“Amma, I told you I do not want to go to college”. But why, what happened Siddharth, you always wanted to do engineering and your years of hardwork has borne you results. Just last month Siddharth’s results were out, he had secured 93% in his H.S.C. exams and had got 182 out of 200 in his engineering entrance exams, which helped him get admission in the best college in the city. Just last week Siddharth had started his college. His father was very happy and had even gifted him a new sports bike, better than what Siddharth had asked for. He was always among the top 3 students in his school or in college.
Since last two days Siddharth had been exceptionally quiet, which is very unlikely. His parents were worried but then they felt that may be after sometime he will open up about his problem. It is almost 3 days now, that Siddharth has been refusing to attend college now. This behaviour of Siddharth confused his parents as they could not make out what was wrong with him. They tried to speak to him, tried to contact all his friends to find out what was wrong. All his friends said they haven’t spoken to him for last one week and had left him several messages on Whatsapp, Facebook and Hangouts but no reply and they were going to come down home that day to meet him.
Siddharth’s parents felt it was a good idea to call his friends home as that may lighten his mood. His parents felt may be he was overwhelmed with too much to study and to stand up to their expectation in Engineering also. They had been continously telling him that they would love him the same even if he got 70% in Engineering, which is a good score.
In the evening Siddharth’s mother cooked his favourite Biryani and ordered his favorite Ice Cream. His friends had bought with them their musical instruments and decided to have a good jam session, which they would do every weekend earlier. Initially Siddharth was reluctant to leave his room in which he had locked himself for almost the past 3 days. His friends being the brats they were, decided to break open the window and get inside the room. Once inside the room, they managed to get him out in the main room. But still, Siddharth sat like a stone just as he had been for the last few days. Within minutes, the house was full of laughter but still no smile on Siddharth’s face. After sometime, his friends decided to take him out for a stroll.
The thought of going out of the house made Siddharth hysterical. He finally broke down. A few boys in his college had ragged his new friend Ravi, whom he had befriended on the first day of college. They had openly molested Ravi in the boys bathroom and also circulated the video of the same within college. Ravi felt he was left with no option and ended his life. The same boys had now threatened Siddharth of the same consequences in case he came to college.
The moment Siddharth’s father realised what had happened he took Siddharth to the nearest police station and registered an FIR against the boys. He also called up the College Principal and also the University to complain about the boys and to initiate appropriate action against them. The next morning Siddharth’s mother took him to a psychologist. His friends followed him like a shadow.
By the third day, the boys, who were threatening Siddharth, were suspended from the college and arrested by the police. Now not only did those boys loose their one year in college but also lost their chance of good employment as this will reflect in their records.
There are various justifications, which the senior students gave for ragging, some of them being,
I had to face ragging so I ragged my junior,
It is the tradition and culture to rag every new student.
IT is the best ice breaker, it makes you strong in life to face more tought problems and it brings out the best person in you.
But what they forgot is what happens to the mindset of the victim. Ragging is a crime in India. If you ever face ragging please confront with your family and friends first. Inform the College authorities.
IT is mandatory for every college to have an anti ragging cell. Do inform the nearest police station. Remember even if your child is now a college student, it is your duty to support them and to help them fight against the odds. REcognise the signs in your child.
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