Ragging causes topper to flee IIT-Delhi

by **pavani anti-ragging** » Thu Aug 14, 2003 1:55 am

Ragging forces IIT topper to flee hostel Wednesday, August 13, 2003 (New Delhi): A fresher who ranked fourth in the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) for admission to Delhi\'s prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) has returned home, escaping a harrowing ragging experience. Far from a dream come true, the start of college has turned out to be a nightmare for Prasad Raj Purohit. A month into college and Prasad has returned home to Ghaziabad - traumatised and mentally disturbed after he suffered repeated and vicious ragging at the hands of senior students. \"I don\'t know what they did to him, they told him he was a eunuch, unable to have sex. They sexually abused him and taunted him, asking him how did he ever manage to get into college because he has no sex drive,\" says Prasad\'s mother. Prasad\'s father has now filed a complaint with the police. In the handwritten complaint to the college authorities and the police, he explains what exactly constitutes ragging behind the walls of the country\'s premier educational institution: Enacting a rape scene Stripping Pretending to have sex with a pillar Consuming alcohol Having sex with another male student in the hostel Dancing a Pondy -- the short form for what is known in IIT as pornographic observation for the development of youth. It\'s also alleged that the toppers are the ones who are usually targeted for such cruel ragging. Elaborating on the mindset of those who indulge in ragging at IIT, Prasad said, \"They always catch the toppers. They say let\'s see how you got in. You think you are very proud of your rank, just because you\'re a fourth-rank topper.\"

by **bornhyderabadi** » Thu Aug 14, 2003 11:55 am

I am proud of institutes like the IITs which produce such immense talent, but I don\'t know why such silly, mean, uncilivised acts like ragging are tolerated there. I always hear that ragging is real bad in these institutes, and this has prompted to think about the nature of the individuals there. It\'s not enough for you have brains - you need to be more kind and be thorough gentlemen to deserve the kind of recognition they have been receiving. Many colleges have formed anti-ragging squads to combat this menace, and have been successful. Why can\'t the IITs do that?

by **Kulcha Hyderabadi** » Thu Aug 14, 2003 2:22 pm

This was posted on June 17, 2002 on the same subject.
 
Ragging is indulging in horse-play, teasing and playing rough jokes. As long as it is done with no intent to harm or hurt, it is okie. In a way, it is a good thing. Kinda like ice-breaking between freshers and the seniors. Unfortunately, it is getting uglier now and so extreme that there have been reports of freshers committing suicide. We ragged in our times and it was limited to making the juniors sing a song, tell a joke, treating us with a cuppa tea etc. And it never went on for more than two days. Like everything else, life in campus is deteriorating too. It is sad but I guess it\'s for the younger generation to do something. Ham to bhai ab buddhe ho chuke hain!

by **Z C** » Thu Aug 14, 2003 5:05 pm

\"...suicides...\"? Need more info please.

by **pavani** » Thu Aug 14, 2003 9:25 pm

See the news. There are so many cases of suicides by freshers in India.

by **Z C** » Fri Aug 15, 2003 12:07 pm

Site at least one, ma'am !!

