A Closer Look at Ragging in Hostels: The Harsh Realities Faced by Junior Boys

Introduction

Ragging, a form of initiation practices often involving harassment or humiliation of junior students by seniors, continues to plague various educational institutions, particularly in some parts of the world. Despite strict anti-ragging policies and legal measures, reports of ragging still emerge from time to time. This article delves into the various forms of ragging, focusing on the experiences of junior boys, and highlights the importance of reporting and seeking support.

The Nature of Ragging

Ragging can take many forms, ranging from verbal abuse to physical humiliation. In some extreme cases, juniors have been subjected to acts such as stripping, which can be both humiliating and damaging to their well-being. While not all incidents of ragging involve such extreme measures, many institutions have taken a strong stance against these practices, promoting a safer and more respectful environment for all students.

The Hostel Experience

For junior boys, the hostel experience can be particularly challenging when it comes to ragging. In many cases, first-year students are kept separate from seniors, but once they move into their second year, they are often integrated into senior hostels and face the likelihood of being ragged. This segregation is intended to protect freshmen, but it often fails to prevent the leakage of practices that can harm them.

A Harrowing Incident

Let’s explore the chilling experience of a group of second-year junior boys who were subjected to severe ragging upon their return to the hostel during the start of their second academic year. Here’s a detailed account of the events:

The Incident

On the very first day of their second year, the group of juniors was stopped at the hostel door. They had already moved their luggage and were on their way back from college. The seniors demanded that they remove their shirts or t-shirts and perform degrading greetings, such as rubbing their noses on the floor. The monitor, who was present, objected, stating that it was ragging and that it was banned. However, the seniors were unsympathetic, physically assaulting the monitor and the juniors before they reluctantly complied with their demands.

The Purgatory

Afterward, the juniors were paraded to the terrace, where more humiliation awaited. One of the seniors demanded that the monitor remove everyone’s pants with his mouth as punishment for his defiance. The juniors then participated in a game of "Buzzer Round," played entirely in underwear, where the loser was required to remove their underwear and the monitor’s as well. The monitor was humiliated further by being made to stay naked for an entire week, unable to access any facilities except a shared toilet in the junior hostel, and was even forced to sleep on the terrace. He was tasked with various menial jobs and threatened with further punishments if he did not comply, which included becoming a "murga" to be urinated on by seniors and juniors alike. He was also stripped of his undergarments and instructed to urinate in a senior’s mouth, a particularly distressing and demeaning task.

The Aftermath

The monitor attempted to report the incident to the authorities, but his complaint was met with indifference. The seniors had recorded the entire ordeal, which they used as leverage against the monitor. When he returned to the hostel, he was once again forced to live as a "murga," but this time with even harsher conditions. He was made to stay in the toilet for an entire day and was only allowed to return to his room in the early morning before 5 am. This treatment continued, and the junior boys endured severe ragging that included being shown videos to their fellow juniors, turning them into willing participants in future ragging.

Conclusion

Ragging in hostels is not just a minor inconvenience; it is a serious breach of human dignity and well-being. These incidents, while shocking in their extreme nature, highlight a larger issue of institutional failure to protect and support students. It is crucial for individuals facing such issues to report them to the appropriate authorities and seek support from peers, counselors, and legal entities. Institutions must take strict measures to prevent and address such incidents, ensuring a safe and respectful environment for all students.

Keywords: ragging, hostel harassment, initiation practices