Hindi English Translation || Editorial || Easily provoked: On India’s internal affairs and foreign comments

Easily provoked: On India’s internal affairs and foreign comments

India is not showing confidence about its own democratic record

New Delhi and Washington appear to be squaring off for a fight over the U.S. expressing its concerns about the Modi government’s actions ahead of the general election. After the U.S. State Department spokesperson first made a comment on the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) summoned (order someone to be present; call for, ask for, request the presence of) the acting (temporary, short-term, interim, deputy) Deputy Chief of the U.S. mission (all embassies, consulates, and other diplomatic posts in foreign countries are collectively known as missions. These missions share the common goal of carrying out the foreign policy objectives of a respective government) in Delhi and sternly (strictly, severely, stringently) called on the U.S. to desist (stop, discontinue, hold back, refrain from doing something) from interfering in India’s internal affairs. A dressing down (reprimand, rebuke, admonish, reprove, criticize, censure, castigate) was also handed to a German diplomat (राजनयिक) for a similar statement by Germany. However, while the German government appeared to tone down (moderate, temper, mitigate, decrease, reduce, lessen) its remarks subsequently (बाद में), the U.S. administration (प्रशासन) seems to have doubled down — repeating statements on the need for “fair, transparent (पारदर्शी), timely (समय पर) legal processes”, and adding the freezing (an act of limiting/restricting (bank transactions from taking place)) of the Congress Party’s accounts during the election campaign (अभियान) amongst its concerns, prompting (cause, bring about, give rise to, result in, lead to, evoke, bring forth) yet another rebuke (criticism, censure, admonition, reproval, reproach, scolding, castigation, condemnation, reprimand). The U.S.’s statements, galling (annoying, irritating, vexing, disturbing, frustrating, displeasing, humiliating) for the government, are not new, and its concerns over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (नागरिकता (संशोधन) अधिनियम), farmers’ protests, actions against NGOs, and legal action against Opposition politicians have been growing (बढ़नेवाला). The Modi government may wish to introspect (self-observe, self-examine, self analyse, contemplate) about whether any of these interventions (हस्तक्षेप) are valid concerns, and it may be of significance to probe whether this brinkmanship (अस्थिरता) is a symptom of a larger problem in the India-U.S. relationship. Since the U.S. announced an indictment (अभियोग) into an alleged (कथित) assassination (हत्या) plot against a Khalistani (supporting Khalistan movement) separatist (secessionist, dissident, protester, sectarian, nonconformist extremist, radical) and India critic (आलोचक, समीक्षक), Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, claiming (state, insist, argue, assert, affirm) a link to a top Indian national security official, the quality of public engagement (participation, contribution, involvement) appears to have suffered a setback (problem, difficulty, issue), even though trade, technology sharing, and military and strategic (relating to achieving long-term or overall goals) cooperation remain strong. The decision by U.S. President Joe Biden to decline India’s invitation as Republic Day chief guest and to attend the Quad summit (meeting, conference, conclave (international meeting/conference of heads of state/government)), and the cancellation of U.S. NSA Jake Sullivan’s visit, even as the post of Indian Ambassador (diplomat, envoy, consul, emissary) to Washington lies vacant, merit (deserve, warrant, justify, be worthy of) close examination.

Given (considering, taking into account, bearing in mind) the kerfuffle (commotion, disruption, disturbance, disorder, furore, fuss, hullabaloo, brouhaha, racket, ruckus, tumult, turmoil, uproar, clamour) over Mr. Kejriwal’s arrest, New Delhi has a few choices: it can choose to continue this high-decibel (loud, demanding, strong, vociferous), public and unseemly (ill-advised, unworthy, improper, inappropriate, undignified) spat (argument or quarrel for nothing); it can pay the U.S. back in the same coin by commenting on its internal developments (turn of events, happening, circumstance, situation); or it can refuse to be provoked (उकसाना). The last option may seem the least attractive to this government, which has made a habit of pugilistic (fighting relating to a boxer; relating to boxing) public diplomacy (international politics, foreign affairs, foreign policy; negotiations, discussions, talks, dialogue (related to international politics)), but in fact (actually, in actuality, really, in reality, indeed) would come from a place of strength and security. Global leadership, of the kind that India aspires to, requires broad shoulders (the ability to take criticism, or accept responsibility), and a thick skin (the ability to ignore criticism or insults) when it comes to criticism, along with a quiet confidence (it refers to the ability to project self-assurance, inner strength and competence without the need for excessive boastfulness/self-promotion) that its democratic record should speak for itself (very clear, self-explanatory & not to need further explanation).