by **pavani** » Fri Aug 15, 2003 12:34 pm

I am posting 2 incidents leading to suicides for ZC. 1) Ragging drives student to suicide drives student to suicide FROM YOGESH VAJPEYI Lucknow, Sept. 13: Ragging has driven to death a 19-year-old student of the Institute of Engineering and Technology here. \"My son has gone but save others,\" his father told the management of the IIT as the students and teachers gathered for a brief condolence meeting. He said his son, a first-year B.Tech student, had told the family that he was fed up with continued ragging by his seniors. Anoop was forced to take the step within 10 days of attending the first semester. \"They tortured me and indulged in the kind of ragging which I cannot tell you,\" the father quoted Anoop as saying a day before he hanged himself at his home in Kanpur. His classmates said they were beaten, forced to undress and make physical contact with each other by the seniors. \"Anoop was picked up by 20 to 25 seniors on September 9 and was taken to some place where other first-year students were already present. He must have got the same treatment because he hesitated to narrate his tale of woe to his father,\" said a student. The ragging continued on the premises despite the authorities\" claim that eight teams \"each with five teachers\" had been formed for round-the-clock checking in the campus and the hostels. \"The institute has nearly 1,500 students. Around 300 are in the first year. We do not provide hostels to first-year students. It is not possible to keep track of each first-year student because they don?t live inside the campus,\" director A.K. Khare said. Following the suicide, the authorities have withdrawn the dress code (black pant, white shirt) for freshers. A six-member inquiry committee has been formed to identify students who indirectly forced Anoop to end his life. Khare claimed that he had given his mobile and residence phone numbers, along with that of other senior teachers, to each of the first-year student so that they can be contacted any time in case of a trouble. \"We are taking every possible step to minimise ragging and had even expelled two students on September 9 from the institute when their involvement in the ragging was confirmed,\" he said. 
2) Ragging victim commits suicide in AP December 5, 2001, Hyderabad An 18-year-old student of the Agricultural College at Mahanandi in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh committed suicide on Monday at his native town in Anantapur district after being sodomised by his seniors in a ragging incident. The police on Tuesday registered a case under the Anti-Ragging Act and the Indian Penal Code and took several suspects into custody even as a manhunt was launched to nab those still at large. The case has been entrusted to the Crime Investigation Department (CID) following a directive from Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu. According to Kurnool district police, 18-year-old B Govardhan had enrolled for the B Sc (Agriculture) course at the Mahanandi college, which comes under the Acharya N G Ranga Agricultural University, two months ago. Being an outstation student, he was residing in the college hostel. However, on Monday night, he committed suicide at Tadipatri in Anantapur district. In a suicide note, Govardhan wrote that on November 30, some senior students had organised a get-together in the hostel. Some students, in an inebriated condition, forced him to strip and perform dirty acts, he said, adding that he was even sodomised. He named Srinivas Raju, T Pamuleti and Sanjay Kumar as his tormentors. Following the humiliating incident, Govardhan returned to his native town and commited suicide on the night of December 3. College authorities admitted that the incident occurred despite their efforts to prevent ragging. Several student organisations condemned the incident and demanded stern action against the culprits. They also sought an ex-gratia of Rs 200,000 for the victim\'s family. Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has directed the college officials to suspend all the senior students responsible for the incident. He sounded a stern warning to those indulging in ragging and asked the managements of colleges to take measures to prevent recurrence of such incidents. He also told them to create awareness among the students about the Anti-Ragging Act. Enacted in 1997, the Anti-Ragging Act provides for stringent punishment, including imprisonment up to five years and fines up to Rs 10,000 for indulging in offences such as assault, criminal intimidation, wrongful restraint, confinement, abduction, causing grievous hurt or committing unnatural acts. For causing death or abetting suicide, the punishment is life imprisonment with a fine of Rs 50,000.

by **Z C** » Fri Aug 15, 2003 12:41 pm

Well, I have been out of India for a long time and thought ragging has stopped \'coz my fellow batchmate committed suicide back then and that was the reason why anti-ragging law was implemented in AP.

by **pavani** » Fri Aug 15, 2003 12:44 pm

Girl commits suicide following ragging 16 August 2000: Tamil Nadu: Deepa (aged 18 years), a first year student of microbiology at the Sri Krishna Arts and Science College at Keezhambi, near Kancheepuram commited suicide by self-immolation. In her dying declaration, Deepa named three seniors (one girl), as forcing her to sing lewd songs. When she sulked and protested, the seniors asked her to dance nude. Deepa’s mother and her two younger brothers were watching television in the evening. Deepa was cleaning the puja utensils in the bathroom. Then, shrieks were heard from the bathroom. Deepa came running out, engulfed in flames. The family poured water on Deepa and rushed her to a local hospital. Deepa sustained 80 per cent burns and was taken to the government Kilpauk Medical College Hospital in Madras, 70 km away. She gave her dying declaration at the Kancheepuram hospital and died after three days in Madras. The first information report at the Sivakanchi police station considered it an accident. The police recorded a case of stove-burst causing burns. When a fresh probe was ordered, a dying declaration from Deepa was recorded by a judicial magistrate. Later it was found out that juniors were asked to sing lewd film songs and gyrate to the tunes. The police registered a case of abettment to suicide against the three seniors who were involved in ragging Deepa These students were dismissed by the college authorities. Says Deepa\'s mother, \"My daughter was forced to dance in the nude by seniors and sing lewd film songs - all in the name of ragging. Unable to bear the shame and humiliation and unwilling to concede to the raggers\' demands, she chose the easy way out. Deepa used to complain that she was being forced to do obscene things. It can be imagined what torment Deepa must have gone through that she commited suicide. The more astonishing fact is that even under the care of her parents she couldn’t bear the emotional trauma. She committed suicide in her own house. This is what can the so-called harmless fun can lead to.

