[Reader-list] Fellow ex-I-Fellow on ragging

[Shivam]

Dear Shuddha,

Thanks for eloquently saying what I have been trying to for a long
time. More than ragging itself is the status of ragging as a
politically correct activity that is disturbing.

You have set me thinking on how and why people come to have the
political inclinations that they do.

Regards
Shivam

On 10/14/05, Shuddhabrata Sengupta <shuddha at sarai.net> wrote:
> Dear Shivam,
>
> thanks to you, and to your anoymous correspondent for forwarding the
> mail on ragging to the list. I for one have always been deeply
> uncomfortable with the 'lightness' with which 'ragging' is treated. I
> have nothing against people pushing the limits with each other in terms
> of what they think is acceptable between them in terms of behaviour.
> Horesplay, teasing, even violence in different forms is part of the
> normal warp and weft of daily life. But I think ragging takes things on
> to a different register altogether. It introduces the element of an a
> priori hierarchy into the mix of the rough edges of interaction between
> people wh really speaking, are peers. It is this unthinking acceptance
> of the element of hierarchy which underlies ragging that I find most
> disturbing. And I think that the reason why many 'progressive
> intellectuals' within our university community are willing to not take a
> tough line on ragging is because, actually, they have no problems with
> the playing out of the idea of an a priori hierarchy in everyday life.
> It does not surprise me in the least when someone who is openly sexist,
> or casteist or communal is also someone who invests heavily in the idea
> of ragging. What is interesting to ask is why 'ragging' is looked upon
> so benignly by people who would otherwise leave no stone unturned in
> demonstrating how
>
> Perhaps this ties in to a continuing, secret and paradoxical affection
> that many amongst us (especially those who claim for themselves the
> mantle of a so called enlightened liberality- a non sexist, anti
> communal, anti casteist identity) have for the feudal and casteist norms
> that normalize hierarchy - where the cutting remark, the sardonic sneer,
> the putting someone in their place, the ordering people about, and the
> whole discourse of 'aukad' is so much a part of the way in which people
> unthinkingly behave with one another. It is interesting to see how
> passionate people become in the 'defence' of ragging, once they are
> provoked into a reflection on their own self and where they stand, or
> have stood,  and it is interesting ask why this should be do. Let me
> offer a speculative attempt towards an answer, perhaps because in all
> other spheres of life it is difficult for progressive, liberal,
> open-minded, left leaning, intellectuals to sustain some kind of
> naturalized 'hierarchy' argument, the intimate sphere of 'hostels,
> college, canteen' can be in some senses seen as the secret last resort
> of the theatre of naturalized hierarchy. No one can say any longer that
> 'domestic violence' or the psychological humiliation of a new bride is
> one way for a husband, the in-laws and the new bried to 'get to know'
> each other. So where else can progressive intellectuals locate and a
> small niche of justifiable  hierarchical domination - in the no less
> intimate sphere of the hostel and the canteen.
>
> I do not take this space lightly, in a country where the college, the
> hostel is a formative space for millions of young people, many of whom
> leave cloistered worlds at home, or the environment of small towns, or
> villages, to come to cities to study, the first encounter with the
> 'enlightened liberality' of the university is the indifference of the
> faculty and the violence of the ragger. I am sure it introduces
> something into the behaviour patterns of millions of Indian men and
> women, just as I am sure that the inhumanity of the board exam system
> introduces lifelong feelings of competitiveness, anxiety and lack of
> confidence. It is interesting that in all the debate over the 'content'
> of education in our country, with secularists and communalists crying
> themselves hoarse about what people should or should not read in their
> textbooks, so little attention is paid to the actual ambience and
> environment of educational institutions. You can have the most squeaky
> clean liberal and secular textbooks in the world, but the way in which
> campus life is actually led, with its written and unwritten codes of
> domination and subordination, its arcane labyrinth of 'jats', 'biharis'
> , 'chinkies', 'mossies' and 'freshers' and 'fresh maal' will continue to
> produce closet and open little fascists of every political and
> apolitical colour and persuasion.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Shivam wrote:
>
> >Dear esteemed readers of the (crumbling :) ) Sarai Reader List:
> >
> >I thought I wouldn't do this, but it was too tempting to subject you
> >to another post on ragging.
> >
> >I recently exchanged some emails with a fellow ex-I-Fellow, excerpts
> >from which she has allowed me to put on this list.
> >
> >In a tea break during the I Fellows workshop, I had overheard someone
> >making fun of The Stop Ragging Campaign. Making fun of anything is
> >very easy, but understanding it may be a completely different ball
> >game.
> >
> >Cheers
> >Shivam
> >
> >
> >o o o o o
> >
> >Hi!
> >
> >I read about your Stop Ragging Campaign through Sarai Reader List.
> >
> >I recently joined a post graduate institute ***. I am filled with
> >anger and disgust that in a PG institute with the knowledge of the
> >Administration ragging took place.
> >
> >As I never have stayed in a Hostel all though my life, it took me few
> >moments why we were asked to assemble on the terrace. As each of us
> >were being ragged, i was scared. Because there were no right answers
> >to their questions and the whole incident was very unpredictable. You
> >never know what would happen next.....I just broke down out of
> >confusion. it was really strange.
> >
> >I must confess that there are many seniors who were against the whole
> >affair. They tried their best but they were far and few of them.
> >
> >Next day, before ragging began I yelled at the seniors threatening
> >them with a FIR. Suddenly, after abuses hurled...everything cooled
> >down and i was told that this was a ice breaking session and that as i
> >girl i have to get strong to face the male dominated industry that i
> >will be working in....
> >
> >After the ragging session was over, the very same seniors who were
> >involved in ragging turned out to be 'very nice people'. Everybody
> >behaves as if nothing as happened.
> >
> >I just want to read a bit about the 'history' ragging...cud u please.
> >help me with books, websites or any info.
> >
> >Thanking You,
> >with warm regards,
> ><name deleted>
> >
> >o o o
> >
> >Hi,
> >
> >I'm glad you spoke up and threatened them with an FIR. At least you
> >knew that it is punishable. See www.stopragging.org.
> >
> >The important this is for you to be able to bring about a change next year.
> >
> >Best wishes and keep me updated,
> >Shivam
> >
> >o o o
> >
> >Hi!
> >Your website is exhaustive. Your dedication and work is reflected in
> >it.....I am going through it page by page......
> >
> >thanks for everything.
> >Please do inform me if u need any help.
> >
> >With warm regards,
> ><name deleted>
> >
> >o o o o
> >
> >Excerpt from another mail from her:
> >
> >yes, the ragging has stopped in my institute. In fact my batch,
> >confronted the seniors within ten days of ragging. We told them
> >clearly that we will just not attend the ragging sessions. After that
> >the ragging did not take place. There was only uncomfortable silence.
> >we also had a freshers party.
> >
> >Shivam, but i must confess that I still cannot forget those endless
> >nights. In all the little years of my teaching, I would categorically
> >tell students not to fear teachers. Fear is the worst kind of abuse.
> >Unless we do not make the means to education non violent, we really
> >cannot stop violence around us. I might sound idealistic but ceratinly
> >i do not deny facts. The fact of ragging.
> >
> >o o o o o
> >_________________________________________
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> >
> >
> >
>
>
> --
> Shuddhabrata Sengupta (Raqs Media Collective)
> The Sarai Programme
> Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS)
> 29 Rajpur Road, Delhi 110054, India
> Phone : + 91 11 23960040
> Fax :     + 91 11 23943450
> E Mail : shuddha at sarai.net
> http://www.sarai.net
> http://www.raqsmediacollective.net
>
> _________________________________________
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