In Madurai this September, a 15-year-old first-year ITI student endured a horrifying act of ragging. Stripped, beaten with slippers, and humiliated by three fellow students inside his government hostel, the assault was filmed and circulated online, turning cruelty into public spectacle. Police have booked the minors involved, and the warden has been suspended. Yet, beyond this shocking case lies a deeper, systemic problem: ragging in India is far from a harmless tradition, it is a violent practice that leaves lasting psychological and social scars.
Ragging does not just injure the body; it wounds the mind. Victims often carry the burden of humiliation long after the physical bruises have healed. Being stripped, beaten, or forced into degrading acts shatters dignity and self-worth. Many students experience persistent anxiety, shame, nightmares, and a fear of peer interaction. Concentration suffers, classroom participation drops, and the vibrant promise of college life turns into a minefield of fear.
In severe cases, victims develop depression or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), replaying the incidents over and over in their minds. Everyday situations like walking past a hostel corridor or entering a crowded lecture hall can trigger panic. The trauma extends far beyond the immediate act, poisoning the formative years of a student’s life.
Many victims remain silent, terrified of retaliation from seniors, ridicule from peers, or disbelief from authorities. Parents, hoping to shield their children from stigma, sometimes discourage complaints. This silence perpetuates the cycle of abuse.
Data from the National Anti-Ragging Helpline shows that between 2022 and 2024, 3,156 complaints were registered from 1,946 colleges. Yet, this number reflects only cases reported to the helpline. Many victims directly approach colleges or police, while countless others silently endure abuse, fearing for their safety. The real scale of ragging, especially of severe incidents, is likely far higher.
Medical Colleges as Hotspots
Medical colleges are particularly alarming. Despite making up only 1.1% of total students in India, these institutions account for 38.6% of total ragging complaints, 35.4% of serious complaints, and 45.1% of ragging-related deaths. Between 2022 and 2024, 51 ragging-related deaths were recorded, with 23 deaths (45.1%) in medical colleges. In 2024 alone, 20 students died due to ragging, surpassing the number of student suicides in Kota for that year.
Top Institutions with Complaints
Certain colleges and universities consistently emerge as ragging hotspots. In 2024, the following institutions reported the highest complaints:
Top Colleges:
- University of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh – 15 complaints
- MKCG Medical College, Odisha – 9 complaints
- Banaras Hindu University Campus, Uttar Pradesh – 8 complaints
- Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur – 8 complaints
- MGM Medical College & Hospital, Jharkhand – 7 complaints
Top Universities:
- Atal Bihari Vajpayee Medical University, Uttar Pradesh – 34 complaints
- Bihar Engineering University, Bihar – 30 complaints
- Maulana Abul Kalam Azad University of Technology, West Bengal – 27 complaints
- Madhya Pradesh Medical Science University – 26 complaints
- University of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh – 23 complaints
These statistics underscore the urgent need for systemic intervention, especially in medical and technical institutions.
The Social and Psychological Cost
Ragging devastates more than the individual. It erodes trust in communities, turning hostels and classrooms into spaces of fear. Survivors often isolate themselves, skip classes, or drop out, which affects academic performance, career prospects, and social development. Families, who once celebrated their child’s admission, witness them suffering in silence. Society loses confidence in institutions tasked with nurturing future generations.
While speaking with Deshwale, Dr. Sneha, a psychological consultant from Mumbai said, “Ragging can cause a lot of stress and lead to problems like anxiety, anger, and low self-esteem. It can make students feel ashamed and even cause depression. For students, who already deal with heavy academic pressure, ragging makes things worse and can affect their studies, mental health, and in some cases, even lead to thoughts of suicide.”
She further added, “In such serious issues like ragging, we as a society must also take responsibility. We need to be aware, looking out for such activities around us, and raise our voices against it. Instead of mocking ragging victims, we must create an environment where they feel safe enough to share their problems. We must not blame them for not standing up for themselves, as doing so might make them feel as though they are at fault.”
Psychological effects include:
- Anxiety and fear: Constant stress about humiliation can lead to panic attacks and social anxiety.
- Depression: Persistent exposure to ragging can trigger hopelessness and sadness.
- Low self-esteem and confidence: Humiliation damages self-worth, with lasting effects.
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Victims may experience flashbacks, nightmares, and emotional distress long after the incident.
- Isolation and withdrawal: Fear of further harassment often leads to social withdrawal.
- Decline in academic performance: Emotional distress impacts concentration and productivity.
- Substance abuse: Some students turn to alcohol or drugs as coping mechanisms.
Ending ragging requires systemic change, not merely punishment. Institutions must treat ragging as violence, not a rite of passage. Suggestions include:
- Anonymous Complaints: Helplines must allow victims to report without revealing their identity.
- Special Security Guards and Anti-Ragging Squads: Dedicated personnel should be available 24/7.
- CCTV Monitoring: Continuous surveillance of common areas and hostels.
- Separate Hostels for Freshers: Mandated by UGC and NMC regulations, yet often neglected.
- Police Complaints Within 24 Hours: Mandatory reporting for serious cases.
- Awareness Campaigns and Training: UGC and Health Ministry should conduct annual workshops and campaigns to discourage ragging.
- Parental Access to Senior Students’ Contact Information: Transparency can deter potential tormentors.
Counselling support, peer mentoring, and safe reporting systems are equally crucial to help survivors rebuild confidence and trust.
The Madurai incident and national data reveal a grim truth: ragging is far from harmless. It is humiliation, violence, and betrayal, leaving lifelong scars on individuals and communities. India cannot afford to normalise cruelty in educational spaces. Every student deserves safety, dignity, and respect. If we continue to look away, the silent scars of ragging will not just haunt victims, they will stain the future of entire generations.
