The recent report of ragging in the boys hostel of Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) Imphal is a matter of deep concern for all the socially conscious and peace loving citizens of this state.

In an esteemed medical institute which is believed to be the abode of learning in the fields of medical science by the most talented students of the entire North East India, such report of ragging shocked and bewildered many.

As reported there were no serious aftermath shock as a result of the ragging but that episode has wide opened a topic to be discussed seriously among the civil society organisations, student bodies and parents to curb the rise of the dreaded head of ragging in all the educational institute of Manipur.

What is ragging? The literal meaning of ragging means playing practical jokes on somebody or tease somebody.

In another meaning ragging means annual entertainment held by students to collect money for charity.

In this sense which is also a good sense the annual functions of freshers' meet where the senior students of an institution welcome the fresh students and farewell or validiction function of the students who pass out from the institution can be taken as the good side of ragging which has been continuing in the schools and colleges and the students of schools and colleges are very enthusiastic about freshers' meet where they enjoy most and take part in many items.

Then what exactly is going on in the name of ragging.

While dealing with a public interest litigation in 2001, the Supreme Court of India defined ragging as follows: 'Any disorderly conduct whether by words spoken or written or by an act which has the effect of teasing, treating or handling with rudeness any other students, indulging in rowdy and indisciplined activities which causes or is likely to cause annoyance, hardship or psychological harm or to raise fear or apprehension thereof in a fresher or a junior student or asking the students to do any act or perform something which the students will not do in the ordinary course and which has the effect of causing or generating a sense of shame or embarrassment so as to adversely affect the physique or psyche of a fresher or a junior student.

The highest court of the country has the strict instruction that meritorious students should not bear the wrath and brunt from the unwanted behaviour of a few students and their pursuit of higher studies should not be obstructed due to this malaise of ragging.

Fixing the responsibility of ragging in the school campus on the shoulder of the Principal and management of the school the court said that principal and other persons of authority will be liable to face action in case a student is subjected to ragging.

The court warms: If an institution fails to curb ragging, the UGC/funding agency may consider stoppage of financial assistance to such an institution till such time it implements the anti-ragging norms. A university may consider disaffiliating a college or institution that fails to curb ragging.

The Supreme Court made this observation and warning as early as 2001 but vicious ragging still continued in many premiere institutions. There are many cases of students developing mental and psychological problems.

Many parents are forced to withdraw this children from the institutions. There are also many cases of students committing suicide due to this menace.

In most of the cases of ragging the seniors asked the junior to say or do something which the fresher is not in a position to say or perform in the presence of a group of people of their equals and biggers.

In some other instances the juniors were forced to submit to various unnatural acts including perverse sexual acts.

As a result many students suffer a nervous breakdown and carry scars on their psyche throughout their lives.

Many states have enacted laws and promulgated ordinances to stop ragging in educational institutions. This need arises in our state also. The virus of ragging has come to Manipur and it has to be nipped in its budding stage.

The State's law and order situation is not conducive for academic pursuits. The recent ragging in the RIMS boys hostel by the senior students to some of the junior students is not a good sign in the academic atmosphere of our society.

This episode well send a wrong message to the outsiders to perceive that 'we had been ragged in the past when we entered the institution and we are doing the same to the juniors' will only help in spreading the disease.

It is high time that parents, students, social workers wake up to the reality and inculcate in the students the real values in life.

If education does not teach students to develop good qualities and do not teach students to love all and serve all it would become meaningless.