Ragging in colleges

Sir,

Should we take it for granted that the administration in professional colleges and the senior students of those institutions do not come under the bindings of law passed by the Parliament and the decision conveyed by the Hon'ble Courts saying that the teasing torturing and ragging by the so called senior students to the new comers is illegal and if any case comes to light the defaulters would be severely dealt with under the provisions of law on the subject. Had both of them (Administration and the senior students) under stood the actual spirit behind issuing of such court orders, the practice of ragging in professional colleges would have been stopped.

A good number of brilliant students newly admitted in the professional colleges who could have been other wise able doctors/engineers, have to run away from the colleges within first few weeks because of the cruel and unbearable methods of ragging applied on them. The hostel warden and other staff personnel are never available for any help or protection of these new birds. The amount of beating the new students get for any complaint if made before teachers or principal of the college is nothing less than bleeding through their nose, ears and mouth. Many students with the inhuman treatment, they set during dark hours in the hostel can't dare to open their next morning in the hostel or in the college premises and leaving all their belongings run to the bus stand or to the railway station to catch the transport for their back journey for home saying good bye to their own and their parents mission to become a doctor or an engineer. Many of them for days together keep themselves hiding in any nearby inhabited areas without food and water and missing all their studies and adding to their short attendance. Torturing by seniors goes on or almost 1 to 2 months and by that time atleast 25 percent of the new strength is out the about another 25 percent in the process keep tolerating all the third rated methods of ragging. There are cases when these innocent youngmen after having gone through the rigorous punishments under the coverage of ragging become psychic and proved a big liability to their parents who expected to rise to the highest chair and occupy a very respectful place in the society.

The latest case of Mr Prakash Raj Prohit (Daily Excelsior of 14.8.2003) who is otherwise a topper in IIT entrance is a big slap on the faces of administration of IIT Delhi and the student community who are directly responsible for the miseries being suffered by the most brilliant and shinning stars of the IITs.

The situation in the country is alarming and demands very stern action under law, against the defaulters so that they remember the reward and this exemplary punishment really becomes a terrifying example on all those who indulge in this nefarious and mean activity.

Yours etc.......
J. M. Behl
Old Janipur, Jammu.

For soldiers' sake

Sir,

While India was celebrating 56th Independence Day, two unprecedented but highly appreciable scenes were witnessed. One was the paying of the obeisance to the martyrs by Indian President APJ Abdul Kalam and the second was a programme anchored by leading electronic media journalist Barkha Dutt in which the lovable boy film actor Amir Khan shared the views with the solders at Kargil. It gave immense pleasure to see the smiles on the lips of soldiers who are performing their duties on the cliffs under very difficult weather conditions and living far away from their own kiths and kins for months together. Knowing that emotions sway a man but at the same time a man without emotions is as good as dead hence no person could stop tears on seeing the message displayed on the monitor which was managed by the programme organisers.

Even the edibles, letters along with messages from the close ones of the soldiers were received by the programme organisers and handed over to the concerned.

While enjoying Amir's company, the soldiers asked him many questions and demanded his live performances there. Even most private concerns were touched in which Barkha offered a photograph with a soldiers for keeping it near his bed.

I am not throwing these words in the air or beating about the bush or to inform the already informed readers. My perception is only that instead of casting aspersions on one another, wasting crores of rupees by putting stop clock in the working of Parliament, Hool Kagun and Tripple H Wrestling like scenes by our esteemed Parliament members and furores over trifles for political gains and side lining constructed debate on bills, if it better to organise such programmes which can bring a smile on soldiers face. Even one smile on the face of a soldier is hundred times better than crying hoarse without any returns in the Parliament. If a soldier of a country smiles it means you are living in healthy country. Instead of demoralising the Army let the opposition leader Sonia Gandhi, Sushma Swaraj of ruling party and RJD supremo Laloo Prasad and members of the Parliament, members of political system and other personalities share some moments with our brave soldiers. It will be best encouragement and tribute to our jawans.

Yours' etc..........
Adarsh Ajit,
C/o 55/3 Pandoka Colony,
Jammu.