CRITICISM

Criticism is saying or writing something about something or somebody. The critic’s purpose may be to find out the faults in others or simply to appreciate them but mostly many of us take the word ‘criticism’ as something that signifies blame and insult. Everybody criticizes and becomes object of criticism sometime or the other in one’s lifetime. Criticism is the fundamental characteristic of humans. They continuously feel forced to criticize others. We are so accustomed to criticism that we find somebody that never criticizes anybody on any ground as someone with abnormality instead of stoicism. There is the practice of literary criticism also in which one shares his comments on the merits and demerits of a work of art, artist, a period of time or an age with distinct characteristics. Many times, when we appreciate others, out of our affection and respect towards them, they may interpret it wrongly and take it as criticism intended for insulting or irritating them directly or indirectly. Interpretation of others’ words and expressions is a difficult assignment altogether. It leads to misunderstanding and conflicts in families and societies regularly. Since most of the human beings, living on this earth planet, are sensitive to a great extent, they cannot accept criticism as easily as they can do with appreciation. In fact, most of us are thinking and doing a lot just for recognition and appreciation by others, but not to satisfy our individual interests or egos alone.

Generally the status of a person allows him or her to criticize others or be an object of criticism.

1. Parents often criticize their children even for negligible mistakes. They think that they have an authority to do so and correct them but children get hurt frequently because of such insensitive behavior of their parents and elders. Some typical statements by parents and elders are: a. You have no discipline. b. Just do what I said. c. Don’t tell lies. d. You are not listening to me. e. You have got a bad gang of friends. f. You have no focus on your studies. g. You should know how to organize your things. h. You are wasting your valuable time. In fact, parents fail to do many of the things they dictate to their children at homes. Since children are vulnerable creatures as dependents on the mercy of their parents, they generally don’t talk back with them. Every day a lot of abuse is taking place across the country against children from parents. Outsiders neglect such nuisance considering it a family affair.

2. Superiors often criticize their subordinates in workplaces, both in private and public and organized and unorganized sectors, almost in every country. One with lower designation and less earning capability in comparison to the other allows the other to criticize one. Some insensitive and immoral bosses make it a habit to criticize their staff almost regularly. They think that they can achieve great results just only by scolding others. I know about bosses, who scold any employee just like that, in any place, without minding the self-respect of the other. Those, who appear as great employers in public places are, in fact, known as the worst ones by their employees. Many bosses fail to realize that we cannot change others just by baseless criticism but by generosity and soft language.

3. Criticism is a fundamental characteristic of common people also. They always expect the governments to do great things for them. They think very little and work at their level to change to the better. Their criticism generally includes: a. Everybody is corrupt in the government (Are you living doing the right things only in the right manner always as an individual?). b. They are doing jobs just for their salaries and other benefits but not out of service attitude towards common people (What are you doing without expecting anything from others in your family, community or region?) c. Politicians are earning crores of rupees and many assets looting public money (How many of you are questioning and beating them publicly when they come to your places to talk nonsense? If you have no guts to do it, who will do it for you?) d. The prices of all commodities increased a lot (Are you selling your goods at the cheapest prices to all before questioning others?) e. They are distributing liquor, money and other gifts to woe voters during times of election (Why are you taking from them when you know that it is wrong, illegal and avoidable?) It means the common are habitual critics in almost every country. They cannot lead their lives without criticizing the governments or others. They appear as the worst blokes from this perspective, blocking progress!

4. Media, police and judiciary are also actively engaged in the pursuit of criticism. They often criticize various sections of people and systems around them but seldom follow moral standards and values at their level. Why should newspapers be distributed by boys of little age if legally child labour is an offence, about which media talks a lot on public platforms and in their own periodicals and on television channels? Police tell us many rules before subjecting us to some case on some ground but how many of them are doing duties as per the law made for them? Lawyers and judges talk a lot about virtues and constitutional doctrines in courts of law at various levels but how many lawyers and judges are being punished on this holy land of India for the kinds of wrongdoings and misdeeds they are involved in? We are all actually scared of these entities because they have no standards of their own. 

