Kerala, a state often hailed for its high literacy rates and progressive outlook, has ironically witnessed multiple incidents of extreme violence on campuses.
Published Feb 21, 2025 | 9:00 AM ⚊ Updated Feb 21, 2025 | 9:37 AM
Ragging and harassment. Representative Image. (iStock)
Synopsis: Those who engage in ragging often develop a sense of impunity, knowing that past cases have shown delayed or diluted consequences. The normalisation of such behaviour extends beyond college life, influencing workplace cultures and perpetuating hierarchical abuses long after students have left campus. Addressing this menace requires a multi-pronged approach encompassing legal, administrative, and societal interventions.
A recent distressing video from the Government Nursing College in Kottayam, Kerala, has once again brought the scourge of ragging into the national spotlight.
The footage shows a first-year student bound to a bed and brutally tortured by his seniors—a shocking revelation of the unchecked violence persisting in educational institutions.
Reports suggest that such abuse had been ongoing for weeks, exposing a deeply entrenched culture of intimidation.
However, it is not an isolated incident; it follows a series of similar tragedies in Kerala, highlighting systemic failures in safeguarding students and ensuring their well-being.
Ragging has long been a malignant presence in Indian educational institutions despite numerous legal and administrative efforts to curb it.
Kerala, a state often hailed for its high literacy rates and progressive outlook, has ironically witnessed multiple incidents of extreme violence on campuses. This latest case from Kottayam has reopened wounds from previous horrors, most notably the death by suicide of JS Sidharthan on 18 February 2024.
Sidharthan, a young veterinary student, was found hanging in his hostel room after enduring prolonged physical assault from his seniors, allegedly affiliated with the Students’ Federation of India (SFI). He had been targeted for merely interacting with senior female students at a campus event.
His case sparked massive public outcry, leading to a series of arrests and suspensions, but failed to effect a systemic change.
More recently, in January 2025, the death by suicide of Mihir Ahammed, a 15-year-old student in Ernakulam, further exposed the inadequacies of anti-ragging measures.
Mihir was allegedly relentlessly bullied—subjected to racial slurs, forced to perform degrading acts, and physically abused. The school’s alleged inaction compounded the suffering, resulting in another avoidable tragedy.
The Kottayam case is particularly chilling because of the extreme nature of the abuse. In the disturbing video, the victim is seen tied to a bed while his tormentors inflict pain with cruel precision. A geometric compass is repeatedly used to prick his body, causing him to writhe in agony.
A stinging white lotion is poured over his wounds and into his eyes and mouth, while a dumbbell is placed on his genitals.
Throughout the student’s ordeal, the perpetrators laugh, completely desensitised to the suffering of their junior.
Despite having strict anti-ragging laws, educational institutions in India have largely failed in their duty to enforce them.
The Kottayam incident, like those before it, raises several pressing questions about institutional accountability and student safety. Why did authorities at the nursing college fail to detect or prevent such prolonged abuse?
What measures, if any, were in place to protect vulnerable students from such extreme ragging? Furthermore, why do victims often remain silent, and why do perpetrators feel emboldened to continue such practices?
These concerns highlight the deep-seated flaws in campus oversight and the urgent need for more effective enforcement of anti-ragging policies.
One of the biggest obstacles in addressing ragging is the culture of silence and fear. Victims often hesitate to report incidents due to fear of retaliation, lack of trust in authorities, or social pressure to ‘adjust.’ At the same time, institutions frequently prioritise their reputation over student welfare, choosing to suppress complaints rather than address them head-on.
The failure of institutions to ensure a safe environment has contributed to the normalisation of these brutal practices. The Supreme Court of India has issued clear directives regarding anti-ragging measures, including forming proctorial committees to prevent incidents and swiftly act on complaints. However, these guidelines remain poorly enforced.
Beyond the immediate physical injuries, the psychological scars inflicted by ragging can be life-altering. Victims of severe ragging often suffer from long-term trauma, anxiety disorders, depression, and, in extreme cases, suicidal tendencies.
The persistent humiliation and entrenched power dynamics reinforce a toxic campus culture where bullying becomes
institutionalised, eroding the very foundation of a safe learning environment.
Equally critical is the mindset of the perpetrators. Many senior students view ragging as a rite of passage—an ordeal they once endured and now feel entitled to impose on their juniors. This cycle of abuse continues unchecked in the absence of strong intervention.
Worse, seniors who engage in ragging often develop a sense of impunity, knowing that past cases have shown
delayed or diluted consequences. The normalisation of such behaviour extends beyond college life, influencing workplace cultures and perpetuating hierarchical abuses long after students have left campus.
Addressing this menace requires a multi-pronged approach encompassing legal, administrative, and societal interventions. Authorities must hold institutions accountable, imposing severe consequences such as derecognition and withdrawal of funding if they fail to prevent ragging.
Every educational institution must establish an active anti-ragging committee comprising faculty, students, and external members. These committees should conduct regular surprise inspections, organize awareness sessions, and create safe spaces where students can report abuse without fear of retaliation.
Additionally, many victims remain silent due to fear of repercussions, making it essential to implement a robust whistleblower protection policy that enables students to come forward without risking further harassment.
Psychological support should also be available not only for victims but also for perpetrators, as many engage in ragging as a continuation of the abuse they have endured. Targeted rehabilitation programs can help break this cycle. A strict zero-tolerance policy must be enforced, ensuring immediate suspensions, expulsions, and, where necessary, criminal proceedings.
Beyond punitive measures, structural reforms are needed to ensure lasting change. Unlike the current slow-moving judicial process, fast-track legal mechanisms should be established to deliver swift justice in ragging cases. Most importantly, campus culture itself requires a fundamental shift.
Institutions should integrate empathy-building programs into their curriculum, fostering an environment where senior students mentor juniors in constructive, supportive ways rather than perpetuating dominance and humiliation. Only by addressing the root causes and enforcing strict deterrents can we hope to eradicate ragging from academia.
The responsibility of preventing ragging does not rest solely with educational institutions or the government. It is a societal issue that demands collective action. Parents, alumni, and student organisations must actively participate in fostering a safe and inclusive academic environment.
The media also plays a critical role—through investigative journalism and sustained reporting, it can ensure that incidents of ragging do not fade into obscurity.
Public pressure should compel authorities to act swiftly as the recurring instances of brutal ragging in educational institutions are a stain on our collective conscience. Each case serves as a tragic reminder of the suffering endured by young students at the hands of their peers.
As a society, we must acknowledge the severity of this issue and take decisive action. I am not citing the reported number of cases because the true scale of the issue is far greater, with most incidents going unreported.
Educational institutions must transition from being passive bystanders to proactive guardians of student welfare. The government, judiciary, and civil society must collaborate to ensure that campuses are sanctuaries of learning and growth, not arenas of cruelty and humiliation.
Only through sustained and collective efforts can we eradicate the menace of ragging and honour the memories of those who have suffered due to systemic failures and societal apathy. The time for complacency is over. We must act now to protect the future of our youth and uphold the sanctity of educational institutions.
(Amal Chandra is an author, policy analyst, and columnist. Views are personal. Edited by Majnu Babu).
