Hindi English Translation || Editorial || Fleeing, quitting: On the decline and fall of Gotabaya Rajapaksa

Fleeing, quitting: On the decline and fall of Gotabaya Rajapaksa

With Gotabaya quitting, new leadership should heed (ध्यान देना, सावधानी) people’s aspirations (आकांक्षा, इच्छा) in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka’s President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has resigned at last (आखिरकार, अंत में), but not before keeping the country guessing for two days. In a not-unexpected (अप्रत्याशित, प्रत्याशित) turn of events, the beleaguered (परेशान, पीड़ित) executive (कार्यकारी) head of Sri Lanka fled (escape, abscond, run away, take flight, leave abruptly/hastily) by an Air Force plane, reached the Maldives and thereafter went to Singapore, presumably (संभवतः, सभी संभावना में, शायद) on his way to another country. Evidently (जाहिर है, स्पष्ट रूप से, ज़रूर) hedge (safeguard, protect, shield, guard, cushion, cover (you from risks of any potential losses) against the possibility of being turned back by any of these countries, he did not submit his resignation on July 13 as promised. As he sent in his resignation Thursday evening, it was clear he was holding out (continue to protect/defend yourself against an attack; survive in a difficult situation; resist, withstand, stand up to, fight against, stand firm against) so that he would not lose his presidential immunity (exemption, exclusion, exception, indemnity, freedom, exemption from punishment, freedom from punishment) from prosecution (अभियोग पक्ष, कानूनी कार्रवाई) until he reached safe haven (सुरक्षित ठिकाना, शरण, आश्रय). Given (दिया गया, ध्यान में रखना) the widespread wrath (क्रोध, रोष) against him, being in Colombo without the shield (कवच, सुरक्षा) of office was not an option for him. Instead, he appointed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to discharge (carry out, perform, conduct, do (a duty/function)) the President’s functions in his absence, using a provision (प्रावधान) in the Constitution which allows such an arrangement if the incumbent (निर्भर, कर्तव्य, पदाधिकारी) has to leave the country or is otherwise unable to perform his duties. Mr. Wickremesinghe is now unlikely (doubtful, implausible, improbable, questionable) to respond to calls (demand, desire, requirement) for his resignation, as the country’s Constitution provides that the current Prime Minister shall act as President until a new one is elected. While the legislature (law-making body or governing body; parliament, congress, assembly) is to be convened soon for formally electing a new President, there are questions over whether the mass uprising (revolt, insurgency, revolution, rebellion) will abate (lessen, decrease, diminish, subside, moderate, decline, relent, slacken, recede, fade, ease off), as its protagonists (supporter, advocate/champion, proponent) have been asking for Mr. Wickremesinghe’s resignation too, seeing him as equally discredited (disgraced, shamed; under suspicion, having lost respect; having lost credibility). It is perhaps (maybe, possibly) in anticipation of (in the expectation of, in preparation for) an intensification (escalation, increase, aggravating, compounding) of the protest that Mr. Wickremesinghe has asked the military to do whatever is needed to restore order (lawful behaviour, law and order, lawfulness, discipline, peacefulness). But order is not born of bloodshed (killing, carnage, massacre); confrontation (clash, fight, conflict, tussle, skirmish) must be avoided, and efforts made to heed the demands of the people.

