"Don't wear stripes", they said!
"Or checks! They'll make you count them. No long sleeves, no bright colors either, don't tuck in your shirt, wear simple pants, no jeans, don't wear shoes, only slippers and don't even think about snazzy sneakers."
I don't remember who said it, but it pretty much made up the playbook for 'How not to become an obvious target for ragging'. What they didn't tell me was that I was going to get ragged anyway, just not on these!
I had also heard other stories. From fun - like making a bunch of freshers go dancing around the college bus saying, "Aiya! Bus vandhachu (Oh what fun! The bus is here), to fatal - enough said.
"It's all in good spirit", they'd also said. "Ragging is how you build a relationship with your seniors because eventually they will give you their books, advice and who knows, even career opportunities."
But I wasn't exactly the bravest of men (read: "I was s#!+ scared")! So, it was with mixed feelings (more like sense of terror) that I looked forward to College.
I decided to prepare! But a look at my wardrobe only made my heart sink further. Not that I had any bright colored shirts (not with my skin color), but I seemed to have a penchant for long sleeves, stripes & checks.
My options really reduced to a white, polo style t-shirt I used for cricket or the white short-sleeved shirt from my school uniform! And given a bright red manufacturer's logo on the t-shirt that alluded to a famous cricketer (Sunny), I decided it was better to go with the school shirt, even if it meant that I would have to painstakingly un-sew the school monogram that was stitched on to its pocket. Even if I had outgrown it.
With plain black trousers and sandals (from Bata) to match, I felt ready when the day arrived. I was careful not to wear a watch and to smear my forehead with sacred ash and vermilion. I prayed every minute.
So much for all the hard work, I don't even remember how the first day went! I tend to think it was mostly uneventful, because sooner than I knew it, I was walking down the long pathway leading to the bus stop.
I was almost there, when, "What mighty arms?", I heard a voice say. Certain that the reference was not to me (but fearful that it might be), I scurried to fulfill those few steps that would get me to safety. But the "Hey You!", that followed told me that it was indeed being made to me, much to my horror and despite my frailty.
"What is your name?", was the first question, followed by "Which school did you go to?" and "Where are you from?" They got to the point (there were 2 seniors) once I had answered them satisfactorily.
"Why are you wearing such a tight shirt?", one of them asked me. "I was told to look simple and I couldn't find anything else", I muttered, still in fear. "You don't have to be afraid, but don't wear this anymore", said the other. "There's a bus due in 2 minutes, so come along. Let's get to know you better on the way home", said the first, even as he threw his arms over my shoulder.
I stayed scared for the best part of my first year at Sri Venkateswara College of Engineering, but the only ragging I really remember being subject to was having to run around the college cricket field on a hot afternoon with a twig in my right hand, held high to signify the Olympic torch.
But all day on Sunday, 10 Aug 14, I've only remembered little things from those 4 memorable years I spent there.
For, it all began, 24 years ago, today...
I had also heard other stories. From fun - like making a bunch of freshers go dancing around the college bus saying, "Aiya! Bus vandhachu (Oh what fun! The bus is here), to fatal - enough said.
"It's all in good spirit", they'd also said. "Ragging is how you build a relationship with your seniors because eventually they will give you their books, advice and who knows, even career opportunities."
But I wasn't exactly the bravest of men (read: "I was s#!+ scared")! So, it was with mixed feelings (more like sense of terror) that I looked forward to College.
I decided to prepare! But a look at my wardrobe only made my heart sink further. Not that I had any bright colored shirts (not with my skin color), but I seemed to have a penchant for long sleeves, stripes & checks.
My options really reduced to a white, polo style t-shirt I used for cricket or the white short-sleeved shirt from my school uniform! And given a bright red manufacturer's logo on the t-shirt that alluded to a famous cricketer (Sunny), I decided it was better to go with the school shirt, even if it meant that I would have to painstakingly un-sew the school monogram that was stitched on to its pocket. Even if I had outgrown it.
With plain black trousers and sandals (from Bata) to match, I felt ready when the day arrived. I was careful not to wear a watch and to smear my forehead with sacred ash and vermilion. I prayed every minute.
So much for all the hard work, I don't even remember how the first day went! I tend to think it was mostly uneventful, because sooner than I knew it, I was walking down the long pathway leading to the bus stop.
I was almost there, when, "What mighty arms?", I heard a voice say. Certain that the reference was not to me (but fearful that it might be), I scurried to fulfill those few steps that would get me to safety. But the "Hey You!", that followed told me that it was indeed being made to me, much to my horror and despite my frailty.
"What is your name?", was the first question, followed by "Which school did you go to?" and "Where are you from?" They got to the point (there were 2 seniors) once I had answered them satisfactorily.
"Why are you wearing such a tight shirt?", one of them asked me. "I was told to look simple and I couldn't find anything else", I muttered, still in fear. "You don't have to be afraid, but don't wear this anymore", said the other. "There's a bus due in 2 minutes, so come along. Let's get to know you better on the way home", said the first, even as he threw his arms over my shoulder.
I stayed scared for the best part of my first year at Sri Venkateswara College of Engineering, but the only ragging I really remember being subject to was having to run around the college cricket field on a hot afternoon with a twig in my right hand, held high to signify the Olympic torch.
But all day on Sunday, 10 Aug 14, I've only remembered little things from those 4 memorable years I spent there.
For, it all began, 24 years ago, today...
