This is the explanation of "bashing" that I found on Wikipedia.

Bashing is a harsh, gratuitous, prejudicial attack on a person, group or subject. When it is used as a suffix or in conjunction with a noun indicating the subject being attacked, it is normally used to imply a sense of uncompromising vehemence and bigotry about the assailant. (There are many such instances in this article e.g. India-bashing, America-bashing, IIT-bashing etc.) Topics which attract bashing tend to be personally sensitive topics for the bashers, the victims or both.

It further says, physical bashing is differentiated from regular assault because it is a motivated assault. This aspect of the definition of bashing overlaps with that of "hate crime" and other incidents of motivated assault. In non-physical bashing, the term is used to imply that a verbal or critical attack is similarly unacceptable and similarly prejudicial. Use of the term in this manner is an 'abusive ad hominem' action.

I guess the author meant "constructive criticism" when he said “Life will become very difficult without ‘bashing’ ". And I agree that criticism should be taken with a "Nindak niyare raakhiye..." kind of an attitude.

Anyway, what made me comment to this article was not the improper usage of a word, but the statement- "To degrade India somebody will compare it with Somalia or Tanzania and not with America". It reminded me of the movie - "Hotel Rwanda". The genocide during the civil war of Rwanda killed 'more than a million’ of people. But, it could draw little concern from the developing and the developed world. The clips were shown on the news channels then, but as one character in the film says, "If people see this footage, they'll go, 'Oh my God! That's horrible!' then go on eating their dinner."

Why would India be degraded if compared with Tanzania and Somalia? Is it just because they are one of the poorest countries? We too were slaves till 1947. We have been facing similar health problems of malaria, tuberculosis, AIDS.

Here are some facts about Tanzania. The United Republic of Tanzania is a member of Commonwealth group of nations. Tanzania has registered a growth rate of about 5.5 per cent — one of the highest in Africa. With the help of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), large deposits of natural gas have been discovered there. India is one of the leading importers of raw cashew nuts from Tanzania. Although we produce more cashew nuts than Tanzania, we have good processing facilities here, and so we import it too. India has been providing training opportunities to Tanzanian nationals under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Program, in various Indian training institutes. Two years back, on his visit to Tanzania, President Kalam had sought Tanzania's support to secure a permanent seat for India in the Security Council.

Tanzania is the origin of the "gemstone of the 20th century" - Tanzanite. The Tanzanian government has banned the export of unprocessed tanzanite to India (most tanzanite is cut in Jaipur). The ban attempts to boost local processing facilities in Tanzania. This has posed a serious situation for the city of Jaipur, as one-third of its annual gem exports are of tanzanite.

If we think of Tanzania as a country which would degrade us just by being compared with, do we have any moral right to ask for their support to get us a permanent seat in Security Council? It's not just about Tanzania; take any of the poor countries of Africa for that matter. The rest of the world still does not treat them equal. There was so much of hue and cry over a statement made by a leader, in which he compared Bihari students in Maharashtra with the Africans. The leader and the protestors, both consider richness/sophistication to be a synonym of civilization. The statement should have been condemned for it was meant to insult ‘both the Biharis and the Africans’ (by calling them uncivilized), and not because it insulted Biharis ‘by comparing them with’ Africans. If India cannot develop without Bihar being developed, the same logic goes for the world and Africa.

The article talked of a hidden desire to see our country prosper and grow like America. I too, want India to prosper, but not "like America" or any other developed country. When I say "not like America", it's not about the culture and blah blah. I have my own picture of India of my dreams. The country, which once led the world with the message of "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam"- The world is a family, the world- including Somalia and Tanzania. - Kumod Jha - Apr. 24, 2006

"Nindak niyare raakhiye..." wrote Saint Kabir. This line has been oft quoted by self appointed Nindaks. They convince the victim that they are doing him a favor by being a free Nindak. Look you do not have to pay for the constant Ninda so listen to my incessant Ninda and be thankful. However, they will not help, they are clear on this point, never expect help, time or money from them as that is not in their scope. They are only plain Nindaks and not your well wisher with some emotional attachments for you. They are Nindaks who have grown up in critical environments and have become compulsive fault finders. The egg heads with all the solutions but no will to do anything.

None of us, no family, no friend, no society is fault free. There is always scope for improvement. Do they do ninda liberally? At home, at office and among friends they do not offer continuous free ninda and tell them "Nindak niyare raakhiye..." as they will return the ninda and on protest repeat the same line. That is too dangerous. They only offer Ninda about others far away. Ninda can be due to deep concern or as a vent of hollow criticism. If it has roots in deep concern the Nindak will be very supportive and will go all out to help. If not, the Nindak is a weak critic who throws punches in the air as air does not punch back. - Rajesh Chaubey - Apr. 24, 2006

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