I wanted to talk to some of the freshers in my hostel. So after dinner, I picked up a random conversation with one of them: “Hey! I think I have seen you in my hometown. Are you from Odisha?” The question was made up and I was quite sure the answer was negative too but “Mission Accomplished”! I spoke to a fresher and I’m not in jail! Be pleasant and helpful. Despite the anti-ragging rule; you might still make new friends.
RANJAY CHAKRABORTY , II M.A. Communication, Madras Christian College
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As soon as the freshers enter college, seniors take them around the campus, teach them a few old tricks, give them some campus gossip etc. So the ice is broken immediately. As seniors, we also host a welcome party. We have a whole lot of co-curricular activities, in which we involve the juniors and give them work to do. So, it’s all cool. The anti-ragging rule just helps us get friendlier with our juniors. They fit in easily and approach us in times of need. Sometimes, we even hang out together.
JENNIFER SHARMILA, II Year, B.Sc. Visual Communication, Loyola College
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It’s not necessary to make all those nightmares about ragging come true! Banish the hostile attitude and replace it with a smile and a helpful attitude! A friendly approach, a campus tour, explaining the dos and don’ts of the college are some of the small things that help break the ice. Imagine how you would like to be treated when you arrive at a new place, and do the same for others.
SHREYA ANN MATHEW, II M.A. Journalism & Mass Communication, SRM University
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With the anti-ragging rule in effect, look for better ways to get to know your freshers. The best choice would be to through interactions in a non-threatening environment like organising icebreaker games as part of the orientation programme, giving them insights into the college functioning and on what is expected of them as a fresher, encouraging them to participate in various clubs and cultural programmes. An occasional ‘hi’ or ‘bye’ or a friendly smile would not cause harm!
KRIPA SUSAN VERGHESE, II Year, M.Sc. Food Service Management and Dietetics, Women's Christian College
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Having personally signed an affidavit that promises dire punishment if I was found guilty of ragging, the thought of even interacting with freshers dies out. But events at college — be it a symposium, college day or just borrowing a pen during the internals — help you get to know one another. My seniors and I bonded amicably and we had a great time. So, even though there is a constant eye on us, the college can’t stop us from making friends.
ARSHIYA FATHIMA, Final Year, Dept of EIE, Velammal Engineering College
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Whenever we ask our teachers, “How do we ever get to know our juniors if you are going to be so strict?”, we are invariably silenced by their reply: “Why do you even need to know them?” Stringent rules to curb ragging do not mean you cannot have a friendly chat with your younger/elder mates. When I stepped into my college as a nervous fresher, there was a constant fear about what the seniors would make me do. But all that happened was a hassle-free introduction session.
VISHAL G., Final year CSE, Rajalakshmi Engineering College
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During the first few months, seniors are banned from talking to freshers or even looking their way for more than a minute. Not many dare to especially if they are likely to face a four-year imprisonment. It is only during the college culturals, department symposiums and the end-of-the-year camp that freshers get to know their seniors. Since most of these events aren’t scheduled for some time the only thing that the seniors get to know right now is how to avoid the freshers and protect their place.
SRAVVYA C., II Year, CSE, College of Engineering, Guindy
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In my college, the election for Joint Secretary, Commerce Forum, is held at the beginning of every academic year. This is a green signal to seniors to interact with freshers and to campaign for votes. The seniors try hard to please the freshers and buy their votes. Quite the opposite of ragging. But at least the seniors and freshers become friends.
AKHIL KHATRI, I Year B.Com, Loyola College
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The path to getting acquainted with juniors is long and dangerous. It is full of risks and might even cost us our lives. Juniors travel in packs. They view every senior as a hunter until another junior can vouch for them. Seniors need to talk to juniors in hostels or during club meetings in an amicable manner. One junior’s trust will link you up to others and consequently you become popular and dependable.
DIVYA KASHYAP
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I feel that cultural events in the college is the best time to get to know your juniors and seniors. We might know them by name earlier, but events like these give you the opportunity to get to know them at a personal level. It is when we realise their strengths and interests and even make some good friends in the bargain. That apart, I guess it’s an ongoing process: getting to know each other through canteen trips, meetings on corridors and sharing notes and experiences.
PRIYANKA NAIR, MA Communication, MOP Vaishnav College For Women
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In our college, orientation programmes are organised at the beginning of every semester, where we get to know our juniors better. It’s an open forum that encourages members of a particular department to get to know each other, get along and work as a team towards college activities. I feel this is a great platform to socialise and develop our strengths and eventually make a great team.
TEENA MARY THOMAS, B. Arch, Bharath University Of Technology
