Samay Raina Was Bullied As A Child For This Reason: Know If Your Child Is Being Bullied Too

The recent incidents of bullying and harassment among students in India have raised an alarm, prompting widespread discussions. Indian stand-up comedian and YouTuber Samay Raina who has found himself in the center of controversy following a remark by guest judge Ranveer Allahbadia in his show, India's Got Latent, also opened up about being bullied in school when he was a child. The reason may surprise you. Read to know. 

In a podcast with PG Radio, Samay shared “I was the most different guy in the school because of my skin color. But it was a prestigious school. I had seen how my mother and father had afforded even that school. I remember I used to cry on the bus. When I used to come down from the bus, my mother would be standing there,” 

Samay, like many children, chose to keep it to himself and not involve his parents because he didn’t want his parents' hard work to go in vain. “I couldn’t tell her because I saw how they put me in the school. So, I used to wipe my tears and tell her ‘what a day it was’. It helped me somehow to become this guy who can manage his feelings. I can talk to you, I can show you something else, but inside, I am feeling something else. You won’t even realise.” he shared

Recently, a 15-year-old boy, Mihir Ahammed from Kochi ended his life after reportedly being bullied and ragged by his classmates for his skin tone. The class 9 student was allegedly made to lick the toilet seat and his head was shoved into the pot. Read A Mother’s Plea For Justice: How A Young Boy’s Life Was Cut Short By Brutal Ragging to know more.

Signs Of Bullying In Children 

Bullying can have a deep emotional and psychological impact on preteens and teens. Many children may not even speak about it openly. This could be due to the fear of retaliation, as they feel that the bully/bullies will target them even more. Embarrassment, shame, and lack of trust could also be the reason why some children choose to endure silently. 

Here are some signs of bullying you should not ignore as a parent:

1. Sudden changes in the child’s behaviour. For instance, your child may be quieter than usual or seem withdrawn. Some children may even become aggressive, verbally and physically.

2. Change in eating habits and sleep patterns. For instance, some children will stop eating, others may start stress eating, some may not be able to fall asleep and others will sleep most of the time. 

3. Physical discomfort and pain may also be experienced by some children post-bullying. These include stomach ache, headache, and nausea. 

4. They isolate themselves and avoid their friends, school, and even social media. Your child will make excuses for not going to school and you might even notice a drop in their grades. 

5. You may notice signs of physical assault like bruises, torn uniforms, stains on clothes, and damaged/lost belongings. 

If you see any of these signs, talk to your child in a very gentle manner. If you feel your child is hesitant do not force them, rather focus on reassuring them and letting them know you have got their back no matter what.