Ragging - a national shame!

As I reluctantly go to links of popular Indian newspaper websites these days, I am never sure if I will find something there to be proud about or will what I find there make me more ashamed of being an Indian. If one particular news piece reads ‘2 Oscars for Madras Mozart Rahman!’ then the one sitting directly next to it in another column will read ’19 year old youth dies due to excessive ragging’. It is a feeling that leaves me nauseated every single time along with the common conclusion – should I be happy for the achievement or sad for the disgusting root rot our society continues to exhibit so shamelessly? I am never sure.

I am not delusional – of course I know there is no such thing as Utopia where the grass is always green and streets are always clean. But notwithstanding people’s constant urge not to be preached to, the question still remains – what is wrong with our society? What good is our ground breaking technology and booming economy if we blatantly sit by and allow such heinous crimes to take place? Where is the justification to call ourselves ‘a progressive society’ when boys and girls are abused so openly right under the stinking nose of the so-called administration? How many more candles should we light in order to finally slap the sleeping ‘protectors of social justice’ and tell them – ‘Get up or get lost!’

I don’t get it. I just don’t get it.

Despite the constant itch for global recognition we find a thousand ways to keep scratching why are we still so uncultured? Why on Earth do we behave in such carnal ways and continue to prove that the filthy cesspool that Slumdog Millionaire’s young protagonist gleefully jumps into to get a superstar’s autograph was indeed a disgusting metaphor to the way our country continues to ‘progress’ each year? One step forward means ten steps backwards. It is absolutely sickening. The deep seeded mode of constant denial and appalling levels of merciless complacency in our nation makes me cringe.

I have been hearing of this ragging menace for as long as I can remember. Why, even today I can recall vivid conversations my mother used to have with us explaining how ruthless college hostels in India were and how the junior students there were physically and mentally abused before being ‘accepted’ into their ‘college clan’. And oh what a glorious clan indeed! Nothing more than a bunch of mind numbingly dim witted moronic rowdies who parade around their over inflated ego just for the one ludicrous reason that they are ‘older in age’ than their victims. Are we really this juvenile? Do we really have to make front page news across the globe for such asinine reasons from our 'shining' world of academia? No wonder none of the students from around the world want to study in India! Ever heard of an American or European student almost dying to go to a University in India? No? Well...mystery solved! How can we ever claim that we are a ‘potential super power’ when we can’t even control our own messy back yard? How many more deaths should take place before college administration finally brings the hammer on the sorry little heads of these criminals who reside in thousands of places all over the country? Shameful! Absolutely and utterly shameful!

Take Aman Kachroo’s example. What was his fault? That he wanted a bright future for himself? That he had dreamt of becoming someone someday? That he wanted to help the society that had given him a context by becoming a doctor? And what happened instead? Some crooks who called themselves ‘students’ did him to death in the name of ‘ragging’. A sad bottom line to the story of a man who wanted to give life but was eventually denied the same in the end.

As much as I feel angry and betrayed by the education system and the gubernatorial powers that be in India about such cases, what I also know is this isn’t the first and this wont be the last. It is in this grass root level of complacent mediocrity and shocking outrage that I send my deepest condolences to Aman’s family. Your son did not deserve this death and I hope – I sincerely hope – that his untimely, unjust and unacceptable demise does not go without being avenged.

May his soul rest in peace. Amen.

..ShaKri..