30-sec summary
In the dimly lit corridors of Kolkata's Jadavpur University Main Hostel, a horrifying incident unfolded on the evening of August 9th. Ragging, once considered a harmless initiation ritual, has once again reared its ugly head in an educational institution. A 17-year-old student, Swapnodeep Kundu, pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Bengali Literature, tragically lost his life in a horrifying incident after being subjected to extreme humiliation and harassment by his seniors. This incident raises crucial questions about the prevalence of ragging, institutional negligence, mental health support, and the need for sensitization programs in educational institutions.
As fearless and blunt opinion writers at Peepoye Network, we believe it is our moral responsibility to shed light on this incident and demand justice for Swapnodeep Kundu.
Introduction
Swapnodeep Kundu, a 17-year-old student at Jadavpur University pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Bengali Literature, experienced a nightmare on August 9th. He was subjected to ragging and sexual harassment, which led to his unfortunate demise. He was called to Room No. 70 by his seniors and was forced to strip naked as he walked down the second-floor hallway of the university hostel. Desperate to escape this humiliating ordeal, Swapnodeep tried to lock himself in Room No. 65, but the senior students wouldn't stop pursuing him. The situation escalated as he ran from room to room on the second floor, and eventually, he fell from a second-floor balcony around 11:45 PM. As students arrived at the scene after hearing a loud noise, they discovered Swapnodeep lying in a pool of blood. Swapnodeep was transferred to KPC Medical College for treatment, where he died on Thursday at 4:30 a.m.
Investigation and Legal Consequences
Swapnodeep’s father filed a police complaint, leading to investigations and several arrests.
“My son had told me that they were scaring him. I had decided to bring him back on Friday (August 11), but they ended his life before that,” the victim’s father said.
Twelve accused have been arrested till now under murder charges and Section 4 of the West Bengal Prohibition of Ragging in Educational Institutions, 2020, Act.
Reports suggested that his body was found unclothed, with sources indicating the possibility of prior sexual harassment.
A police officer who is part of the investigation team said the boy was allegedly ragged for over two hours on August 9 and forced to strip naked. The officer said the first-year student was summoned to the main accused's room and was made to "write a letter." Over the course of the night, the minor was taken to three different rooms and allegedly ragged. He further added: "The letter was then written by two seniors. One of the main accused claimed that the signature on the letter was that of the deceased minor student. However, we have our doubts about it. The letter-writing exercise started around 10 p.m."
The officer further said that his seniors allegedly told him "he was gay" and asked him to "submit evidence to prove it.” “Some residents of the hostel have said that the 17-year-old told them that he was not gay. What provoked him to say so is now the focus of our investigation.”
"At first, he was asked to wear only a towel. He was then asked to take the towel off, parade, and run through the balcony naked," the officer added.
Institutional Negligence and Mental Health
This incident raises some questions: How did this happen without any intervention from the hostel authorities? How did such a practice, initially meant to be harmless, transform into a life-threatening situation? It highlights a severe lapse in security and oversight within the university's hostels. Such negligence is unacceptable, and the university must be held accountable.
Rajat Ray, the Dean of Students, received a call from a student in the hostel just horse before the victim fell, who reported that “a certain student was facing problems.” The student “was being told not to stay in the hostel and that he would have to take a leap if he continued to stay,” said Ray. The dean claimed to have spoken with the hostel superintendent to investigate the situation. A few hours later, the Superintendent reported finding a body lying in a pool of blood. The university's boys' hostel superintendents lacked power, according to a source within JU.
Prioritizing Mental Well-being and Acceptance
One important detail that emerged is Swapnodeep's distressing phone call to his mother, in which he expressed fear and discomfort. This highlights the importance of addressing mental health issues among students. Were there any avenues for him to seek help or counseling within the university? Institutions must prioritize the mental well-being of their students.
Moreover, Swapnodeep's assertion of his sexual orientation during the ordeal raises concerns about toxic masculinity and peer pressure within educational institutions. It is crucial to create a safe and accepting environment where students, regardless of their sexual orientation, feel respected.
Opinion: A Call for Change
Ragging still persists in many educational institutions, and in this case, it escalated into an unthinkable tragedy. How did we let a culture of ragging become so deeply entrenched? In this case, what was meant to be a harmless initiation led to an unthinkable tragedy. It's high time we address this deeply entrenched culture of ragging.
As we mentioned, this incident also points to a severe lapse in the security and oversight of the university's hostels. How could a student be stripped naked, chased, and fall from a second-floor balcony without any intervention from hostel authorities? The institution must answer for this grave negligence.
Moreover, Swapnodeep's distressing phone call to his mother highlights the need for mental health support within universities.
The incident's link to toxic masculinity and peer pressure underscores the necessity of creating an environment where students feel safe and accepted, regardless of their sexual orientation.
Jadavpur University and other institutions nationwide should implement sensitization programs to educate students about the consequences of ragging and the importance of empathy and respect. Change begins with education, and it's high time we prevent such incidents from happening in the first place.
Our opinion is that this entire incident is deeply disturbing, and it's a call for educational institutions nationwide to take action, prioritize student well-being, and put an end to the culture of campus ragging.
What the 17-year-old child must have passed through is shocking and heartbreaking. The youth these days have become so heartless that they don’t even feel the pain and ordeal the other person passes through. This is an organized crime and should be dealt with severely. An exemplary punishment should be given to the accused.
