Every year steps are announced by college administration to curb the menace of ragging but it continued unabated. Why people want to rag their juniors? The equation seems a bit like mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law. Since I was hounded by my mother-in-law, I will do the same to my daughter-in-law, though there is nothing personal. Just like that. What problems sisters-in-law have with the new entrant in the family is quite a mystery. So the nuisance continues. Ragging works on the same principle. Since I was ragged in my own time, I will do the same when my turn comes. Here none thinks about tackling or confronting the seniors. Or no one takes the first step to bell the cat. That will be so difficult. We are ever ready to follow the beaten path.

But this ragging sometimes claim so many young and bright lives. The students are simply teenagers. Not even in their twenties.They are not equipped with enough wisdom to face this organized crime. No where in this world and in any organization established people behave like this to the newcomers. I remember my own time. I was extremely shy as a teenager. But somehow I confronted my seniors. They turned out to be good natured and nicknamed me “F-16″ and “Mig Fighter” I saw this written on the admission list in front of my name later. The clerk had forgotten to take off the list from the notice board.

But the good thing was when we were seniors, we never ragged our juniors. It was unsaid rule . Maybe we were not THAT much frustrated and desperate.

I have read the above line in Adnan Patrawala’s case. A spate of debate is being held on various forums about social networking site Orkut. Tomorrow if I plan a murder by using my cell phone will anyone blame Airtel or Reliance network? Should those networks be shut down because it is used by me to commit murder?

Few years ago I worked in close proximity with young minds. A few session with their parents and one definitely feels like screaming at them and finally sterilizing them to prevent further damage. They simply don’t know how to be parents and how to be their children’s friends. They don’t even have a clue where to draw a line. Most working parents are wallowing in perpetual guilt.Whatever little time they have after work they don’t want to discipline their child. That time is used in indulging child’s every whim and fancy to negate their own guilt. The result is a child living in fast lane with no breaks. And when it causes tragedy as Adnan’s murder, we start a debate on Orkut‘s desirability in our children’s lives. We call us mature adults!!!