India has created a place in the world for itself. Indians have made their mark felt all around the world. The citizens of this country are living in every part of the world. The people of India are often applauded for a lot of things but one thing, for which, the Indians are constantly criticized is their habit of criticizing anything and everything around them. Very often, it seems that the Indians have formed an eternal habit of complaining and criticizing, even the best of the things. How true is the claim that Indians criticize constantly yet are unable to take any criticism on their own?

 

India has made a lot of progress in the last six decades. It has come a long way from being a colonized state to an independent developing nation. We are the second fastest growing economy in the world. Our economy has taken a boom and still continue to prosper (though slowly) in times when some of the most developed nations in the world, are dealing with recession and a negative growth rate. Yet the Indians continue to criticize what they have created an achieved. Not all criticism is wrong. Underneath the veneer of criticism, sometimes lies the true concerned analysis. 

 

Many a times, the criticism is constructive and is aimed at benefitting the nation and its people. However, more often than not, the criticism is used for creating agendas, political gains etc. On our political scenario, instead of providing the constructive support, the opposition parties are always indulged in criticizing the government, its policies etc. even when there is no need for it. On a larger scale, the constant criticism is used to discredit the government and creating agendas for personal political gains. 

 

The local scene in India is not so different from the national scene. Even on a personal level, people are always indulging in criticism of others and things that they don’t approve of. Often, the habit of constant criticism of the people of India is considered to be coherent with their lack of a sense of humor. There have been many instances in the past where some of the prominent Indians indulged in mindless criticism and posted a wrong impression across the borders. For instance, very recently, one of the famous political leaders of India took a professor to court, for apparently posting a funny cartoon of her on a social media networking site. This was taken as an example by the media. They portrayed Indians as people who constantly criticize but are unable to take any criticism themselves. All this leads to two very valid questions: 

 

1.Why do Indians indulge in mindless criticizing at times?

 

The Indians make a patriotic lot. They are very particular about the way their community or their nation is portrayed. They wish to see everything perfect. Thus, their criticism is a result of their expectations for everything to be right and consequentially, their effort to make things better. However, not all criticism spawns from concern and patriotism. Sometimes, Indians indulge in criticism to satisfy their ego and at other times, Indians criticize only to have a sweet pleasure. At other times, Indians indulge in criticism for entirely personal motifs and it is in these cases, that criticism, instead of becoming constructive becomes destructive and derogatory. The Indians should not make themselves a party to such a criticism. Before criticizing someone or something, it is quite important to put oneself in the person’s shoes and think like them. 

 

2.Is criticizing a good thing? 

 

As long as people are able to see the shades of gray, instead of denouncing them as simply white or black, the fact is that criticizing is not a bad thing after all. Criticism can lead to improved results. However, one should keep in mind that when they criticize something, it is quite important that they highlight the good things about that something. It is best to represent things in clear instead of ambiguous light.  Constant criticism and without reasons, mars the spirit of people and thus, is a wrong thing. However, criticism, with good intentions and intellectually collaborated thoughts can prove to be a stepping stone to success.

 

Criticism can lead to good things. It can lead to efficacy and a more competitive environment. This is beyond doubt that Indians indulge in criticizing and there is nothing wrong with it either. It is only when the Indians begin to criticize unnecessarily, does the problem arise. Apart from this, the Indians do also need to learn to take criticism positively and change things for good with it. 

 

Theodore Roosevelt, the former American President, once said of criticism, “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”

True in a certain way!

 

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