D.M.E.T was a prestigious para-military college in Calcutta. Now, this institute runs by the name of Indian Maritime University, Kolkata Campus. Since 1952, this campus has been one of the leading institutes in maritime training across Asia. But not anymore. It has become a typical engineering college but with uniforms, intense ragging including physical assault and verbal abuse.
Most people who know this place would be outraged if I directly said ‘there is ragging in DMET’ because of the complexity and ambiguity involved in this topic.
Most of the ragging and assault happens under the name of paramilitary training. To understand why I call it “organised ragging” as a student of the institute, you will need to know about the current established system of ragging on campus.
Over the years, this college has lost its reputation and placement rates are decreasing. Junior cadets are manipulated into thinking that even the few placements that happen are because of our seniors, which is, in fact, somewhat true. But this fact is used to induce fear among cadets, that they should always respect and obey their current senior and never complain about them. Because if you complain, it will send out a message that this batch is weak and not worthy, which could mean even lesser placement opportunities.
So now, any senior can come to your room, abuse you, force you to do things, even physically assault you if he wants; all because he is a senior. If you complain and action is taken against the senior, then everyone knows your name as the weak student who complained and you take shit for it every day. Even your batch mates abuse you because they feel that you are harming their reputation.
If you think you can escape this if you just stay away and mind your own business, it can’t be done. Every day there are 2 fall-ins (roll calls). Every cadet has to assemble at the quadrangle of the hostel. And any senior with no business of being there can come to the fall-in and say or do anything he wants. That includes physical and verbal abuse. And the campus authority does nothing or probably, pretends to know nothing.
Every year more than 50% of the students fail. Not because they are incapable but because half of the time they are hiding and doing things that their seniors force them to do. There you have it – “Organised Ragging”.
This place basically ruins the youth who join the institute. Anyone can hardly keep their passion alive because of how they are treated in this college. You don’t have freedom of speech here. If you speak more than you are asked by the seniors then the chances are that you will get slapped a few times.
Who can we blame for the ongoing act? The seniors? They have been through the same thing. The juniors? There have been reports and complains but no improvements. I blame the college authority and their ignorance.