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Ninda ( ਨਿੰਦਾ ninḝĝ) or Nindeya are words in Punjabi which mean to slander, slur, backbite or smear and are words used to describe a defamatory or negative statement made about someone. The derogatory account is usually made when the person about whom the venom is being spat is not present or is not within ear-shot of the conversation.
This type of harmful speech (called "Nindeya") is usually carried out to cause harm to the other person, to ruin the other person's reputation or generally to denigrate the other person's status. The main reason and motivation for slandering is that it gives the maker of the slander "satisfaction" as it makes them feel important and they feel they are "better" and more "righteous" than the person being slandered. The Sikh Gurus condemn this action and write against this ugly habit.
"ਪਰ ਨਿੰਦਾ ਕਰੇ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਮਲ ਲਾਝ ॥ ਬਾਹਰਿ ਮਲ ਧੋਵੈ ਮਨ ਕੀ ਜੂਠਿ ਨ ਜਾਝ ॥" "Par ninḝĝ karė anṯar mal lĝė. Bĝhar mal ḝẖovai man kī jūṯẖ na jĝė." "He slanders others, and pollutes himself with his own filth. Outwardly, he washes off the filth, but the impurity of his mind does not go away." (SGGS p 88)
By performing Nindeya, one pollutes ones own mind. When a person wants to tell a negative about someone else, it is the motivation that causes harm to the person doing the "nindeya". If you want to tell your friends something negative about another person - stop! Remember, the wise words of the Guru. If you are a Gurmukh move on to something else. Never engage in negative discussions about someone who is not present. .....More
