Breaking the ice with the senior batches has taken a modern twist in the Delhi University with “selfie with seniors” emerging as the new idea that is set to replace singing, dancing or making juniors squat during the 'prohibited' ragging sessions. It wasn't just the seniors that freshers were seen clicking selfies with university Vice Chancellor Dinesh Singh.
Recalling his experience as a fresher at St Stephen's College, the V-C said that one tradition in his college was to address the seniors as sir. “I failed to adhere to this tradition by choice and a senior labelled me angrily as a 'goonda'. But gradually we became good friends and continue to be so,” he said.
While the officials claim that UGC guidelines on prohibition of ragging on campuses in any form have yielded good results to exercise a control in recent years, the seniors feel there is no harm in having healthy ice-breaking sessions with the freshers. While seniors at Ramjas College treated their juniors with an elaborate spread for lunch at the decked-up campus, a perfect backdrop for selfies while pizza treats were on offer at Aryabhatta College in South Campus.
At Hindu College, however, senior students welcomed freshers with yellow roses and asked their freshers to tweet every half an hour about their day one on campus. “Our so-called ragging involved tweeting live about our first day in college. The pictures posted will remain memories and a collage of them will grace the wall of the reception. Now that's an interesting way to rag,” said Priyanshi Bidhuri, a fresher at Hindu College.
A professor, who is heading the anti-ragging squad at the college, said, “We are strictly monitoring the students to avoid any prohibited activity on campus. There is nothing wrong in interacting and sharing good humour but no untoward action will be taken lightly.”
Ridhima Mehta, a student at Kirori Mal College, said, “I was asked by a group of seniors to introduce myself in “ucch Hindi”… I think I fairly managed”.
The senior batches at Daulat Ram College had set up a helpdesk for freshers to tell them about various committees functioning in the college and make them aware of whom to approach for what. “There was a message tree...We were asked to write about our first impressions of the college,” a B Com student said. Few students were also spotted with folders in one hand and selfie sticks in another.
The university authorities along with the Delhi Police and DTC officials tried to ensure that discipline is maintained and ragging prevented across varsity colleges.
“While all the students at the time of admission have been asked to submit an affidavit stating that all guidelines pertaining to ragging will be strictly followed, the college campuses have been made out of bounds for outsiders,” a senior university official said.
“All colleges have been asked to form Anti-Ragging and Vigilance squads. Martial arts trained women from Special Police Unit for Women and Children have been deployed at identified sensitive areas in the university,” he added. The police patrolling will continue for another 15 days.
The university has set up two joint control rooms. The North Campus control room can be reached at 27667221 and the South Campus control room at 24119832.
There are also other ways to report ragging. A written complaint can be dropped in the college; students can call the national anti-ragging helpline that will function round the clock at 1800-180-5522, or can contact the nearest PCR van by dialling 100. The university's Community Radio is also being utilised for creating awareness about the same.