Hindi English Translation || Editorial || Cowed down: On the need for strict anti-lynching laws

Cowed down: On the need for strict anti-lynching laws

Strict anti-lynching laws and a legal rethink (पुनर्विचार, फिर से सोचना) on cattle slaughter (वध, हत्या) laws are the need of the hour (समय की आवश्यकता)

In yet another disturbing (परेशान, निराशाजनक, अशांत) and dastardly (wicked/evil, cruel, heinous, wrongful) act that is now part of a pattern in much of North India, two tribal men were beaten to death by alleged (कथित, माना जाता है, कहा हुआ) activists (कार्यकर्ता, सक्रिय प्रतिभागी) of the Bajrang Dal in Seoni, Madhya Pradesh, on the suspicion (संदेह, संकोच, सावधानी) that they were slaughtering (to kill animals (for food)) cows (frighten, bully, scare, intimidate, browbeat, overawe, unnerve). Apart from tribal people, Muslims and Dalits in particular (विशेष रूप से) have borne the brunt of these senseless acts of mob (भीड़, जनता, गिरोह) violence and murders. Reminiscent (याद ताजा, विचारोत्तेजक) of the murder of a dairy farmer, Pehlu Khan, after he and his sons were attacked by self-described (स्व वर्णित, स्व-घोषित, स्व-निर्धारित) “cow vigilantes (a member of the self-appointed group which unofficially punishing crimes)” in April 2017 in Rajasthan, the two men, Sampatlal Vatti and Dhansai Invati, were attacked by nearly 20 men; both died of injuries. The police have arrested 13 people for their alleged involvement; at least six of them were members of the Bajrang Dal, according to the family members. An insinuation (निहितार्थ, संकेत, सुझाव) by the police that one of the dead men was involved in a “cow slaughter” case has shown yet again where the priorities of law enforcement (प्रवर्तन, अधिरोपण, कार्यान्वयन) lie (झूठा बोलना) in such cases. In another pattern, there has been a certain acuity (तीक्ष्णता, चतुराई, चतुरता) in the implementation of cattle slaughter laws which is missing in trying (investigate and decide (a case) in a formal trial (court case)) and bringing those involved in lynch (punish/kill someone by hanging for claimed offence by the group of people without legal trail) mobs to justice. Stricter cattle slaughter laws have been implemented with a fervour (intensity, zeal, sincerity, avidity, eagerness, keenness, enthusiasm) that has less to do with animal preservation (protection, care, safeguarding) and more to do with appeasement (conciliation, pacification, reconciliation; satisfaction, fulfilment) of majoritarian (relating to a philosophy that states that a majority (sometimes categorized by religion, language, social class, or some other identifying factor) of the population is entitled to a certain degree of primacy (priority) in society, and has the right to make decisions that affect the society) impulses to garner (gather, collect, accumulate) political support.

In 2005, the Supreme Court had justified the total ban on cattle slaughter by an expansive (comprehensive, thorough, extensive) interpretation (explanation, elucidation, clarification, definition; examination, evaluation, analysis) of the directive principles of state policy (The Constitution lays down certain Directive Principles of State Policy (contained in Part IV (Article 36–51)), which though not justiciable, are ‘fundamental in governance of the country’, and it is the duty of the State to apply these principles in making laws. These lay down that the State shall strive to promote the welfare of people by securing and protecting as effectively as it may, a social order, in which justice-social, economic and political-shall form in all institutions of national life), and relying on Articles 48, 48A, and 51(A) of the Constitution, that seeks (try, aim, attempt) to preserve (protect, care, safeguard) breeds (a variety/stock of animals) used in agriculture and animal husbandry (the branch of agriculture concerned with the rearing (breed/raise) and care of animals that are raised for food, fibre or other purposes of benefit to humans), explicitly (clearly, unequivocally, understandably (without question/doubt)) prohibiting the slaughter of cows and calves and other milch (the domestic animals suitable for milch (yielding/providing milk)) and draught cattle (a strong working animal used to draw a load like a cart, a plough etc), besides (except, except for, apart from, other than, barring, excluding) promoting compassion (sympathy, feeling, empathy, consideration, care, concern) to animals. The judgment had overturned an earlier ruling in 1958 which had limited the ban only to “useful” cattle which are still engaged in agriculture and husbandry. This interpretation only laid the grounds (reason, cause, basis, base, foundation) for State governments — especially those led by the BJP and its alliance partners — to come up with (devise, propose, put forward, present, submit, suggest, recommend, introduce, bring forward, moot) stringent (strict, severe, extreme, rigorous) laws on cow slaughter, and in the public sphere (social space (in which different opinions are expressed, problems of general concern are discussed, and collective solutions are developed communicatively)), a stigmatisation (accusation, cursing, denouncement, discredit, dishonor, disparagement) of communities such as Dalits, Muslims and tribals for their dietary habits (the habitual decisions of individuals or group of people with regard to what foods they eat) and their dependence on cattle products for a livelihood (means of making a living with the basic necessities (food, water, shelter and clothing); means of support, subsistence). Four States (Rajasthan, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Manipur) had passed laws against lynching (an act of punishing/killing someone by hanging for claimed offence by the group of people without legal trail) after many such incidents but they were under various stages of implementation with the Union government taking the view that lynching is not a crime under the Indian Penal Code (The Indian Penal Code (IPC) is the official criminal code of India. It is a comprehensive code intended to cover all substantive aspects of criminal law. The draft was passed into law on 6 October 1860. The Code came into operation on 1 January 1862. The Indian Penal Code of 1860, sub-divided into 23 chapters, comprises 511 sections. IPC deals with crimes and punishments). While civil society (civil society refers to space for collective action around shared interests, purposes, and values, generally distinct from government and commercial for-profit actors. It refers to a wide array of organizations: community groups, non-governmental organizations [NGOs], labour unions, indigenous groups, charitable organizations, faith-based organizations, professional associations, and foundations. Civil society - sometimes called the “third sector” (after government and commerce) - has the power to influence the actions of elected policy-makers and businesses) in Madhya Pradesh must demand justice for the injured and dead tribal men and a return to the rule of law (it is described as “a principle of governance in which all persons, institutions and entities, public and private, including the State itself, are accountable to laws that are publicly promulgated, equally enforced and independently adjudicated, and which are consistent with international human rights norms and standards) in which such murderous (brutal, violent, savage, vicious, bloodthirsty, barbaric, cruel, inhuman) acts do not go unpunished, it is time for a judicial rethink on legislation around cattle slaughter.