The world has been amazed (astonish, astound, surprise, bewilder, stun, stagger, shock) by the unprecedented (not done or experienced before) display (manifestation, expression, show, revelation) of righteous (justifiable, legitimate, defensible, supportable, just, rightful, good) anger and courage by the citizens of Sri Lanka, as they channelled the widespread fury against the devastation (shock, distress, stress, strain, pain, anguish, suffering) caused by the economic crisis on their day-to-day (regular, routine, everyday, daily) existence. As 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) came together, it is apt to see this as a revolutionary moment in which an avaricious (greedy, rapacious, mercenary, materialistic, miserly) and apathetic (indifferent, uninterested, unresponsive, unfeeling, unemotional, uncaring, half-hearted, lackadaisical, non-committal) political class has been humbled (defeat, beat, crush, trounce, conquer, vanquish, rout, smash, overwhelm, get the better of) by people united by suffering. While external observers see this as a moment of truth for authoritarian (oppressive, draconian, undemocratic, dictatorial, totalitarian) leaders, power-hungry (selfish, egoistic, megalomaniac, aggressive, forceful) politicians and their ilk (group, family, category, a particular type (of people)), it remains to be seen if political leaders in Sri Lanka themselves have drawn any lesson from it. Reports suggest that jockeying (compete, contend, vie; struggle, fight, tussle) for power is going on on one side even as images of protesters overwhelming (overrun, invade, storm, march into, occupy, swamp, run riot over) offices and residences associated with the rulers are going viral. Sri Lankans may expect that a change of regime (government; system) will mean a new order that would usher in (initiate, put in place, institute, pave the way for, clear the way for) constitutional changes, policy reforms and reverse the trend of public interest (common concerns (in politics/business)) being sacrificed for political ends (intention, desire, aim, goal, purpose, objective). The next President should recognise this legitimate (valid, reasonable, reliable; lawful) aspiration and refrain from (stop oneself, abstain, desist from, hold back) any attempt to maintain the status quo (the present situation, the current state, the existing state of affairs), cover up the misdeeds (wrongdoing, wrong, crime, criminal act, misdemeanour, misconduct, offence, violation) that led the country to the current crisis or preserve the ill-gotten gains (plunder, booty, loot, stolen goods, spoils) of office.

Courtesy: The Hindu

Important Word List With Meaning

1.heed (verb)

Hindi Meaning - ध्यान देना, सावधानी
English Meaning - pay attention to, take notice of, take into account, bear in mind, be mindful of, consider.

2.aspiration (noun)

Hindi Meaning - आकांक्षा, इच्छा
English Meaning - desire, hope, longing, yearning urge, wish.

3.at last (phrase)

Hindi Meaning - आखिरकार, अंत में
English Meaning - finally, in the end, eventually, ultimately, at long last, after a long time.

4.not-unexpected (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - अप्रत्याशित, प्रत्याशित
English Meaning - expected, anticipated.

5.beleaguered (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - परेशान, पीड़ित
English Meaning - hard-pressed, troubled, suffering; under pressure, under stress.

6.the executive (noun)

Hindi Meaning - कार्यकारी
English Meaning - the executive is a branch of government that enforces the law as written by the legislature and interpreted by the judiciary.

7.presumably (adverb)

Hindi Meaning - संभवतः, सभी संभावना में, शायद
English Meaning - probably, in all likelihood, undoubtedly, seemingly.

8.evidently (adverb)

Hindi Meaning - जाहिर है, स्पष्ट रूप से, ज़रूर
English Meaning - obviously, clearly, absolutely, certainly.

9.prosecution (noun)

Hindi Meaning - अभियोग पक्ष, कानूनी कार्रवाई
English Meaning - legal action, legal proceeding, legal case; litigation, trial, bringing to book, bringing of charges.

10.safe haven (noun)

Hindi Meaning - सुरक्षित ठिकाना, शरण, आश्रय
English Meaning - refuge, shelter, asylum, place of safety/security.

11.given (preposition)

Hindi Meaning - दिया गया, ध्यान में रखना
English Meaning - considering, taking into account, bearing in mind.

12.wrath (noun)

Hindi Meaning - क्रोध, रोष
English Meaning - extreme anger, rage, fury.

13.shield (noun)

Hindi Meaning - कवच, सुरक्षा
English Meaning - protection, guard, defence, cover, screen, safety, security, shelter.

14.provision (noun)

Hindi Meaning - प्रावधान
English Meaning - term, clause, requirement/condition.

15.incumbent (noun)

Hindi Meaning - निर्भर, कर्तव्य, पदाधिकारी
English Meaning - current/existing/present holder, bearer or occupant of an office.

16.keep someone guessing (phrase)

English Meaning - leave someone in doubts.

17.flee (verb)

English Meaning - escape, abscond, run away, take flight, leave abruptly/hastily.