Criticism can be broadly categorized as shallow criticism and constructive criticism. Most of what we discussed above is shallow criticism. It is casual, baseless, immoral and illegal to the core. They do it against anybody or anything just like that, without thinking much why they are behaving so. Progressive change does not take place due to shallow criticism. It is useful to vent our suppressed feelings, ulterior motives, grudges, false prestige and egos but not to reform a person, a society or an organization. It is present almost everywhere, even in temples. Can we think a priest, who professes morals and standards to his devotees or followers, never criticizes others without a strong reason? Like air and sky, shallow criticism pervades all parts of human habitations. It is like an inevitable infection among humans. I criticize you because somebody else criticized me a little while ago. You criticize somebody else because you cannot aim it at me immediately for some reasons. He or she, the third person, criticizes others to satisfy his or her hurt complex immediately to some extent at least. It is a chain of events spreading from one to one slowly but powerfully. Let’s examine some examples to understand shallow criticism better.

1. Teachers often criticizing their students projecting the latter as undisciplined and foolish blokes.

2. Superiors criticizing their subordinates presenting them as irresponsible, irregular and worthless idiots.

3. Police criticizing criminals and prostitutes stating that the latter have no fear of law and order system.

4. Celebrities criticizing media folks as immoral ones when something is shown or written about them somewhere.

5. Customers criticizing shopkeepers for selling fake goods and offering inefficient services now and then.

6. Family members criticizing each other for the faults committed by each of them regularly.

7. Politicians criticizing the folks of other parties as if they are the followers of Lord Rama or Satya Harischandra!

8. Drunkards criticizing the governments and liquor stores for looting their hard-earned money indirectly.     

Shallow criticism often sounds as unbearable nuisance and nonsense to external observers because it happens in various forms around them regularly and they have no authority to directly interfere in it and stop it on the spot. It is just aiming a few abusive words at others without expecting any positive results from that pursuit. It is an outlet for our stupidity, eccentricity and foolishness. It presents us to others as worthless idiots at times but we don’t mind it. It tarnishes our image to a great degree but we ignore it until a disaster occurs. Shallow criticism harms us powerfully. Let’s check some basic qualities of shallow criticism. It must help us to be away from that dangerous disease.

1. Shallow criticism mostly emerges from persons of low standards and values.

2. It further ruins the existing unhealthy environment, adding fuel to fire.

3. It can be done by anybody, anytime, anywhere and it means that it is a tool of any fool or rogue.

4. Others take it easy or neglect altogether because it is the weapon of narrow-minded and cowardly blokes.

5. It points out problems and causes for something wrong or bad but not solutions to get rid of them forever.

6. We don’t need intelligence, creativity or generosity to do it but a little ignorance and a lot of carelessness.

7. It hurts people immediately but the negative results may surface after a week, a year or a decade.

8. It is an easily prepared weapon of weak persons aimed at helpless and vulnerable ones in access.

So, shallow criticism is a devil among us. It attacks us anytime. We must train ourselves to get rid of it as much as possible; the early the better. We must cultivate the habit of offering and accepting constructive criticism to improve ourselves continuously towards being better human beings day by day. Criticism allows us to rate ourselves well.

Constructive criticism aims at both identifying the problem softly and solving it pleasantly and intelligently as early as possible. It is necessary for intellectual and cultural change of an individual, a society, a company or a country. Constructive criticism does not take place as frequently as shallow criticism because it is an intelligent and planned tool of those possessing the qualities of idealism, generosity, social reformation and spiritual transformation. It recognizes both the good and bad qualities in others equally and treats both alike before trying to further change them to the next level of transformation. Kindness, broad thinking, intelligence, strategy, universal fraternity, unconditional love lead one towards understanding and practicing constructive criticism towards others. It is inclusive culture aiming at larger goals, which take a lot of time and efforts from all those involved in it. It is an open platform whereon everybody gets a chance to speak out the truth as understood by him or her. Nobody suppresses the other based on designation or status but facilitates a holistic culture to respect and develop all equally utilizing their skills and experiences in the long run. Constructive criticism illuminates our lives slowly because its fundamental motive is ‘positive change through accepting truths’. Let’s examine some examples of this virtue.

