Now that you’re all geared up to start this new phase of your life in a college you long dreamt to be a part of, are you looking forward to having some fun in the campus on the first day? Why not? But looks like with the hoopla around “ban ragging”, with the reopening of colleges, seniors may be reluctant to “get friendly the mischievous way” with their juniors. And with the accused in the Aman Kachroo ragging case given bail, many feel that it is better to be safe than sorry. Interestingly, there are still many freshers, who are looking forward to some “ragging times” with their seniors, which they feel is important to break the ice.
“I would love to get ragged by my seniors as it’s a fun way of interacting with them, otherwise our relationship with them will always be formal. I’d love to get ragged as long as it’s not harming me or anyone else,” says Sonali Gupta, a science student, who is planning to study Chemistry (Hons.) from Delhi University.
Although Richa Nathani, who recently got admitted to an engineering colleges has heard “scary tales” about the kind of ragging being done in medical and engineering colleges. She somehow feels that a bit of ragging for fun should be ok. “Isn’t it fine if you’re just made to sing and enact a few sequences from films? I’ve heard ragging in engineering colleges can get really nasty, and I dread it, but I’d still not mind singing or dancing, if it means that I get friendly with my seniors. Ragging is fun, if it’s not extreme and dirty,” she says.
Seniors from many colleges, waiting to greet fuchchas with full enthusiasm feel that ragging bridges the gap between them and juniors. Says Lohit Kumar, a final year B.Com (Hons.) student, “When the ragging involves gelling with seniors, then there should be no problem. Simple teasing, and cracking jokes is enjoyed by both seniors and juniors. But when things go out of hand, it can get nasty. We as seniors should know where to draw the line.”
And juniors, who are excited to join the campus, feel that the first day in college wouldn’t be fun if there’s absolutely no ragging. “I always used to love the idea of ragging in college. I want to be ragged and rag students when I become a senior too. It’s the best thing about your first week in college. But it must be friendly and not hurtful. I believe it’s always up to the senior to ensure ragging is decent and dignified,” says Ashish Kapoor, a student of commerce.