Hindi English Translation || Editorial || Alarming turn: On the situation in Manipur

Alarming turn: On the situation in Manipur

A return to normalcy (सामान्यता) in Manipur requires concerted (ठोस) action by government and civil society (नागरिक समाज)

Violence has flared again in Manipur, merely three weeks after conflagrations (flames, blaze, fire, firestorm, inferno) resulted in scores of deaths and the displacement (विस्थापन) of people in Churachandpur and Imphal in particular. Alarmingly (चिंताजनक, संकटपूर्वक), what began as protests against an order by the High Court of Manipur, on March 27, seeking the inclusion of the Meitei community into the State’s Scheduled Tribe list, has taken a grotesque (outrageous, inappropriate, shocking, unbelievable) turn, with representatives (प्रतिनिधि) of the Kuki-Zomi community (The Kuki people are an ethnic group native to the state of Manipur and other states in northeastern India. The “Mizo” (poetic version of “Zomi”), people are a ethnic group native to the Indian state of Mizoram and neighbouring regions of Northeast India) including BJP MLAs seeking a “separate administration (प्रशासन, सरकार)”. This situation should never have come to such a pass. While inter-community relations have occasionally (कभी-कभी) led to flare-ups (भड़कना) and remained tense for years together, the conflagrations in May mark (represent, indicate, denote, signify, show) a degradation (breakdown, decay, deterioration, degeneration, decline) in hill-valley relations and a complete failure of the government in curbing (control, contain, restrict, limit) violence committed by radicals (extremist, fanatical, militant) and miscreants (बदमाश, अपराधी) present in the Meitei and Kuki-Zomi communities. Partially, this was a consequence (परिणाम) of the inability (अक्षमता, असमर्थता) of the State government led by the BJP Chief Minister, N. Biren Singh, to rise above (to not be affected by troubles) the fray and to act in a manner that was unbiased (निष्पक्ष, तटस्थ) against particular communities. The government’s so-called (तथाकथित) anti-poppy cultivation (the act of growing something, especially crops) drives (initiative) that were seen as moves (activity, step, measure) against the Kuki-Zomi hill dwellers (native community, local people, (permanent) resident), raised their ire, while the High Court’s single judge Bench’s (a court of law with a number of judges) ill-thought-out (not carefully considered, not carefully planned, misconceived/badly planned) order — as the Chief Justice of India, D.Y. Chandrachud, himself observed (comment, say, state, mention) as being violative (subjected to violation (breach, contravention, infringement, breaking, non-observance)) of a 23-year-old Constitution Bench (a bench of the Supreme Court having five or more judges on it. These benches are not a routine phenomenon. Constitution Benches are exceptions, set up only if some circumstances exist)) judgment — exacerbated (intensify, heighten, increase; aggravate, worsen, make worse) the situation. The government was unable to prevent the spiralling (the process of increase/decrease of something) of violence in Churachandpur and Imphal, suggesting the current regime’s (government) incompetence.

The State government (inability, lack of ability, incapability, incapacity) must get its act together, with the help of the Centre, to bring back (cause someone/something to return to; reintroduce) normalcy by increasing patrolling (watching/guarding an area (over a period of time)) of paramilitary ((of semi-militarized force) organized like a military force) and police forces in riot-torn (severely damaged by a riot) areas, providing relief (aid, assistance, succour) to displaced people and curtailing (reduce, diminish, decrease, cut, lower, lessen) the influence of militant sections. A plan to allow the return of those displaced to their homes in the medium term must also be put into order (arrange, organize; complete, achieve) with the help of the security forces. Not doing so only plays into the hands of chauvinists (sectarian, isolationist, jingoistic; excessively patriotic/nationalistic person) from either side who emphasise (underscore, underline, highlight, stress, call/draw attention to) differences, disharmony (discord, friction, conflict, hostility) and separation — all of which will be disastrous (terrible/horrible, shocking, unfortunate, ill-fated, detrimental) for the State in the long term (in the future; ultimately, finally). The Union government cannot remain nonchalant (casual, unconcerned, indifferent, dispassionate, apathetic, laid-back) about the turn of events (development, outcome). Manipur, like some of the other northeastern States, needs to promote a civic consciousness (In a broad sense, modern civic consciousness consists of the following aspects: the initiative knowledge of the relationship between individuals and the state or society; the rational cognition (sensible understanding) of citizenship, civic rights and liabilities and civic virtues; the internalization and identification of the social behavioral norms and basic values) among its citizens that will allow them to rise above ethnic (relating to a population subgroup (cultural, national, traditional/folk) with a common national or cultural tradition) identities (a social category, a set of persons marked by a label and distinguished by rules deciding membership and (alleged) characteristic features or attributes; individuality, character, originality) to differentiate (change, alter, transform) themselves. With trust fraying between community leaders and State government representatives, it is incumbent (binding, obligatory, mandatory, necessary; required, essential, imperative) upon civil society members, within and outside Manipur, to take up (become involved in, engage in, participate in, take part in) the cause of rebuilding inter-community ties (relationship, bond, connection) and not letting chauvinist and militant groups hijack (seize, take over, commandeer (something unlawfully)) the role of representation.