by **Z C** » Fri Aug 15, 2003 12:55 pm

Uh oh!! You seem to be so angry about the other board. Don\'t carry your anger from one place to another ;-)

by **Pissed-Off** » Fri Aug 15, 2003 8:06 pm

Hard-working students enter professional colleges, only to be mentally and physically assaulted by mindless fanatics who call themselves \"seniors\". It is people, and not boring academicians, who try to control this monstrous behavior. Sad to see such smart and intelligent kids being persecuted in the name of ragging. Displays the immaturity of the so-called seniors. I wouldn\'t mind jailing them.

by **pakka hyderabadi** » Fri Aug 15, 2003 8:25 pm

Hey guys, it is a burning issue. Yes, despite a ban on ragging in Hyd, most of the college students indulge in ragging. So, what is the use of the ban? Does it help in anyway? Are any actions taken against these students? I have been a victim of ragging too. It is so horrible to be insulted in this way. Only the person who go through all this, would understand. For others - the seniors - it is just fun. Ms. Pavani it'\s a nice topic you have raised. Keep up the good job.

by **Arch** » Sat Aug 16, 2003 1:22 am

Ragging seems to have severe sexual connotations everywhere - right from the most reputed education Institutions to basic school level all over the world. All in the name of progress! Obscenity and vulgarity have become the norm to be COOL (or is it \'KEWL\'), according to movies. Is it not porn? Youth are being put through these experiences even before they are ready mentally, physically and emotionally. The amount of information that they get from movies, TV serials, Internet and books and the absence of knowledgeable parents to talk to(ie. in families where the parents do not talk to their children heart-to-heart) are some of the reasons why the youth today resort to ragging based on sexual harassment and sexual intimidation.

by **Z C** » Sun Aug 17, 2003 2:46 pm

The worst forms of ragging are at Sainik schools and defence schools. But there it is no sexual harrassment (I am not sure how true the reports on sexual harrassment at IITs are. The fact is that no one ( especially the staff) cares about ragging in these defence schools. Why? And I have one question, don\'t you guys rag your subordinates in ur office? What is the difference between the two?

by **shadow of doubt** » Sun Aug 17, 2003 5:59 pm

I think all humans have this hidden desire to show off power. It surfaces more easily in some, in others, less easily. Even so, depending on the situation, it can surface more easily, when you see all others around you doing it. You get the urge to do it too! that\'s what they call MOB MENTALITY. Isn\'t ragging just a case of the strong oppressing the weak? Let all those who talk about interaction, preparing juniors to face life and all, for once sit down and think.

by **Anil** » Sun Aug 17, 2003 10:10 pm

A stringent zero-tolerance policy is the only remedy. A blanket-ban on all types of ragging implemented very strictly is the need of the hour. The justification that after all it’s all about interaction, preparing juniors to face life, helping overcome shyness, etc., is nothing but a load of crap. Shyness or introversion or being taciturn is not a disease to be treated!!! Even if it is who are the seniors to take over the role as the saviors – doctors, psychiatrists???? That is the most preposterous argument. Seniors should realize that they are seniors just because they happened to join a course earlier!! Nothing great about that – you were just conceived earlier and were born earlier and have joined the college earlier - as simple as that! If you think it is fun then you have forgone the right to live in a civilized society. Fun at the expense of others suffering is called sadism or masochism. And they reflect a sick state of mind. The best place for them is lunatic asylums and not the highest echelons of education like the IITs or the Medical colleges or any institutes of higher learning. It’s really shuddering to think that these perverse minds and people harboring them are going to metamorphose into our future doctors and engineers??? Ragging should be equated with sexual abuse, molestation and rape when it is replete with acts of sexual connotation. As for the ragging in the schools (even though it is actually bullying – slightly different from ragging and very rampant in the schools in USA) that’s even more unpardonable and should be nipped in the bud itself. As for ragging in office, there is no reason for anyone to tolerate it. You have a choice there. Be assertive and pay them back in the same coin who ever indulges in it. You are not vulnerable as you are when you have just joined an education institute.

