Bullying is for Cowards 

 
 




 
It's human nature to be drawn into groups. And if you're in college, fitting in is a priority. Take a quick wander around any campus and you'll see people in groups, mostly based on serendipitous criteria like being in the same hostel, the same batch etc. It's convenient to get along with people you're likely to see most days, otherwise things can get awkward. 

With time, you can see how someone might prioritize being a part of the group ahead of moral values. This is how you get ragging. Nobody rags anyone without backup. 

There are basically two types of ragging. The so called harmless type where the junior is simply pranked or frightened. Many people approve of this since it has been around for ages. One cannot imagine college life without it. And then there is the serious type which can get you jailed. 
 
When do the fun and games end and serious issues begin? Physical assault is obvious, psychological bullying is more subtle. The scary part is how it is all justified in some way or other with a "us vs them" mentality. 

There is nothing remotely brave about putting your hands on someone with the backup of a dozen of your friends behind you. Whatever sense of superiority derived from this is superficial. 

Bullying is just another reflection of society as a whole. People like to be in herds. The more senior you are, the more power you hold. You look different? You sound different? You need to be corrected. 

This is too deep a malaise to be easily correctable by punitive measures. In order to correct a problem like this, you must try to understand the pathology. Hence, it's highly unlikely that the powers that be will find meaningful solutions to these issues.

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