Body shaming, cyber harassment drives bullying crisis in Ahmedabad classrooms

Ahmedabad: Bullying has long been dismissed as harmless teasing, but incidents in city schools suggest otherwise. The stabbing at Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) school in Maninagar is only the latest flashpoint in a worrying trend. From body shaming to sexualised slurs and cyber harassment, children are under siege from their own peers. Experts and educators warn that only empathy and early intervention can prevent such behaviour from spiralling into violence.The stories pile up in school corridors across the city. A Class 6 topper at a city school found her English notebook defaced with abusive words. A teacher at the school told TOI, "Consistent efforts to find the culprit revealed that it was the work of a lonely, attention-seeking peer."In another case, a Class 10 boy, worn down by classmates mocking his "low body count" — a crude slang for number of sexual partners — smashed his television at home in rage. Teachers admit they are shocked by the language and references children pick up. "When I first heard the term, I was shocked," admitted a school principal. "The language children pick up today is far more explicit than before. Name-calling and shaming have reached new heights."Appearance, too, becomes a weapon. One Class 8 child was taunted over his "baby nose" until he finally lashed out, sparking a fight that ended only with staff intervention.In another school, a Class 10 boy morphed images of peers on Snapchat and spread rumours about them. The harassment came to light after a group of girls reported him."Whether it's name-calling, teasing, body shaming, or physical assault, bullying cuts across age groups," said the principal of a leading city school. "Cliques are formed, peers are isolated, and often the emotional bullying is worse than the physical bruises."Experts say the roots lie in mounting pressures. "Children today are like pressure cookers: under stress from parents, schools, coaching classes, peers, and society," said senior psychologist Dr Prashant Bhimani. "They fail to find ‘me-time'. Parents must connect and spend quality time with them. They should also watch out for signs like social withdrawal, irritability, or falling grades." Another psychologist warned that cyberbullying is especially toxic. "Bullying worsens when it is online as it can be anonymous, spread in a split second, and escalate into blackmail, stalking, defamation, or impersonation with malicious intent. Tracking down the culprit is difficult, so children must be cautious about what they post online."Veteran teachers say they are stunned. An educator with three decades of experience said, "All of these students come from respectable families. I wonder where they learn all this. No parent or teacher teaches a child to be violent." Teachers point to OTT platforms, violent games, and lack of parental support as factors fuelling aggression. Another teacher added, "Introverts internalize the pain, extroverts display dominance through violence."Schools are introducing measures such as buddy systems, grievance boxes, and welcome assemblies for new students, with educators emphasizing empathy and early reporting as key solutions.Educators believe that solutions must come through empathy, not punishment. "Listen and support is the mantra," said another principal. "Shouting or suspensions only push children into rebellion. We need conversations, workshops, and empathy-building." The principal added, "Bullying does not always appear dangerous at first. But if ignored, it festers, until one outburst leads to serious consequences."