No ragging, so say it with a rose

TNN / Jul 17, 2007, 04:54 IST

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Playful pranks were mostly missing on the first day of Delhi University's new session on Monday as stepped up enforcement to check ragging made seniors cautious.

NEW DELHI: Playful pranks were mostly missing on the first day of Delhi University's new session on Monday as stepped up enforcement to check ragging made seniors cautious though it made the campus a safer place.
Though newcomers welcomed the SC order declaring ragging a criminal offence, they were disappointed that the fun of the first day interaction with seniors was clearly missing.In some colleges though seniors were seen playing pranks with their juniors inviting action from the college authorities.
At Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC), soon after classes got over, groups of seniors were seen at the lawns, gathered around two to three hapless freshers who were awkwardly introducing themselves and giving in to their seniors' demands of song and dance.
After that, Pottermania gripped them — one of the freshers was asked to take an imaginary flight on the magical broomstick. But it turned out to be ugly as one of the private television channels, which was shooting the act, was stopped by the college officials. Finally, police had to intervene to settle the matter.

"It was absolutely for fun and even the fresher enjoyed doing it. We have been ragged by our seniors too and we know our limits," said Gaurav Jain, one of the third year students, one of the seniors present in the group. His identity card has been confiscated by the college. Principal PC Jain said: "The anti-ragging committee will see to the matter."
Some freshers, nevertheless, were asked to introduce themselves in "shudh" Hindi. Shalaka Singh, who is pursuing Economics, said: "I was asked to introduce myself in Hindi and without a smile on face. It was fun to be ragged."

At St Stephen's, a couple of classes were held and freshers lived their dream of studying in the prestigious institution. "I cancelled my admissions in St Xavier's in Mumbai as I got through here. The first day was amazing and my dreams have been fulfilled," said Bethany Coelho, first year, BA programme.
But the hostellers were not so lucky. "I was asked to carry a mattress and fan of my seniors to their rooms in hostel. I enjoyed doing so as I got to know them personally," said Samiran George Ghising, a first year student of Philosophy from Darjeeling.
At Kirori Mal College, posters and CCTVs deterred seniors from ragging their freshers. "Ragging means a visit to Tihar Jail" read one poster. Prasita Nair, a first year BA programme student, said: "It was an extremely boring first day in college. We wanted to meet our seniors but too much restriction has spoilt the spirit." However, some seniors could only manage to give roses to the freshers as a gesture of personal introduction.
With the classes for seniors starting only on Wednesday, the freshers at Ramjas were too busy in orientation programme. Tushar Dadhwal, first year of Political Science, said: "Though the seniors are not on the campus, the first day was really impressive. I have got through the ECA quota and I expect this college gives me the opportunity to enhance my skills in quizzing and football."
Too many restrictions also made some freshers feel that they were still in school. Kanika Sharma, a Daulat Ram College student, said: "The first day reminded me of school days. We were told about rules, discipline, syllabi and extra-curricular activities but there was no fun as we expected to have."
Barricades and police pickets at various entry points to the north campus, PCR vans parked in front of colleges and others doing the rounds of the campus and uniformed and plain clothes policemen along with CCTVs in colleges comprised DU's elaborate anti-ragging measures.
Some parents also accompanied their wards on the first day. Nandini Das Gupta, mother of Ragini, a first year student at Miranda House, said: "I am fine with ragging unless it doesn't get indecent and is just for the sake of a healthy introduction with the students."
toireporter@timesgroup.com

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