Kottayam, Kerala: The shocking ragging incident at Kottayam Nursing College has sent ripples of outrage across the nation, exposing the deep-rooted issue of moral and ethical decline among students. The gruesome ordeal of a junior nursing student, who was subjected to torture by five seniors, highlights the urgent need to inculcate values of empathy, respect, and humanity in young minds.
According to reports, the ragging began in November and continued for three months before the victim, terrified and traumatized, finally spoke out. A disturbing video, now in police possession, shows the student tied to a cot, subjected to brutal treatment, including being jabbed with a sharp object and forced to consume an unidentified lotion. The five accused, all around 20 years old, have been arrested and remanded to custody.
This case is eerily reminiscent of the 2023 tragedy involving Sidharthan, a student at the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences in Wayanad. Subjected to relentless ragging by members of the dominant student union, he was found hanging in his hostel toilet. While police labeled it a suicide, many suspected foul play, pointing to the powerful student mafias that operate unchecked within Kerala’s academic institutions.
Despite the state’s stringent anti-ragging laws, enforcement remains weak. Victims often stay silent due to the overwhelming influence of student unions and political affiliations. College administrations, fearing backlash, frequently turn a blind eye to these atrocities.
Former Union Minister K J Alphons, expressing deep concern, questioned the failure of a city like Kottayam—renowned for its literacy, cultural richness, and contributions to healthcare—to produce students capable of such brutality. Kerala, widely recognized for its world-class nurses known for their compassion and professionalism, now faces a grim reality: young minds, just out of school, are engaging in inhumane acts against their peers.
Alphons attributes the root cause of this crisis to the erosion of moral education, particularly within families. He raises a crucial question: How many parents today engage in meaningful conversations with their children at least three times a week on fundamental values? Instead of prioritizing ethics, modern parenting is often fixated on academic performance, ranks, and entrance exams.
Schools, too, bear responsibility. While academic excellence remains the focus, moral and ethical training is largely neglected. The need for a holistic education system that fosters not just intellectual growth but also emotional and social responsibility has never been more pressing.
The Kottayam incident serves as a wake-up call. It is imperative for parents, educators, and policymakers to take proactive measures:
Parental Guidance: Parents must actively engage in discussions about ethics, respect, and responsible behavior.
Educational Reforms: Schools and colleges must integrate moral education into their curriculum, emphasizing values that build character.
Strict Law Enforcement: Authorities must ensure that anti-ragging laws are not just on paper but are effectively implemented to protect students.
Alphons, despite his anguish over the incident, maintains his deep love for Kottayam, asserting that a few criminals cannot tarnish the rich legacy of the city. However, unless immediate corrective steps are taken, Kerala’s academic institutions risk becoming breeding grounds for unchecked violence rather than centers of learning and growth.
