Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU)and Ragging?????

I was shocked reading newspaper reports that some students from the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) were expelled from the hostel on charges of ragging. It seems that they were caught red-handed by the anti-ragging committee. (Again a surprise: when did they begin to form an anti-ragging committee? Is it mandatory these days?). This is for the first time that I am hearing something of this sort about JNU; a campus known for a culture where the seniors take care of the freshers. For that matter, not only the freshers but also the young job seekers from the various small towns are taken care of in JNU! Such people are ``accommodated’’ in the various hostels, albeit illegally by the students. In the past, when stories of ragging were in the news, we were proud that ours is a ragging free campus.

I recall my early days in JNU nostalgically. I arrived there one morning in June. Summer was still scorching and I was tired after a long journey. I was depressed too. Hostile weather, alien language and food that I was not used to; an array of discomforts! In June, we Malayalis are used to the magical spell of the monsoon. And we are notorious for using coconut and its oil in any edible stuff. And as far the language, I struggled with my English and always answered in monosyllables. And my Hindi was equally bad!

But the most amazing thing was the way the JNU seniors welcomed you. I had to prepare for the interview for my M.Phil admission in Chinese studies. Please note the fact that I was not a student yet! I did not have any deep understanding on China though I had cleared my written test. Yamuna, was in JNU already. I did not know her until that day I arrived. But then, she let me stay with her till I got through my admission. A senior of mine at my Centre- Vikramsimha Rao -- whom I met for the first time in my life -- offered all help. He spent hours with me and discussed about the possible questions and prepared me for the interview. Though a perfect stranger to me, he had made me comfortable about the campus, and helped me to overcome my fears and worries.

Well. TK was there to steer me in the initial days despite his busy work with the Students Union. He acclimatized me with the way of life in the campus; sometimes even chided me for not going to the library. I have sweet memories of my seniors- helping me with the assignments, inviting me to the film club, photographic club, a dinner at Udippi or a trek to the Qutab Minar and so on. And in just a year’s time, I was a senior and I too reached out to the freshers:– Keeping the tradition on.

No wonder that the report of ragging in JNU (by few MCA students) disturbed me so much. It was so inimical to our glorious past and tradition, where everything coexisted - Jhelum lawns, Ganga Dhaba, library canteen, us and so many other things….. I would like to take it as a bizarre incident which would not be repeated….for I am planning to send my child to JNU… And I do not want him to come back and counter me saying…Mom, your much heard stories do not match with my experience.