1. A doctor advising an obesity victim to avoid all his bad habits, not just taking tablets and tonics.

2. A professor advising his poor student how to change his life beyond the sphere of academic pursuits.

3. A kind jailer showing a way of ideal self-employment to a prisoner going out of that environment.

4. A lawyer holding local camps out of personal interest to educate innocent people on ways of good life.

5. An ideal and intelligent boss conducting classes regularly to improve his employees through his words.

6. A pimp helping a destitute prostitute to live ideally and happily going away from that painful domain.

7. A social activist teaching innocent and helpless people in a region to develop on their own in the long run.  

8. Journalists and thinkers teaching policymakers how to make and implement great policies and acts.

Constructive criticism always does not aim at achieving short-term goals or immediate achievements. Those involved in it realize that every problem does not have an immediate solution. Before advising others, they think deeply or work on issues analytically and logically to find out permanent solutions to them. They want to change others after changing at their level to the maximum possible extent. The base for all the happiness, comforts and development we are witnessing today across the world is constructive criticism. Every great achievement starts from a dream. A lot of time and efforts are needed to take a dream up to the level of its complete achievement. One commits a lot of mistakes in this process or transformation. There must be one, some or many to guide one in this difficult process of discovery and implementation of ideas and innovations. We need a lot of mentoring in our journey from one milestone to another. The guidance of words we desire in this long journey may emerge from a number of people. Sometimes a very poor and foolish person may also offer an extraordinary advice to a billionaire and be the source of inspiration to start a huge kingdom of opportunities and celebrations. Everybody is capable of offering and utilizing constructive criticism. It is enough if they realize that they have that potential and wish to help and develop others also. Constructive criticism looks simple but achieves extraordinary results. We must request others regularly to offer constructive criticism, words to change ourselves positively fast, to improve at our level continuously. Others may, often, hesitate to offer it proactively, being unaware of our outlook and fearing consequences. So, we must take the initiative to seek others to offer advice generously for our improvement.

The following are the characteracteristics of constructive criticism, which we can utilize at our level.

1. Giving others a chance to criticize us so that we can improve at our level in tune to their expectations from us.

2. Change taking place at all levels due to exchange of open advice among participants of a system or society.

3. Nobody gets hurt because everybody is open to know anything from others and change accordingly.

4. It is base for progress and happiness because without sharing inputs from others, we cannot develop much.

5. Status of a person is not important for it but how he or she is trying to address the issue at hand easily.

6. Regular learning is important to offer it because if we don’t learn much, we cannot advise anybody much.

7. Since it aims at welfare of everybody around, there is no scope for grudge, retaliation and pain here much.

8. Constructive criticism never focuses on a victim but on resolution of issues making many such victims.

9. Constructive criticism from interest groups can solve burning issues within seconds also at times.

10. It may emerge from those also whom we identify as the most negligible and helpless ones in our circles.

11. It is a fruit of individual or collective thinking aimed at achievement of ideals meant for all.

12. There must be absolute freedom and culture of encouragement for constructive criticism to emerge much.

13. It should not discuss just the concepts of ‘profit’ and ‘loss’ but ‘good’ and ‘bad’ also compulsorily.

14. Constructive criticism is a result of ideal thoughts and pursuits conducted by those with standards and values.

15. How one can benefit from it depends on various factors like circumstances, just not one’s fate or capabilities.

16. It is like a patient guide leading us towards light from a series of paths and events of darkness and pains.

Before concluding our discussion of criticism, let’s identify some miscellaneous points and observations related to this concept. It helps you know where you are now in this direction and to where you should go, if you want!

1. Just because somebody called you a fool, you are not a fool. Many throw shallow criticism at you like we throw garbage in open places around our houses. Realize that many idiots and rogues also interact with you often. You need not take most of shallow criticism seriously because it hurts you and curtails your growth as an individual.

2. Intelligent and strategic people are those who benefit even from shallow criticism. If many are criticizing you unnecessarily, it means you allowed them to talk nonsense against you just like that. It is time for you to remove the figures of such people from your list of consideration forever. Throw them out. Why idiots as your friends?