Courtesy: The Hindu

Important Word List With Meaning

1.rethink (noun)

Hindi Meaning - पुनर्विचार, फिर से सोचना
English Meaning - review, reconsideration, reassessment, re-evaluation.

2.slaughter (noun)

Hindi Meaning - वध, हत्या
English Meaning - killing of animals (for food).

3.need of the hour (phrase)

Hindi Meaning - समय की आवश्यकता
English Meaning - some (urgent) need/requirement/demand at a particular point of time.

4.disturbing (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - परेशान, निराशाजनक, अशांत
English Meaning - worrying, annoying, bothersome, discomfiting, unsettling, disconcerting, troubling.

5.alleged (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - कथित, माना जाता है, कहा हुआ
English Meaning - supposed, claimed, professed, purported, reported, ostensible.

6.activist (noun)

Hindi Meaning - कार्यकर्ता, सक्रिय प्रतिभागी
English Meaning - a person who supports a political change or cause; (or societal change/cause); campaigner, champion, advocate; radical, extremist.

7.suspicion (noun)

Hindi Meaning - संदेह, संकोच, सावधानी
English Meaning - misgiving, doubt, qualm, wariness, scepticism, question mark, distrust.

8.in particular (phrase)

Hindi Meaning - विशेष रूप से
English Meaning - particularly, specifically, especially.

9.mob (noun)

Hindi Meaning - भीड़, जनता, गिरोह
English Meaning - a large, disorganized, and often violent crowd of people.

10.reminiscent (verb)

Hindi Meaning - याद ताजा, विचारोत्तेजक
English Meaning - similar to, comparable with, tending to remind; evocative of, suggestive of.

11.self-described (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - स्व वर्णित, स्व-घोषित, स्व-निर्धारित
English Meaning - self-appointed, self-declared, self-defined.

12.insinuation (noun)

Hindi Meaning - निहितार्थ, संकेत, सुझाव
English Meaning - implication, hint/indication, suggestion.

13.enforcement (noun)

Hindi Meaning - प्रवर्तन, अधिरोपण, कार्यान्वयन
English Meaning - imposition, implementation, execution, discharge.

14.lie (verb)

Hindi Meaning - झूठा बोलना
English Meaning - be present, exist.

15.acuity (noun)

Hindi Meaning - तीक्ष्णता, चतुराई, चतुरता
English Meaning - perception, cleverness, smartness, keenness, sharpness, clarity.

16.cow (verb)

English Meaning - frighten, bully, scare, intimidate, browbeat, overawe, unnerve.

17.lynching (noun)

English Meaning - an act of punishing/killing someone by hanging for claimed offence by the group of people without legal trail.

18.dastardly (adjective)

English Meaning - wicked/evil, cruel, heinous, wrongful.

19.slaughter (verb)

English Meaning - to kill animals (for food).

20.bear the brunt (phrase)

English Meaning - to suffer or endure the worst part of something (force/burden/pressure) when a very bad or unpleasant thing happens.

21.vigilante (noun)

English Meaning - a member of the self-appointed group which unofficially punishing crimes.

22.murderous (adjective)

English Meaning - brutal, violent, savage, vicious, bloodthirsty, barbaric, cruel, inhuman.

23.try (verb)

English Meaning - investigate and decide (a case) in a formal trial (court case).

24.bring someone to justice (phrase)

English Meaning - arrest/punish someone for a crime committed.

25.lynch (verb as modifier)

English Meaning - punish/kill someone by hanging for claimed offence by the group of people without legal trail.

26.fervour (noun)

English Meaning - intensity, zeal, sincerity, avidity, eagerness, keenness, enthusiasm.