Courtesy: The Hindu

Important Word List With Meaning

1.alarming (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - खतरनाक, चिंताजनक
English Meaning - worrying, disturbing, shocking, distressing.

2.normalcy (noun)

Hindi Meaning - सामान्यता
English Meaning - a normal condition; normality, regularity.

3.concerted (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - ठोस
English Meaning - involving a lot of people coming together & doing something with great effort; strenuous, vigorous, energetic, determined, active, intense; coordinated, collaborative, collective, combined, joint.

4.civil society (noun)

Hindi Meaning - नागरिक समाज
English Meaning - it is the space outside the family, public sector (government & its branches) and private sector (businesses and corporations). It now signifies a wide range of organised and organic groups including non governmental organisations (NGOs), trade unions, social movements, grassroots organisations, online networks and communities, and faith groups.

5.displacement (noun)

Hindi Meaning - विस्थापन
English Meaning - a forced removal/departure of people from their homes, mainly due to war/natural disaster/persecution.

6.alarmingly (adverb)

Hindi Meaning - चिंताजनक, संकटपूर्वक
English Meaning - disturbingly, worryingly.

7.representative (noun)

Hindi Meaning - प्रतिनिधि
English Meaning - official, spokesperson, agency.

8.administration (noun)

Hindi Meaning - प्रशासन, सरकार
English Meaning - government, regime, authority.

9.occasionally (adverb)

Hindi Meaning - कभी-कभी
English Meaning - sometimes, at times, now and then.

10.flare-up (noun)

Hindi Meaning - भड़कना
English Meaning - (sudden) outburst, eruption, blow-up (of hostility).

11.miscreant (noun)

Hindi Meaning - बदमाश, अपराधी
English Meaning - law-breaker, wrongdoer, offender.

12.consequence (noun)

Hindi Meaning - परिणाम
English Meaning - result, outcome, ramification, repercussion, aftermath.

13.inability (noun)

Hindi Meaning - अक्षमता, असमर्थता
English Meaning - incapability, incapacity, powerlessness, helplessness.

14.unbiased (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - निष्पक्ष, तटस्थ
English Meaning - impartial, neutral, non-partisan.

15.so-called (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - तथाकथित
English Meaning - alleged, supposed, professed, purported.

16.turn (noun)

English Meaning - change of direction, change of course, divergence.

17.flare (verb)

English Meaning - reoccur, reappear, flare up, break out, burst out, start suddenly, erupt.

18.result in (verb)

English Meaning - lead to, cause, bring on, bring about, give rise to.

19.merely (adverb)

English Meaning - only, just.

20.conflagration (noun)

English Meaning - flames, blaze, fire, firestorm, inferno.

21.scores of (adjective)

English Meaning - a lot of something; several, various, many, countless, numerous, innumerable.

22.in particular (phrase)

English Meaning - particularly, specifically, especially.

23.seek (verb)

English Meaning - request, ask for, appeal for.

24.Meitei/Manipuri people (noun)

English Meaning - an ethnic group native to the state of Manipur in northeastern India. Meitei people also called Manipuri, dominant population of Manipur in northeastern India.

25.grotesque (adjective)

English Meaning - outrageous, inappropriate, shocking, unbelievable.

26.Kuki-Zomi community (noun)

English Meaning - The Kuki people are an ethnic group native to the state of Manipur and other states in northeastern India. The “Mizo” (poetic version of “Zomi”), people are a ethnic group native to the Indian state of Mizoram and neighbouring regions of Northeast India.

27.come to pass (phrase)

English Meaning - happen, occur, take place, transpire, come about, befall.

28.inter- (prefix)

English Meaning - between.

29.led past participle of lead to (verb)

English Meaning - result in, cause, bring on, bring about, give rise to.

30.mark (verb)

English Meaning - represent, indicate, denote, signify, show.

31.degradation (noun)

English Meaning - breakdown, decay, deterioration, degeneration, decline.

32.valley (noun)

English Meaning - a low area between hills or mountains typically with a river running through it.

