Daily Times

In 2017, I joined a university. I had two feelings at that time: freedom and fear. A freedom from the cramped life at home and fear of bullying from the seniors. In the start of campus life, first year students are usually considered a separate class. I was expected to treat every senior with respect, no matter how disruptive their attitude. It was tough to control my anger when I felt degraded for their mere amusement.

Sometimes, the first two weeks of university life become the worst as they are the ‘weeks of ragging’, juniors are like puppets and seniors order them to follow their instructions, no matter how inappropriate, all in guise of ‘good old fun’

The first two weeks of university life are the worst as they are the ‘weeks of ragging’, juniors are like puppets and seniors order them to follow their instructions, no matter how inappropriate, all in guise of ‘good old fun’. This ragging behaviour can cause serious physical and mental turmoil and can be termed as harassment. Some of the juniors are maybe strong enough to deal with these situations but the majority is not and any resistance is considered against the law by the seniors.

After inflicting this humiliation, how can seniors expect to earn respect of their juniors? Segregation is already a problem in the country’s universities. Youth is already segregated on the basis of caste and region. As I belong to the Saraiki region, I was offered to join the Saraiki council. The seniors who invited me told me joining the council would help me in my studies, but it turned out to be a waste of time. Most of the council members were involved in fighting with other council members, established for the same purpose. Majority of the newcomers, who join these societies and councils are unaware of the cost to their studies. They mostly join because of the pressure by seniors and the need to be protected in a bullying atmosphere. Seniors are supposed to be a source of comfort for juniors. Those who degrade juniors must get punished, and there should be strict laws in government institutes against ragging.

Published in Daily Times, October 19^th 2018.