Ragging is Not a Joke, It's a Crime

The New-Age Torture in Disguise

- Ms. Priyanka

The gates of a new college are like portals into the future—wide, hopeful, and glimmering with dreams. But for many students, that gateway turns into a psychological dungeon. What should have been a fresh start often becomes the first chapter of trauma. Ragging, a word so casually tossed around in campuses, continues to masquerade as tradition, humor, or bonding. But behind the veil of laughter lies a monster-ugly, violent, and deeply scarring.

The Evolution of a Crime: From Joke to Torture-Ragging was once considered a harmless icebreaker. Seniors would ask juniors to introduce themselves or perform silly tasks. But over time, this 'tradition' mutated into an epidemic of abuse. It isn't just about pulling pranks anymore. It's about power, humiliation, and dominance.

In the digital age, ragging has taken a more sinister turn. From forced social media confessions to cyberbullying and group humiliation on live streams-what was once done in dark corners of hostels is now being broadcast to the world. The scars have grown deeper, the platforms have expanded, and the cruelty has become more creative.

The Modern Mask: New Versions of an Old Crime-Interaction sessions, ice-breaking ceremonies, and "team-building activities"-these are the euphemisms used today to shield the same old practices under polished names. Some colleges claim they've eliminated ragging. But in reality, it has gone underground, adopting new disguises. One second-year student from a reputed university in Delhi, speaking under anonymity, shared: They said it wasn't ragging-it was just 'making juniors comfortable.' But I was made to reveal personal secrets, insult fellow classmates, and was even recorded crying while they laughed. It still haunts me.