Inside the hostels of Dibrugarh University: Ragging, death threats, students forced to move out

When the Dibrugarh University hostel clock struck 10 pm, all the freshers were told to congregate. Abhishek Gogoi*, like every other newcomer, was perplexed and surprised, trying to make sense of what was going on. For Abhishek, who had recently joined the hostel, everything was new, including the demands of his seniors.

"Stand in a queue and introduce yourself in Assamese. Start with your name, house address, room number, and your dad's profession," Abhishek's senior demanded. What started off as a formal introduction session for Abhishek and his friends soon turned into a nightmare, when the seniors demanded 'a proper introduction'. 

"The boys who were not able to speak properly or clearly were asked to repeat themselves, until and unless our seniors were happy, no matter how many takes it took," Abhishek tells DailyO. This process almost took up the entire night and the next morning.

But they had no idea that it was just the beginning of a three-year nightmare in the Dibrugarh University hostels.

Dibrugarh University, one of the most prestigious universities located in Assam, attracts more than 2,000 students every year. But it is in the news now, after a first-year student jumped off the second floor yesterday, November 27, in order to save himself from the ragging. 

Met with Anand Sharma victim of inhumane ragging in Dibrugarh University & his family at the hospital. He is recuperating but shaken. Dibrugarh Youth Congress submitted a memorandum to DC for the best treatment and counselling to overcome this trauma. pic.twitter.com/a4auAvbUEz

— Dr Angkita Dutta (@angkitadutta) November 28, 2022

Ironically enough, the university filed an FIR in the context of the 'ragging incident'. DailyO analysed the FIR which was filed by the university. Here's what was found:

• The FIR blames five boys for Anand's condition (who is admitted to the hospital and is in a critical condition at the moment).
• One of the five isn't even from the hostel, but an alumnus.
• Anand was physically and mentally assaulted by his seniors from 4 pm in the evening till 5 am, before he jumped off the second floor to save himself. 

Why were they harassing Anand? For everyone who studies at Dibrugarh University and even the teachers, ragging is an accepted part of the culture and something which is accepted as 'hoga hi' (will happen), according to Rohit Biswas*, a first-year student at Dibrugarh University.  

But Anand wrote a complaint to the administration addressing the issue of ragging and how it was affecting him. The complaint stirred the anger of his seniors, who soon began giving him death threats, even as the ragging increased manifold. 

And hence, Anand jumped off the second floor to save himself from the ragging. 

Dibrugarh University: Anand’s family claims he had been complaining of being assaulted by his seniors for months. Despite parents complaining, University Authorities did not act.

RESULT: Anand jumped off & now is in ICU.@himantabiswa, strong regulation on these is a must. pic.twitter.com/4SntXpPpGH

— aboyob bhuyan (@aboyobbhuyan) November 27, 2022

After speaking to the students of Dibrugarh University, it was clear that ragging runs in the veins of the seniors and even 'super seniors (passed-out alumni who still come, stay and go as they please at the university without any allotment of rooms).'

3.5 Years ago in uni hostel I was made to stand on the same table behind the boy and I was singing a song "nawlai pa wleena wleena nawlai" and the seniors were laughing at me.
Today as a senior I'm enjoying & laughing at my juniors 😊#Ragging pic.twitter.com/tAla4ZN6g5

— Wanian Wazir (@WanianWaxir) November 20, 2022

Here are some of the ragging nightmares, as narrated by Rohit and Abhishek: 

'We were asked to flirt with girls and go on dates with them, just to win college elections': For those who would know, elections in colleges are a big deal, and for students at Dibrugarh University and the hostels, the importance of winning the election increases exponentially as the one winning the election would have the upper hand in organising functions, and all the hostels (including seven for boys) associated with the university. 

To win these elections, the seniors of the hostels would often become more aggressive and would often ask freshers to go 'flirt with girls, and take them on dates and bike rides. Why? So that 'the girl could vote for the supported candidate'. 

So, where are the wardens and faculty while seniors torture, harass and mentally and physically injure the freshers? According to students, 'teachers would not like to interfere in hostels' business and the wardens generally don't care or are too afraid to say anything to the seniors'.

Abhishek claims that while new restrictions may be imposed as a result of Anand's incident, everything will soon return to where they were.

The ragging is so severe that several students have, in the past and present, had to move out of the university hostels, say people in the know.

Latest update: The university has rusticated 18 boys in relation to the incident. 

*Names and identity changed