Coalition to Uproot Ragging from Education (CURE)

We will like to have a brief conversation with these three important sections of our society: parents, teachers and seniors in college. I believe these sections have the key to solve the problem in the quickest and most efficient way. Though, unfortunately this will be a one sided conversation, but we will like to hear from you and love to see you springing in action.

 Parents:

After the freshman, who faces ragging, I happen to believe, that you must be the second biggest sufferer, when you get to know about the things that happened with your ward. No parent will like his ward to be ill-treated in any way. But still we see no action from your side.

This is possible because you were not educated enough about this problem. Therefore, we have made a genuine effort to create awareness about ragging through this site. I hope after going through the news section and some articles, you must have understood this deep-rooted phenomenon of ragging.

Apart from this, a thing I will advice all parents (whose wards study in or will join I year) to talk to their ward and try to know the truth from him. He might be hiding something from you, but you will have to convince him that it is nothing shameful he has done (but his seniors) and he has to tell the truth. Only then you can know.

The second reason for inaction could be absence of a forum where all parents could unite. The college authorities might have been indifferent to individual cases. Here a genuine effort is needed from the side of parent community. If you all form yourself in a group and oppose ragging and pressurize the college authorities, you can change the system.

In the small way we can help you through this website, we are trying to bring all of you together for this common cause. Please read about it in our Parents section.

Together with this, a genuine initiative is needed from your side. We showcase many colleges who have been prone to ragging on our site. If your ward is going to such a college, all the parents should form themselves in a committee and take the college authorities to task. Such a committee can be formed at the time of the counseling (in medical and engineering colleges), when all the parents are present.

And believe me, every college will say that there is no ragging in their college, but you get your hint from the news and first hand accounts of your ward. What is needed is that all parents do unite against even one case of ragging in the college. Because, believe me, your ward might be going through the same, he is just silent. And your job is to collectively force the college to take some steps. But you can do this only when you are already united in a group.

This may seem to you as an ambitious idea, but if you have a resolve to do something, you can do it and believe me only you can do it. If not at a college level, even if you all unite at a common level (on this site) against this issue, we can talk to the media, the state authorities and may be also with the colleges.

 Teachers:

You are the people who have the magic stick in your hand. You can stop this menace immediately, if you wish to. Your inaction really depresses me. And ‘I' here represent the whole student community.

I will seem accusing, infact I am accusing you because I see no reason for you not to act. If you didn't know about the depth of this problem it is different, if you were unaware, then I take my words back in hope of action from you in future.

Before coming to the practical aspect, I will like to raise a question. Is it that the professor is only concerned with the academic excellence of the institute and not its moral structure? In a country like India, where the teacher is respected, compared with God, I believe he should take the moral responsibility of this continuing menace, when he could have easily prevented it.

Sir/Madam, action from your side can solve this problem, but your indifference may not only spoil the career but the whole life of the student.

All you need to do is take some strict steps. If you punish students ragging in the campus strictly, then you can make as whole lot difference to this ongoing movement.

If you give surprise visits to the hostel at odd times and check for normalcy, ragging can be ended there and then. A genuine effort from you can change the things from what they are now. But what is also needed is strict, infact, very strict punishment to the guilty. The guilty shouldn't escape the punishment, because his punishment sets an example for others.

If you allow me to flow in a little bit of emotions, I will say that you are like the parents of students living in hostels far from their homes. You have their responsibility. Indifference from your side is unacceptable.

If you frame strict rules against ragging in your college and see that they are implemented, it will be a boon for the society. You will see that ragging will die off and you will need no rules to implement any more.

Another thing, which disturbs me, is that in all news items about ragging, we see that the teachers take the side of the tormentor to save the face of the college. Is this fare? Is name and fame more important than justice? You will have to rethink.

Sir/Madam, we need your support. If you act, you can be role models for the teachers in all other colleges. Please help us fight this.

 Seniors:

I don't have much to say to you. You have the key to this problem obviously. If you decide to limit ragging to HARMLESS fun, then all is done in a shot.

Rather than taking revenge for what happened with you, you can decide to end this for once and all. If you stop ragging your freshers, hence they don't build a deep desire for revenge, this chain can be broken. It is in your hand whether you like to go with this tradition or break out of it.

If you have a strong resolve, a control over your will, you can stop ragging. Everyone likes fun, no doubts, but at the expense of someone's feelings, emotions and many a times health… Think over it again, whether you want to succumb to your darker side, or you have the strength to get rid of it. If you upkeep this phenomenon it may come back to you in your PG studies, or in form of the same torture happening with your brother, cousin, son or relative.

I have heard that many freshmen become very good friends with the seniors after some time. But I have a crude analogy to give. There is a phenomenon associated with hijackers. It is generally perceived that at the end of long hijack drama, the captives are merciful, helpful and close to the hijackers. This happens because the captive at times in captivity slowly develop a feeling that he is totally at the mercy of the hijacker. And then he thinks, when he is every thing for me now, why not try to understand him, befriend him. He must be having his own reasons, a small warmth from the hijacker is like a very nice thing. Same is the case here!!! You will have to decide whether you want to become friends with the fresher, guide him in his journey or just have a pseudo-friendship with him.

All I can say is that YOU HAVE THE POWER, use it or abuse it.