Fallen into decadence

The life at IIT Kharagpur, or Kgp, as people here endearingly call it, is/was (?) synonymous with words like OP, poltu, hall sento, GC, gymkhana elections, inter hall brawls etc.

Nobody knows when but things began to change around here, the process infinitesimally slow and intangible. What did not go hand in hand with it, unfortunately, was the comprehension and acceptance of this cultural shift. This I feel is resulting in lapses of understanding between the younger and the elder inhabitants here (juniors and seniors), the former, innocent and clueless, the latter, exasperated and hapless.

The two see and interpret things differently, neither understanding the outlook of the other. The seniors, ofcourse, wield the power, but for some reason that I fail to understand, choose to use it for the worst. 

I could never quite get a grasp of Kgp's obsession with hierarchy. Does the difference of age, of as less as one year, give one to power to rule over the other? Does it obviate the obligations of social etiquettes and courtesies, which are an essential part of any civilised society? 

Or is a barbarian, belligerent attitude such an indispensable part of any Halls success story? What happened to the essential leadership qualities of magnanimity (giving credit where it is due), fairness, humility and assertiveness (NOT aggressiveness). My unfortunate experiences with this place force me to believe that the rules of the game are completely different, possibly irrational over here. 

Some very proudly call it tradition. But then is a tradition without intelligence really worth continuing?

  

Maybe it used to work at some time, but it does't anymore. 

Maybe you were trained into servility and you loved it, but maybe people no longer do.

Maybe you don't see it the way I do, but then you are also the wiser one, to acknowledge the difference.

It is indeed distressing for me to harbor such hurt towards the manner in which things are done here. I do not get the logic behind such malevolent designs. Is it really the so called patriotism for one's Hall and its benefit, or is it something else, something not so obvious? Is it the inherent desire of some people to use (misuse?) power, the satisfaction it gives them to be the puppeteer of fellow human beings? 

One can only speculate.

Whatever it is, I do not want to, and will not, work in an environment where I am not treated with respect.

I have always found it difficult, sometimes impossible, to refuse an earnest request, a sweet word. 

Also, I have always found a demeaning order impossible to accept.