Don’t leave any room for ragging in universities

On January 19, a newspaper reported a tragic case where a student in Peradeniya university who opposed ragging was assaulted by a group of ‘raggers’.

The victim needed admission to hospital and is said to be the son of a judge. I congratulate this student’s courage and wish him a speedy recovery.

I have been a doctor in Sri Lanka and overseas for the past 54 years and sadly, since my university days the despicable practice of ragging has become even more depraved and dangerous.

In 2015 a 23- year-old female student at Sabaragamuwa University was psychologically so traumatised by ragging that she committed suicide.

In 2012, a 21-year-old female student fell during ragging and suffered a spinal injury.

In 2010, my grand-nephew who was then a medical student at Peradeniya University paid dearly for opposing ragging. Raggers assaulted him and fractured his nose and lacerated his face. He needed surgery and still has problems with his nose and the scars are reminders of his ordeal.

In 1995 a nephew of mine (now an architect) and his batch mates were ragged at the Moratuwa campus for three months. The perpetrators’ rude orders given in foul language included crawling up to the fourth floor almost daily and staying crouched under chairs. On the last day they were barred from urinating for several hours. It was a humiliating and harrowing experience for the new entrants.

Subsequently, that nephew’s younger brother refused to go into any university because he couldn’t and wouldn’t face ragging.

I am sure there are many other untold stories of humiliation, horror and hurt caused by ragging in our highest seats of learning.

Sadly, after burning midnight oil for years, students in Sri Lanka begin university life not with great elation but in fear (of ragging) and their parents are equally apprehensive and anxious.

I have written to newspapers on several occasions condemning this dastardly practice by thugs who consider the universities to be safe havens to give vent to sadistic urges.

I also wrote to the previous President in 2012 about this matter to no avail. I will write to the current President as well.

Current anti-ragging measures are obviously inadequate and the wardens either turn a blind eye or are impotent.

There should be no ragging in any form or degree and raggers should be barred from universities for life.

I hope that some day every university will be a happy place for every student from day one. W. Y. Rambukwelle Via email