Ragging, a practice blindly copied from the British public schools by the Raj's Indian subjects, has refused to go away from the desi education system. But many still tend to look at it with a lenient eye, forgetting that it is an insidious practice that can leave, apart from the immediate physical injuries, shattered lives in its wake and lasting emotional and physical trauma.
Many ragging victims never recover fully, carrying the burden of abuse through their life. But a few do manage to rise above their cruel fate and offer hope and quality of life to their fellow citizens.
Naveen Alex was beaten back and blue by a bunch of drunk seniors at a college in a neighbouring state a few years ago, during ragging. He was left with broken ribs and his ear drum was partially torn that eventually healed over time.
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There were days when seniors used to lock up juniors in cupboards for hours, and the children had to suffocate inside, recollects Alex.
“It still sends shivers down my spine when I remember that fateful day,” he says. “I suffered it all helplessly. I was unconscious for a day. After the incident, I was physically and mentally down. I had to undergo medical treatment for six to seven months. I quit my engineering course and had no idea of what is to do next in life.”
The son of a priest, Alex is from central Kerala. Perhaps his family background helped him to come to terms with his situation, and rebuild his life. He realized that the ones who ragged him were themselves the victims of a troubled childhood.
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He understood if his tormentors had a better childhood, if they had somebody to correct them, they would have been better human beings. The parents of many of them were working abroad, and they had been raised by relatives or caretakers.
“They never had parental love or emotional support,” says Alex. “They had lot of luxury showered on them and the peer pressure to become popular in their groups. Above all, most of them were into substance abuse; they were drug addicts and alcoholics. This transformation for the worse happened during their teen years.”
This realisation made him take up an initiative to work for children and teenagers, in order to help them grow up as better human beings. Alex founded Teens-MAD, a non-governmental organisation aimed at the betterment of differently-abled children, teenagers and cancer patients, in 2010. “I decided to spread the message - 'say NO to ragging',” says Alex.
Today he imparts life-orientation sessions, personality development and leadership development activities in many schools and organisations. Over the years, Teens-MAD has expanded its work to Delhi, Bangalore and Chennai, and Alex now has plans to expand to Kerala.
The message Teens-MAD wants to share with the community is “Hug the Monster”. The depressed bunch have a choice to make, they can still overcome their challenges with a little support from compassionate people, and show that the world is still a good place to live in. Alex says teenagers are brimming with energy, and they just need the right platform to channel this energy in doing good. Teens-MAD aims to be that platform.
Teens-MAD, as a part of its community service movements has many projects. 'Build a Box' and 'Magic of Birthday' are aimed at bringing joy to children at orphanages and shelter homes by celebrating their birthdays and giving them gifts.
'Garden of Hope' and 'Esperanzaa' are aimed at providing relief and financial support to cancer patients. “For a cancer patient, everything is dying in them,” says Alex. “We make the patients create gardens, so that they feel they are giving life and growth to people around them. Esperanzaa is a an online platform where the cancer survivors sell their crafts and, in turn, get financial aid to support their lives.”
The organisation also provides basic education to underprivileged children. Said a volunteer, “The decision to be part of Teens-MAD is one that I will always cherish. It brings in a lot of self-satisfaction, self-worth and happiness.”
Said another: “Today, we feel we are special to the society after being associated with TeensMAD. We have been receiving huge support from well-wishers and sponsors through our Facebook page.”
Alex has had the last laugh on his tormentors. He says, “My seniors used to say there is no advantage to being good in a bad society. But, today I have the best example to show them they are wrong. Through the good deeds of this organisation, I have given it back to my seniors who tortured me once.”