.
This news[3] had caught my attention, and ever since it has stuck in my mind. It seems like the professor who harassed his student has been re-appointed[4][5] . There are several such incidents[6][7][8] and these issues need to be addressed immediately.
The motivations behind ragging can vary greatly depending on the individual and the social context. However, by understanding these underlying factors, we can develop more effective strategies to prevent ragging and create a safer and more welcoming learning environment for all students. The fight against ragging must encompass all its forms, from bullying seniors to pressuring professors. By dismantling the power imbalances that fuel these behaviors and fostering a culture of respect, empathy, and open communication, we can create safer spaces for students to thrive. Education, after all, should empower and enlighten, not tear down and destroy.
References-
- https://www.news18.com/news/education-career/forced-juniors-to-perform-obscene-acts-abuse-girls-nine-mbbs-students-booked-under-anti-ragging-act-in-indore-5647447.html
- https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ranchi/jharkhand-mgmmch-students-allege-ragging-by-seniors-probe-on/articleshow/111500615.cms
- https://www.thenewsminute.com/tamil-nadu/iit-m-suspends-professor-ashish-finds-him-solely-responsible-for-phd-student-suicide
- https://mech.iitm.ac.in/profile.php?fname=ashis
- https://www.ashislab.in/faculty.php
- https://www.indiatvnews.com/news/india/punjab-lovely-professional-university-student-names-professor-suicide-note-fir-registered-2022-09-21-810309
- https://www.livelaw.in/pdf_upload/994-vp-singh-v-state-of-punjab-24-nov-2022-446697.pdf
- https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/punjab-massive-protests-lpu-jalandhar-student-dies-suicide-8163407/
