Ragging Days...

Requisite ragging
“4 students suspended in Graphic Era University, 8 girls suspended in Dehradun institute of technology, disciplinary committee on 20 students in Institute of management studies…..”
The same old story every year, it’s the new academic session and it shows. Every year there are number of cases where the seniors are either expelled or suspended from the college as punishment for ragging the new students. I don’t know what these kids are up to but seriously I treasure the “ragging period” when I was in first year of my graduation. I was an average kid not too impressive, one of those who are fun to rag, and so it happened I was one of the sought after fresher, seniors loved to “rag” me.
When I took the admission in D.I.T., I was very scared of what ragging is all about, all the stories which I heard from my friends and newspaper incidents made me wet my pants every time I imagined myself running nude in the campus, being beaten up by some drunk seniors, doing stuff conceived by devils. I think it was one of the reasons that I didn’t choose any far away college where I would have to live as a hosteller (ragging in hostels is far worse then for any day-scholar).
It was here, my mom who knew what all I was going through, (I didn’t show the fear, but parents as u know we can’t hide anything from them) told me that ragging is not at all that bad as it seems, in fact it’s the only time to know your seniors, make friends, and be open and bold. The more you run from it the bitter it gets. So just enjoy these days and gain confidence from it. But keep in mind they are your seniors and you have to spend rest of these years with them, don’t misbehave or insult them, its you who is joining them so always remember treat people the way u want others to treat you. These were the golden words and they helped me come over my fear and anxiety.
Soon I began going to the college. The college administration was taking all measures to keep the rowdy elements away from the first year students but it didn’t carry on long. Soon the blood thirsty seniors found their victims and started the junior hunting safari. I avoided places like canteen, dhabas, sunset point where the probability of being ragged was high. Moreover being six Feet, 90 KGs and having thick beard I was difficult to distinguish. I looked like one of them. It was after 17 days that I was ragged. I had shaved as I started looking professor rather then fresher and also the teachers asked me to do so. I got in the college bus and took a window seat. Soon the bus was overloaded with students, both seniors and juniors, and the series of INTRO started followed by Hindi movie songs and “DIT KI JAI” slogans. Every senior got hold of two or three BAKRAS and made them do funny acts which ranged from begging in the bus to acting like the bus conductor. All this time I looked out of the window pretending I was least interested in what they were doing. I felt as if someone was staring me, I dared looking at him. Suddenly some one started singing “kajrare kajrare…” in one of the most pathetic voice which made everyone burst with laughter; I stole this time to look at the person who was staring me. He was in casuals carrying travel bag, one of the senior who caught the bus from railway station, a final year student my super duper senior. He seemed one of the most wanted types. I quickly turned back towards the window not to look back at him. But it was too late… he caught me.
“which year?”
It was no use lying now, if I said 2nd year and he found out that I was a fresher it would have been disastrous.
“First year SIR.”
“Branch ?”
“Mechanical SIR.”
“SAALE itni der se senior khada hai aur tu mast baitha hai, bahot bada aadmi hai tu….”
“sorry SIR, I didn’t know you are a senior” I said as I was getting up to give him the seat.
“don’t try to be oversmart, ok take this bag put it on the seat and remain standing. Give INTRO.”
I gave INTRO for the first time and after every mistake I was asked to start all over again. After many tries when I got it correct, I was asked to repeat it in Hindi. I don’t know what fun it was but it sucked. After I finished with the INTRO, I was asked to sing a patriotic song. As it was 17th AUG 2005, there were patriotic songs everywhere. I sang “VANDE MATRAM”. I was soon asked to stop as it became unbearable for the seniors.
By this time we had reached college,(thank god).
“Aage se seniors ko ekdum seat de dio warna roz gana gana padega. Waise tu mera branch junior hai isliye zyada kuch nahi kia. But mind you don’t try being oversmart.”
This was how it all started and I met mohit sir one of my fav. Seniors. After that incident I came into the limelight. It became a routine to sing in the bus, shouting out loud “seniors are always right and juniors are always wrong”, running after friends with sheet holder and drafters yelling “dhishkiaauuu dhiskiaauuu”, abusing vehicles and trees, dancing on the tables and proposing senior ma’am. It was fun and quality time with seniors who never tried to be rude since we were always polite. The time flew fast and it was our fresher party. Again this was the best college event I ever had. Total masti and enjoyment. After the freshers everything seemed monotonous same classes, boring college bus, no breaking rules, and all places accessible. Sure I was missing my “ragging days”.
It was during those days that I made good friends seniors as well as peers, I enjoyed every moment of college life and realized that I am no more in the school. It helped me become mature and compatible with other people.
I feel ragging is an integral part of college life and it should me taken lightly and maturely. Of course the seniors should stay in limits and the juniors should remain obedient.