In the name of introduction

Sumit Bhattacharya | NT

Bengaluru: Just a couple of decades ago, ragging or the introduction of freshers in most universities in India used to bring two kinds of feelings, excitement or fear.

Excitement for few owing to the assumptions of new relationships and study related challenges, fear for some to be brought out of their comfort zone.

The seniors would ask freshers to do funny acts like proposing a dog with a flower, oiling the hair and making it do with cheap pink ribbon for one month, wearing dirty lab coats throughout the day in the college or repeating some funny phrase after every sentence while introducing oneself, and so on.

Instances of cruel handling of freshers were few and far between. But, in a troubling trend, cases of severe ragging have come to the forefront, recently plaguing prestigious educational institutions across India.

From Jadavpur University to IIT Kharagpur, universities in Telangana, and many others, the brutality of ragging has claimed numerous lives of students who sought education within their hallowed halls.

Most of these victims hailed from underprivileged rural backgrounds, lacking the financial means to combat the sustained harassment they endured.

The legality of these actions is being questioned as student fatalities due to ragging are exposed to the public eye. Amidst this controversy, there are contrasting viewpoints among students.

Vikram, a student from Atria University, Bengaluru, stated that while physical assault is a clear offense, bullying of specially-abled individuals based on their challenges should never be tolerated.

However, he argued that ragging, when kept within limits, can create challenging situations that push individuals out of their comfort zones, enhancing their mental resilience.

Vikram also underscored the need to prepare students for the challenges of the future.

Recent incidents like the suicide of a student in Gurugram, a tragic case in Telangana, the ragging issue in Assam, and the unsettling student death at Jadavpur University highlight the deeply entrenched ragging mindset among senior students.

These incidents raise concerns about the safety of education and the cultural atmosphere within these esteemed institutions. Addressing these grave matters, legal actions are in place under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) against ragging offenses.

Each instance of ragging or its facilitation mandates that the institution file an FIR (First Information Report).

The IPC provisions applicable for filing an FIR include:

• Section 294 – Obscene acts and songs
• Section 323 – Punishment for voluntarily causing hurt
• Section 324 – Voluntarily causing hurt with a dangerous weapon or means
• Section 325 – Punishment for voluntarily causing grievous hurt
• Section 326 – Voluntarily causing grievous hurt with a dangerous weapon
• Section 339 – Wrongful restraint
• Section 340 – Wrongful confinement
• Section 341 – Punishment for wrongful restraint
• Section 342 – Punishment for wrongful confinement
• Section 506 – Punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder

The pertinent question emerges: who will provide answers to these concerns, and how much longer will these offenses persist? Is there a viable solution?

The onus primarily rests on institutional authorities to address the unrest permeating through universities. The alarming rise in ragging cases has raised doubts about the safety of students pursuing higher education in India.

A comprehensive strategy, including strict enforcement of anti-ragging laws and proactive measures by universities, is crucial to ensure a safe and conducive learning environment.

Only then can students focus on their academic pursuits without the looming fear of physical and mental harassment.