Most of us might have experienced bullying and/or ragging at least once in our lifetime. Quite often, it is being disregarded or considered as a norm; however, it does affect the mindsets of a person in a very rough way and makes life tougher for them.
To learn more about how ragging affects the students, the Mumbai Live team interacted with students, professors, and principals of various institutes across Mumbai.
Rafiya Desai, a student of Dalmia College said, “I have experienced that someone superior to me tried to dominate a lot. Ragging had a very bad impact on my mind. It feels like if I go to college they will irritate me or just keep poking me.” She further added, “I was a victim when I was a new student, but now I know how to fight back and what steps I should take and deal with it properly.”
Darsh Kumar, another student of RD & SH National College said, “Ragging is something which can result in two mindsets of students. Either one will fear it for their life or they will normalise it and practise it on other students. It scars them for their lifetime. On being asked how will they feel if the culprit is punished or some action is taken against the culprit he said, “It may provide relief about the fact that they may not have to face it again, but in the meantime whatever they have faced will affect them for the lifetime. As we say, justice delayed is justice denied. If the action is not taken on the preliminary stage itself, things might go out of control.”
According to the anti-ragging cell, there were 511 cases of ragging reported across the country until August 2023. This is a significant decrease from the number of cases reported in 2022, which was 810.
The decline in the number of ragging cases is likely due to a number of factors, including the increased awareness of ragging and the strict penalties that are now in place for perpetrators.
However, it is important to note that the number of ragging cases that actually happen is likely much higher than the number that is officially recorded. This is because many students are reluctant to report ragging incidents, fearing retaliation from their seniors or the college administration.
However, can the involvement of authorities really help solve the problem? Let's take a look at what authorities have to say about this.
Sharing another such incident, Assistant Professor of RK Talreja College Of Arts, Science & Commerce, Bhagyashree Ratan Pathai said, “We do not see many ragging cases in Mumbai but many cases are reported from Northern India. Recently my friend's daughter moved out of Mumbai to study MD in Uttar Pradesh (UP) and my friend said that her daughter looked very dull and had dry skin. So my friend asked her daughter the reason for not using cream or moisturiser to take care of her skin. Her daughter replied ‘that my roommate said that if you apply cream, the seniors will assume that you are a Mumbai girl and acting smart. When I applied the cream on my first day they dominated and forced me to take it off.’ And because of fear of getting ragged, the girl is not using any cream to take care of her skin. If they involve the authorities by complaining about the seniors, they will get into more trouble.”
Between Class I to V at Muktangan English School and Junior College parents of about seven to eight children, predominantly males, have claimed that their sons have been subjected to ragging and sexual harassment by older students in Std IX, X, and the junior college. In response to a complaint made by the parents, police lodged unidentified individuals in jail under the POCSO Act. The authorities are looking for the accused's identity.
Educationist Rakshita Mangali speaking about how to deal with the new generation of ragging said, “The newer generation students are already quite smart enough. These students are at a stage where they do the ragging of teachers. We have to be diplomatic and smart enough to deal with such students.”
Meanwhile, speaking about a solution to ragging, Principal Of Gopi Birla Memorial School in Malabar hill, Madhu Wadke said, “The problem is with the person who rags others. He is the one who needs more counseling than the victim. Because he is disturbed due to some emotional disturbance or trauma at his home, they carry this mental health issues and that reflects aggression or ragging. So both the one who is teasing and the one who is the victim, require counseling. Students are given the required attention and counseling, and their behaviour is modified. Their root cause is addressed.”
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