3. Shallow criticism hurts you directly or indirectly, now or later. Take it easy. They may have talked so with you in moments of hurry or absentmindedness. Very few have time and interest to talk about you after a deep analysis of your character and life. They are also busy like you. Forgive them readily if they did it without meaning it.

4. Life is a process of challenges, wonders and pains. Don’t expect it to be cool, soft and comfortable always. Your life becomes boring if anybody does not say or write anything about you somewhere. We crave inclusion and participation. When we are among many, anything may happen. Shallow criticism is also one of those petty issues.

5. Constructive criticism need not be always from others only. It emerges from you regularly. Your conscience is the constant source of constructive criticism. Listen to your inner voice of advice always. Respect it. Follow its orders obediently. Self-reformation is surprisingly possible this way. God did not send you into this world like an orphan.

6. Constructive criticism may not be in a lot of words from others. It may be in one or two words also. It’s not just words that matter but who and why told them to you. An extraordinary person’s two words may transform you more powerfully than a thousand words of an ordinary person from your perspective. It depends on how much you value that person also. You have some yardsticks to assess the worth of others. Respect your judgment also often.

7. Sometimes constructive criticism may be as bitter as poison and as sharp as a knife. Perhaps it is something that you never thought would occur sometime in your life. Somebody anyway did it towards you. Don’t cry or spend alone. Accept your faults honestly. Think that God is showing you a way to come out of that pit of filth. Reorient your life according to the essence of constructive criticism offered by that great or ordinary person. Time and tide wait for none. If we fail to assess ourselves well, God does it differently now and then. Be grateful to Him silently.

8. Nobody is born with 100% virtues and related feelings and genes installed in him or her. We take births and rebirths to live our Karma. Don’t worry about disused and misused periods of time in your life or profession. Many are going through those experiences. You have potential to become a saint from the stage of a sinner also. Once the transformation instinct is on in you, you can change your life in unbelievably short time. Just start changing.

9. Constructive criticism need not be always from those that you respect and love a lot but those also whom you never saw. An old torn piece of printed paper may also inspire you and transform you tremendously. Let me put it in a little story, “A billionaire earned a lot of money and assets. He enjoyed every luxury a human can imagine. He experienced every sensuous pleasure we dream of. One day all his kingdom of achievements and bliss collapsed due to a mishap. He despised his life. He is walking alone towards sea to jump in it and die. On the way, he saw a sheet of printed paper floating in air. He caught and read it. It said ‘If you celebrate your life, it is passion. If you sacrifice your life for others, it is mission. If you find your happiness in others’ bliss, it is participation. Man must be a participant in the beautiful game of God. Go and play it again. Never stop playing. I am watching it here’. He ran back to restart his life. He enjoyed that life long and died peacefully among thousands of his well-wishers”. So, ideal participation in this game of God is our role. Let’s play it beautifully to satisfy our creator. Accept life as it prevails.

10. Those that offer you constructive criticism may not be as great as you expect them to be. A pauper who lost everything in his life due to various mistakes and demerits in his outlook may tell you a few words of caution. A doctor, who is suffering from throat cancer because of smoking habit, might advise you never to smoke in life. A shabby saint may advise you not to shun family to reach God through meditation urgently. A flood victim may advise you to learn swimming. We don’t know who advises us when and why without our request or interest. Don’t assess his or her value looking at their appearance or status of living. Perhaps it may be God’s message to you that way. Learn lessons from those also who could not improve their lives applying their intelligence and vision. Every professional needs the help and guidance of other professionals sometimes. They were born to advise you free of cost. You were born to build a treasure of achievements based on those great words from negligible ones!     

If you want to live a life beyond the considerations of shallow and constructive criticism also, there is a path of excellence…that is of silence. Don’t advise anybody. Don’t acknowledge advice from others. Keep doing great things silently. Our achievements speak louder than our words at times. In human history, we can see a number of stars, who shone in their lives through their silent achievements. If words are a cause of disturbance on your way of ideals and achievements, silence is its ornament. You look more attractive to everybody in that status of life also.