27.preservation (noun)

English Meaning - protection, care, safeguarding.

28.appeasement (noun)

English Meaning - conciliation, pacification, reconciliation; satisfaction, fulfilment.

29.majoritarian (adjective)

English Meaning - relating to a philosophy that states that a majority (sometimes categorized by religion, language, social class, or some other identifying factor) of the population is entitled to a certain degree of primacy (priority) in society, and has the right to make decisions that affect the society.

30.impulse (noun)

English Meaning - (strong & sudden) urge/instinct, compulsion, need.

31.garner (verb)

English Meaning - gather, collect, accumulate.

32.expansive (adjective)

English Meaning - comprehensive, thorough, extensive.

33.interpretation (noun)

English Meaning - explanation, elucidation, clarification, definition; examination, evaluation, analysis.

34.Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) (noun)

English Meaning - The Constitution lays down certain Directive Principles of State Policy (contained in Part IV (Article 36–51)), which though not justiciable, are ‘fundamental in governance of the country’, and it is the duty of the State to apply these principles in making laws. These lay down that the State shall strive to promote the welfare of people by securing and protecting as effectively as it may, a social order, in which justice-social, economic and political-shall form in all institutions of national life.

35.rely on (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - depend on.

36.Article 48 of the Constitution of India (noun)

English Meaning - it deals with “organisation of agriculture and animal husbandry”. The State shall endeavour to organise agriculture and animal husbandry on modern and scientific lines and shall, in particular, take steps for preserving and improving the breeds, and prohibiting the slaughter, of cows and calves and other milch and draught cattle.

37.Article 48A of the Constitution of India (noun)

English Meaning - it deals with “Protection and improvement of environment and safeguarding of forests and wild life”. The State shall endeavour to protect and improve the environment and to safeguard the forests and wild life of the country.

38.Article 51(A) of the Constitution of India (noun)

English Meaning - it deals with “Fundamental Duties” of every citizens of India. Article 51(A) (g) specifically defines “to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wild life, and to have compassion for living creatures”.

39.seek (verb)

English Meaning - try, aim, attempt.

40.preserve (verb)

English Meaning - protect, care, safeguard.

41.breed (noun)

English Meaning - a variety/stock of animals.

42.Animal Husbandry (noun)

English Meaning - the branch of agriculture concerned with the rearing (breed/raise) and care of animals that are raised for food, fibre or other purposes of benefit to humans.

43.explicitly (adverb)

English Meaning - clearly, unequivocally, understandably (without question/doubt).

44.calves plural noun of calf (noun)

English Meaning - the young of the domestic cow or other bovine (cattle-like) animal.

45.milch (noun)

English Meaning - the domestic animals suitable for milch (yielding/providing milk).

46.draught cattle (noun)

English Meaning - a strong working animal used to draw a load like a cart, a plough etc.

47.besides (preposition)

English Meaning - except, except for, apart from, other than, barring, excluding.

48.compassion (noun)

English Meaning - sympathy, feeling, empathy, consideration, care, concern.

49.overturn (verb)

English Meaning - reverse, overrule, nullify/cancel.

50.lay (verb)

English Meaning - make, devise, frame, produce, develop.

51.ground (noun)

English Meaning - reason, cause, basis, base, foundation.

52.lay the ground (phrase)

English Meaning - to create a foundation; to provide the basics/cause.

53.come up with (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - devise, propose, put forward, present, submit, suggest, recommend, introduce, bring forward, moot.

54.stringent (adjective)

English Meaning - strict, severe, extreme, rigorous.

55.public sphere (noun)

English Meaning - social space (in which different opinions are expressed, problems of general concern are discussed, and collective solutions are developed communicatively).

56.stigmatisation (noun)

English Meaning - accusation, cursing, denouncement, discredit, dishonor, disparagement.

57.dietary habit (noun)

English Meaning - the habitual decisions of individuals or group of people with regard to what foods they eat.

58.livelihood (noun)

English Meaning - means of making a living with the basic necessities (food, water, shelter and clothing); means of support, subsistence.

59.Indian Penal Code (IPC) (noun)

English Meaning - The Indian Penal Code (IPC) is the official criminal code of India. It is a comprehensive code intended to cover all substantive aspects of criminal law. The draft was passed into law on 6 October 1860. The Code came into operation on 1 January 1862. The Indian Penal Code of 1860, sub-divided into 23 chapters, comprises 511 sections. IPC deals with crimes and punishments.

60.civil society (noun)

English Meaning - civil society refers to space for collective action around shared interests, purposes, and values, generally distinct from government and commercial for-profit actors. It refers to a wide array of organizations: community groups, non-governmental organizations [NGOs], labour unions, indigenous groups, charitable organizations, faith-based organizations, professional associations, and foundations. Civil society - sometimes called the “third sector” (after government and commerce) - has the power to influence the actions of elected policy-makers and businesses.

61.rule of law (phrase)

English Meaning - it is described as “a principle of governance in which all persons, institutions and entities, public and private, including the State itself, are accountable to laws that are publicly promulgated, equally enforced and independently adjudicated, and which are consistent with international human rights norms and standards.