HCU wakes up to ragging

HYDERABAD: Huge posters carrying anti-ragging messages put up by 'concerned students' welcome visitors to the University of Hyderabad (HCU), but on the sylvan campus ragging has become rampant. On August 3, at MH-H —men's hostel— students of the chemistry department were reportedly ragged by their seniors in the presence of students' union president and vice-president, according to the poster. However, HCU authorities dismissed the incident with a mild warning to the 'perpetrators'.

Jolted by the incident, HCU authorities have decided to crack the whip on erring pranksters. Ironically, the university has no functional anti-ragging cell. When asked to comment on the cell, HCU vice-chancellor Seyed E Hasnain said: "Thankfully, there were no cases of ragging reported, so we did not feel that there is a need for it (anti-ragging cell). But ragging is considered indiscipline and hence any such cases would come under the purview of the disciplinary cell."

The university, however, claims that in spite of not having any exclusive anti-ragging cell, they were capable of handling ragging issues which crop up every academic year. "Ragging is a serious offence. If we get to know of any instances of such behaviour, we will take strict measures against the misbehaving students," HCU chief warden B Ananthakrishnan told 'TOI' on Tuesday. On the basis of a recent incident —reported misbehaviour of second year M Sc students in one of the men's hostels— the chief warden and deputy chief warden had conducted raids on August 3.

Subsequently, a group of four students from the department of chemistry were warned. "We have also deputed security guards at the hostels to ensure that ragging does not happen," deputy chief warden Vasuki Belavadi said.
Though the authorities were not willing to disclose the names of students who were involved in the act, posters on the campus have alleged that students' union president B Venkataramaiah and vice-president Kamakhya Singh were present at the place of ragging. When asked about the incident, Vekataramaiah claimed the allegations were aimed at demoralising him before the elections. He refused to comment further.

Many second year students hold interactive sessions with juniors. Such sessions, which are aimed at building a rapport between consecutive batches, do not end up in ragging, the authorities said. "We do not mind our seniors interacting with us or even throwing a little attitude. What we do mind is an insult or humiliation. Ragging at this level becomes some kind of sadism," said Narayana Swami, a first year student of M A (communication).

HCU dean (students welfare) G Umamaheshwara Rao said any complaint which reaches the notice of the authorities would be sent to the disciplinary committee and would be dealt seriously. A few ragging cases have been reported in the past few years. In 2005, freshers of the chemistry department were forced to stand in the rain by their seniors, while first year MCA students were left on the bank of Peacock lake on the campus.

However, HCU authorities maintained that they have not received any complaints from the 'victims'. "The victims might not be ready to complain because they are scared of the consequences. Hence, there should be some kind of anti-ragging cell," M Phil economics student, Nandita suggested.