33.curb (verb)

English Meaning - control, contain, restrict, limit.

34.radical (adjective)

English Meaning - extremist, fanatical, militant.

35.rise above (noun)

English Meaning - to not be affected by troubles.

36.fray (noun)

English Meaning - conflict, fight, clash, tussle, disturbance, commotion.

37.poppy plant (noun)

English Meaning - poppy plant is grown to extract opium (a highly addictive non-synthetic narcotic).

38.opium (noun)

English Meaning - the dried latex/juice obtained from the opium poppy plant. Opiate drugs, derived from the opium, are narcotic sedatives that depress activity of the central nervous system, reduce pain, and induce sleep.

39.cultivation (noun)

English Meaning - the act of growing something, especially crops.

40.drive (noun)

English Meaning - initiative.

41.move (noun)

English Meaning - activity, step, measure.

42.dweller (noun)

English Meaning - native community, local people, (permanent) resident.

43.ire (noun)

English Meaning - anger, fury, wrath, annoyance, vexation, irritation.

44.bench (noun)

English Meaning - a court of law with a number of judges.

45.ill-thought-out (adjective)

English Meaning - not carefully considered, not carefully planned, misconceived/badly planned.

46.observe (verb)

English Meaning - comment, say, state, mention.

47.violative (adjective)

English Meaning - subjected to violation (breach, contravention, infringement, breaking, non-observance).

48.Constitution Bench (noun)

English Meaning - a bench of the Supreme Court having five or more judges on it. These benches are not a routine phenomenon. Constitution Benches are exceptions, set up only if some circumstances exist).

49.exacerbate (verb)

English Meaning - intensify, heighten, increase; aggravate, worsen, make worse.

50.the spiralling (noun)

English Meaning - the process of increase/decrease of something.

51.regime (noun)

English Meaning - government.

52.incompetence (noun)

English Meaning - inability, lack of ability, incapability, incapacity.

53.get one’s act together (phrase)

English Meaning - get organized yourself to do something effectively; recover/regain control of oneself, get a grip/hold on oneself.

54.bring back (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - cause someone/something to return to; reintroduce.

55.patrolling (noun)

English Meaning - watching/guarding an area (over a period of time).

56.paramilitary (adjective)

English Meaning - (of semi-militarized force) organized like a military force.

57.riot-torn (adjective)

English Meaning - severely damaged by a riot.

58.relief (noun)

English Meaning - aid, assistance, succour.

59.curtail (verb)

English Meaning - reduce, diminish, decrease, cut, lower, lessen.

60.put into order (phrase)

English Meaning - arrange, organize; complete, achieve.

61.play into someone’s hands (phrase)

English Meaning - do something unintentionally which will give an advantage to the competitor/opponent.

62.chauvinist (noun)

English Meaning - sectarian, isolationist, jingoistic; excessively patriotic/nationalistic person.

63.emphasise (verb)

English Meaning - underscore, underline, highlight, stress, call/draw attention to.

64.disharmony (noun)

English Meaning - discord, friction, conflict, hostility.

65.in the long term (phrase)

English Meaning - in the future; ultimately, finally.

66.disastrous (adjective)

English Meaning - terrible/horrible, shocking, unfortunate, ill-fated, detrimental.

67.nonchalant (adjective)

English Meaning - casual, unconcerned, indifferent, dispassionate, apathetic, laid-back.

68.turn of events (phrase)

English Meaning - development, outcome.

69.civic consciousness (noun)

English Meaning - In a broad sense, modern civic consciousness consists of the following aspects: the initiative knowledge of the relationship between individuals and the state or society; the rational cognition (sensible understanding) of citizenship, civic rights and liabilities and civic virtues; the internalization and identification of the social behavioral norms and basic values.

70.ethnic (adjective)

English Meaning - relating to a population subgroup (cultural, national, traditional/folk) with a common national or cultural tradition.

71.identity (noun)

English Meaning - a social category, a set of persons marked by a label and distinguished by rules deciding membership and (alleged) characteristic features or attributes; individuality, character, originality.

72.differentiate (verb)

English Meaning - change, alter, transform.

73.fray (verb)

English Meaning - make tense, strain, tax, overtax, irritate, put on edge.

74.incumbent (upon) (adjective)

English Meaning - binding, obligatory, mandatory, necessary; required, essential, imperative.

75.take up (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - become involved in, engage in, participate in, take part in.

76.ties (noun)

English Meaning - relationship, bond, connection.

77.hijack (noun)

English Meaning - seize, take over, commandeer (something unlawfully).