Courtesy: The Hindu

Important Word List With Meaning

1.provoked (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - उकसाना
English Meaning - annoyed, irritated, upset, bothered, vexed, offended.

2.diplomat (noun)

Hindi Meaning - राजनयिक
English Meaning - ambassador, envoy, emissary/consul.

3.subsequently (adverb)

Hindi Meaning - बाद में
English Meaning - afterwards, later on, in due course.

4.administration (noun)

Hindi Meaning - प्रशासन
English Meaning - government.

5.transparent (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - पारदर्शी
English Meaning - open, candid, direct, straightforward, forthright; clear, obvious, noticeable, visible.

6.timely (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - समय पर
English Meaning - prompt, well timed, at the right time, opportune, appropriate.

7.campaign (noun)

Hindi Meaning - अभियान
English Meaning - canvassing, electioneering, an act of soliciting (asking for/requesting)votes; an organized effort that seeks to influence the decision-making progress within a specific group.

8.Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) (noun)

Hindi Meaning - नागरिकता (संशोधन) अधिनियम
English Meaning - The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019 seeks to grant citizenship to religious minorities of Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, who had to flee their homeland facing persecution. The six minority groups that have been specifically identified are Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, Buddhists, Christians, and Parsis.

9.growing (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - बढ़नेवाला
English Meaning - increasing.

10.intervention (noun)

Hindi Meaning - हस्तक्षेप
English Meaning - the process of intervening in something; involvement, interference.

11.brinkmanship (noun)

Hindi Meaning - अस्थिरता
English Meaning - the practice of trying to achieve an advantageous results by engaging in a dangerous issue or event to the edge of safety, especially in politics, by pushing dangerous events.

12.indictment (noun)

Hindi Meaning - अभियोग
English Meaning - accusation, charge, allegation.

13.alleged (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - कथित
English Meaning - supposed, so-called, purported, reported, presumed.

14.assassination (noun)

Hindi Meaning - हत्या
English Meaning - murder, killing.

15.critic (noun)

Hindi Meaning - आलोचक, समीक्षक
English Meaning - criticizer, censurer, castigator, attacker, fault-finder.

16.affairs (noun)

English Meaning - events, incidents, happenings, occurrences, problems, concerns, matters, activities.

17.square off (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - to fight/compete/oppose or prepare to fight/compete/oppose someone in a competition

18.summon (verb)

English Meaning - order someone to be present; call for, ask for, request the presence of.

19.acting (adjective)

English Meaning - temporary, short-term, interim, deputy.

20.mission (noun)

English Meaning - all embassies, consulates, and other diplomatic posts in foreign countries are collectively known as missions. These missions share the common goal of carrying out the foreign policy objectives of a respective government.

21.sternly (adverb)

English Meaning - strictly, severely, stringently.

22.call on (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - ask, request, appeal, urge.

23.desist (verb)

English Meaning - stop, discontinue, hold back, refrain from doing something.

24.dressing-down (noun)

English Meaning - an angry/severe reprimand.

25.dress down (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - reprimand, rebuke, admonish, reprove, criticize, censure, castigate.

26.tone down (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - moderate, temper, mitigate, decrease, reduce, lessen.

27.double down (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - to be more firm & resolute on something (decided) even if that might be a risky choice; to double or increase a risk involved in doing something

28.freezing (noun)

English Meaning - an act of limiting/restricting (bank transactions from taking place).

29.freeze (verb)

English Meaning - limit, restrict (bank transactions from taking place).