by **a mom and a dad** » Mon Aug 18, 2003 6:12 am

Zero tolerence policy does not help - it may be better, though, it is my observation. My suggestions: The knowledge of why bullies are bullies and why they bully is a very powerful tool to face those situations. Parental involvement with one\'s children in and out of school is of absolute need for the children to face these situations in positive ways and turn them into learning situations. The ways of life have to be taught to the child as he/she gets to grow. He/she should be given real life situations so that he/she gets ready to face them rather than protect him/her from them and make him/her \'run\' to us or to an elder each time he/she comes across a situation which he/she himself/herself should be able to take care of. I think that is what Mr. Kulcha meant too - am I right Mr. Kulcha?

by **Kulcha Hyderabadi** » Mon Aug 18, 2003 9:23 am

As long as ragging does not involve serious stuff, then I am sure freshers can handle it themselves and they dont have to run to their parents. But, when ragging involves humiliation, torture, beating, sexual harassment etc etc then it is incumbent upon college authorities, parents and other students to stamp to action to stop this nonsense in the name improving interaction among students.
 Read more about Ragging and and CURE (Coalition to Uproot Ragging in Education), Analysis, Letters, Ragging incidents, Laws, Colleges notorious for Ragging and Photographs. Or better join the group
 http://www.noragging.allhere.com

by **Z C** » Mon Aug 18, 2003 9:33 am

Zero tolerance, what should I do when my boss rags me (to showing his power)? It is is easy for everyone one of us to give fundas. Each one of us would have or are ragging our juniors at school and in office. You call it suppressing others or human rights violation, I call it survival of the fittest/strongest (by hook or crook). Now don\'t ask me about morality and what will happen in heaven/hell to this individual \'cos many don\'t bother about this (they think about God only when they want to).

by **pavani** » Mon Aug 18, 2003 9:50 am

ZC, how would anyone like it if their son or daughter were stripped naked and perform outrageous acts? You want to allow it to pass, huh?

by **bornhyderabadi** » Mon Aug 18, 2003 11:54 am

ZC, Survival Of The Fittest is what Darwin wrote about evolution, where we evolved from microorganisms to present day humans. At that stage of evolution, the theory of survival of the fittest mattered. Don\'t give such implausible reasonings for such henious acts. You have no right to attack others\' privacy, you don\'t need to know the other person if he/she doesn\'t like it. It is as simple as that. When you are talking about ragging and taking advantage, they are different dimensions. When you are harrassed by your superior at work, then it\'s this cut-throat world where you should be smart enough to handle such crooks - and even then nothing physical can be excused. Here we are talking about adults who have seen world enough to defend themselves, but when it comes to ragging, it is done by some jerks who are showing their might on innocent kids.

by **Kulcha Hyderabadi** » Mon Aug 18, 2003 11:59 am

Spot on bornhyderabadi!

by **Z C** » Mon Aug 18, 2003 12:21 pm

I am not supporting what they are doing, I am asking why they are doing it. And as long as the cause is not addressed, you can never solve it.

by **Z C** » Mon Aug 18, 2003 12:23 pm

About work culture, it\'s not cut-throat competition alone which forces bosses to act badly. It is also for the same reasons as mentioned for ragging in schools - domination.

by **bornhyderabadi** » Mon Aug 18, 2003 12:46 pm

You go about finding causes where you are not sure what\'s the cause - here it\'s absolutely clear. Like in the case of smoking and drinking - people do these bcos they get a kick out of it, and here it\'s the same.0 These stupid jerks get a kick out of doing such gruesome acts. As not all are addicted to smoking and drinking, similarly not all are involved in such acts. Have you ever tried reasoning with someone addicted with some habits? You will go crazy after a while. Similarly you cannot reason with these addicts who get high on the emotions of people.
 

 
I think the solution to this should involve the institute and the student. If an institute allows such a thing to happen, then it has an equal role to play. People must boycott such institutes by not applying there, and the employers must stop recruiting students from there. This will prompt the institutes to take more stern action against such students.
 

 
And as far as such students are concerned, I am sure there are enough laws to punish them - but again, nothing like social boycott where they are not accepted in any friends circles and families - and at the same time academically they should not be allowed anywhere. I think such punishment matters to intellectual guys more than anything physical.

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