Todays newspaper had at least 5 to 6 articles on the issue. Ragging - an ongoing issue that has always been undercover has surfaced up. If you notice, ragging issues are most prevalent in the local universities. Or maybe the incidents in the private U-s don't surface due to the strict rulings and "expensive" consequences they might need to face.
Relating to my own experience, entering into a well-known local uni, I was told the scariest stories about how seniors will rag the juniors, things they used to do, and I was even told to bring along punjabi suits (traditional Indian costume) to be worn throughout my 1st semester. I was horified at the stories - not so much for the ragging bit but for the part where I have to wear punjabi suits everyday for the next 3-6 months??
The bigger problem was - I didn't have that many suits to use. My cousin sister offered to pass me some of hers. So, 1 bag full of suits and another full of my own things. Being the rebel that I am, I wasn't at all bothered to adhere by the punjabi suit rules. I wore my baggy jeans on day 1, 2, 3, 4, until the end of orientation week and then at my faculty, I did the same. I only wore my own punjabi suit (I took a personal favourite just in case) for the Malam Suai-Kenal - a get-to-know dinner night with speeches from the top management & lecturers.
Looking around me, majority of the Indian students were clad in Punjabi suits. Most of them came from the small towns of Ipoh, Malacca, Kedah, Pahang etc.. They all spoke in Tamil all the time, giggled at the sight of any Indian male and was very shy - looking to the ground.
I wore my fav one on Fridays alone when I had 1 class and we had to meet the Indian seniors for a get-to-know session. Out of respect and to have a feel of the group, I wore my red suit. I sat aside a friend who ended up glueing herself to me throughout most semesters and eventually dropped off.
Then the orientation took place - where everyone was supposed to think of a joke or sing a song or act out something. When it came to me, I had no joke, no song to sing and coming to think of it, I can't even remember what I ended up doing. I think I was told to think of a joke in the next meeting which eventually went forgotten.
And then, the Indian male seniors will crowd our supper stalls at night. All the Indian female students were required to be present during this "supper-stall-session" but I always had my excuse.. stomach ache / gone back home / sick / exam or assignment etc etc.
I finally came down one day - to check it out for myself. The female seniors were not notorious at all. They were very kind in fact, some of them. Some others were rather rude or cruel. But there'll always be good and bad apples.
I used to wonder if the seniors had nothing else to do since they were all so free to be there at that hour to get to know us. But those who were very quiet and submissive had a bulk of their teasing. I was rather bold, probably too bold in fact that they didn't quite find me an interesting subject for teasing. They did attempt to ask me to follow them out with them in their cars etc. But I knew it better not to follow any stranger, at night, alone in a car!
The fact that I came from Sentul - which is known as a very notorious area in town did help me quite a bit. Some of them were cautious to tell me to do stuff or tease me too much in fear of being beaten up by thugs from Sentul.
Only I knew the reality of the matter as those stories were not exactly true. Sentul has been stripped off its mafia-status many years back. And as for me, growing up in the area where drug addicts roamed by and street gangster-wannabes drove about teasing and disturbing girls, I have seen the worst of teasings and learnt the art of avoiding them.
I made some very good friends during this time. Some of which I am still connected to. I think when the rod comes out from the furnace, it is made stealthier and stronger than when it went it. This was my experience. I was trying to reason out the logic behind every event that took place then but to no avail. I suppose God above all else has his own plan in the work of it all. We are merely the players.
Perhaps mine wasn't the worst case of rag that can be. The worst is being locked in a room with 3-4 seniors in my faculty and all my other friends were told to go back. Probably locked was not the right term, I didn't attempt to run out or try opening the door. I just sat in the room, bravely looking them all in the eyes, watching them do their work, some were merely playing games, asking questions etc.
When they were done asking me questions and trying to get to know me, I was allowed to go back. In fact i asked to be excused due to an exam i had the next day. One senior even offered to send me back when he was on the way. That's it. In fact, the next days and week, we were back to normal. No teasing or disturbs. In fact, they appreciated the fact that we looked them up whenever we needed some help. Occasionally when we bump into them we exchange the usual hellos, how are you. Apart from that, campus life was back to normal. Majority of the events were forgotten.
The ones we clearly remembered were those in which we were actively involved or played a role. One particular friend was always the bait to knock at the senior door whenever we were there to ask them anything at all. She was the most outspoken one among us who didn't mind the attention and speaking up. I on the other hand, couldn't really be that bothered about any one of them. We all had our own strength and weaknesses.
But if there is any one thing I can go back and change, it will definitely be to take up my studies more seriously as I wanted to do initially.. Some things might have changed, as I am at present at a junction where I am knocking myself hard for not paying much attention to score the 3pointer. Anyway as I've mentioned earlier, God has better plans for me. I thank you Lord for the wonderful gift of life and eventz in it.
No comments:
Post a Comment