30.prompt (verb)

English Meaning - cause, bring about, give rise to, result in, lead to, evoke, bring forth.

31.rebuke (noun)

English Meaning - criticism, censure, admonition, reproval, reproach, scolding, castigation, condemnation, reprimand.

32.galling (adjective)

English Meaning - annoying, irritating, vexing, disturbing, frustrating, displeasing, humiliating.

33.non-governmental organization (NGO) (noun)

English Meaning - it is generally defined as nonprofit entities independent of governmental influence (although they may receive government funding). A not-for profit, voluntary citizen’s group that is organized on a local, national or international level to address issues in support of the public good.

34.introspect (verb)

English Meaning - self-observe, self-examine, self analyse, contemplate.

35.plot (noun)

English Meaning - conspiracy, secret plan, stratagem.

36.Khalistani (adjective)

English Meaning - supporting Khalistan movement.

37.Khalistanis (noun)

English Meaning - people who are related/connected to the Khalistan movement (a Sikh separatist movement) seeking to create a homeland for Sikhs by establishing a sovereign state, called Khālistān (‘Land of the Khalsa’), in the Punjab region.

38.separatist (noun)

English Meaning - secessionist, dissident, protester, sectarian, nonconformist extremist, radical.

39.claim (verb)

English Meaning - state, insist, argue, assert, affirm.

40.engagement (noun)

English Meaning - participation, contribution, involvement.

41.setback (noun)

English Meaning - problem, difficulty, issue.

42.strategic (adjective)

English Meaning - relating to achieving long-term or overall goals.

43.Quad/Quadrilateral (noun)

English Meaning - The ‘Quadrilateral’ is described as four democracies (the United States, Japan, Australia and India) with a shared objective to ensure and support a “free, open and prosperous” Indo-Pacific region.

44.summit (noun)

English Meaning - meeting, conference, conclave (international meeting/conference of heads of state/government).

45.National Security Adviser (NSA) (noun)

English Meaning - the central co-ordinator and adviser to the prime minister/president and cabinet on security, intelligence, defence, and some foreign policy matters. They are based in the Cabinet Office and work across departments to bring together a coherent national security strategy that fits with the government’s priorities.

46.Ambassador (noun)

English Meaning - diplomat, envoy, consul, emissary.

47.merit (verb)

English Meaning - deserve, warrant, justify, be worthy of.

48.given (preposition)

English Meaning - considering, taking into account, bearing in mind.

49.kerfuffle (noun)

English Meaning - commotion, disruption, disturbance, disorder, furore, fuss, hullabaloo, brouhaha, racket, ruckus, tumult, turmoil, uproar, clamour.

50.high-decibel (adjective)

English Meaning - loud, demanding, strong, vociferous.

51.unseemly (adjective)

English Meaning - ill-advised, unworthy, improper, inappropriate, undignified.

52.spat (noun)

English Meaning - argument or quarrel for nothing.

53.pay someone back in the same coin (phrase)

English Meaning - to treat someone in the same way he/she treated you.

54.development (noun)

English Meaning - turn of events, happening, circumstance, situation.

55.pugilistic (adjective)

English Meaning - fighting relating to a boxer; relating to boxing.

56.diplomacy (noun)

English Meaning - international politics, foreign affairs, foreign policy; negotiations, discussions, talks, dialogue (related to international politics).

57.in fact (phrase)

English Meaning - actually, in actuality, really, in reality, indeed.

58.of the kind (or) of sorts (phrase)

English Meaning - something lie; something similar to a thing just mentioned.

59.broad shoulder (noun phrase)

English Meaning - the ability to take criticism, or accept responsibility.

60.shoulder (noun)

English Meaning - someone’s shoulders considered as bearing responsibility.

61.a thick skin (noun phrase)

English Meaning - the ability to ignore criticism or insults.

62.quiet confidence (noun)

English Meaning - it refers to the ability to project self-assurance, inner strength and competence without the need for excessive boastfulness/self-promotion.

63.speak for itself (phrase)

English Meaning - very clear, self-explanatory & not to need further explanation.