It is very interesting to watch students being ragged in Brazil. This is the beginning of the new batch for freshers in the Federal University of Santa Catrina where the 13th Women's World Congress is being held. When we entered the University I could see a lot of boys and girls standing with small boxes on the roads and people in cars were putting money into it. When I asked a student from the University why were such posh youngsters begging on the roads he laughed and said it is a tradition and much fun and every one knows it and people do not mind giving money. I was informed that these students had to collect money for the whole day and in the night they all have a beer party with the seniors. Unfortunately there was so much traffic in the morning that I could not take a photograph and by the time we returned to our hotel at night the students were no longer on the streets. Today, as I was walking out of the Conference I could see a lot of fresh students who are referred to as Calouros, in Portuguese going around in a big line and the seniors having much fun. There was a big crowd of onlookers too and every one was having much fun. I recorded a small video and did not realise that my voice was also getting recorded. I could not stay for long as my car had come and I had to leave but the student who was accompanying me told me she also had to collect money for the drinks and it is a lot of fun and there is a lot of bonding which happens as a result of all this. I wish ragging in India would have just been a part of fun and frolic and bonding with the seniors and not become ugly so that we did not have to ban it. Here I could see that not only the senior students but even juniors having much fun.
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