18.fall (noun)

English Meaning - downfall, ruin, ruination, collapse, failure, decline, deterioration, degeneration, destruction, overthrow.

19.on one’s way (phrase)

English Meaning - in the course of a journey.

20.hedge (verb)

English Meaning - safeguard, protect, shield, guard, cushion, cover (you from risks of any potential losses).

21.turn back (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - repulse, drive back, force back, put to flight, repel, retreat, return.

22.hold out (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - continue to protect/defend yourself against an attack; survive in a difficult situation; resist, withstand, stand up to, fight against, stand firm against.

23.immunity (noun)

English Meaning - exemption, exclusion, exception, indemnity, freedom, exemption from punishment, freedom from punishment.

24.discharge (verb)

English Meaning - carry out, perform, conduct, do (a duty/function).

25.unlikely (adjective)

English Meaning - doubtful, implausible, improbable, questionable.

26.call (noun)

English Meaning - demand, desire, requirement.

27.legislature (noun)

English Meaning - law-making body or governing body; parliament, congress, assembly.

28.uprising (noun)

English Meaning - revolt, insurgency, revolution, rebellion.

29.abate (verb)

English Meaning - lessen, decrease, diminish, subside, moderate, decline, relent, slacken, recede, fade, ease off.

30.protagonist (noun)

English Meaning - supporter, advocate/champion, proponent.

31.ask for (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - request, demand, urge, call for, call on, appeal to.

32.discredited (adjective)

English Meaning - disgraced, shamed; under suspicion, having lost respect; having lost credibility

33.perhaps (adverb)

English Meaning - maybe, possibly.

34.in anticipation of (phrase)

English Meaning - in the expectation of, in preparation for.

35.intensification (noun)

English Meaning - escalation, increase, aggravating, compounding.

36.order (noun)

English Meaning - lawful behaviour, law and order, lawfulness, discipline, peacefulness.

37.be born of (verb)

English Meaning - be present/ exist as a result of (a particular situation/feeling/emotion).

38.bloodshed (noun)

English Meaning - killing, carnage, massacre.

39.confrontation (noun)

English Meaning - clash, fight, conflict, tussle, skirmish.

40.amaze (verb)

English Meaning - astonish, astound, surprise, bewilder, stun, stagger, shock.

41.unprecedented (adjective)

English Meaning - not done or experienced before.

42.display (noun)

English Meaning - manifestation, expression, show, revelation.

43.righteous (adjective)

English Meaning - justifiable, legitimate, defensible, supportable, just, rightful, good.

44.channel (verb)

English Meaning - direct, guide, carry, transfer.

45.devastation (noun)

English Meaning - shock, distress, stress, strain, pain, anguish, suffering.

46.day-to-day (adjective)

English Meaning - regular, routine, everyday, daily.

47.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.

48.apt (adjective)

English Meaning - suitable, fitting, appropriate, relevant.

49.avaricious (adjective)

English Meaning - greedy, rapacious, mercenary, materialistic, miserly.

50.apathetic (adjective)

English Meaning - indifferent, uninterested, unresponsive, unfeeling, unemotional, uncaring, half-hearted, lackadaisical, non-committal.

51.humble (verb)

English Meaning - defeat, beat, crush, trounce, conquer, vanquish, rout, smash, overwhelm, get the better of.

52.authoritarian (adjective)

English Meaning - oppressive, draconian, undemocratic, dictatorial, totalitarian.

53.power-hungry (adjective)

English Meaning - selfish, egoistic, megalomaniac, aggressive, forceful.

54.ilk (noun)

English Meaning - group, family, category, a particular type (of people).

55.the jockeying (noun)

English Meaning - competition, vying, contest; struggle, fight, tussle.

56.jockey (verb)

English Meaning - compete, contend, vie; struggle, fight, tussle.

57.go on (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - happen, take place, occur, transpire; continue.

58.overwhelm (verb)

English Meaning - overrun, invade, storm, march into, occupy, swamp, run riot over.

59.regime (noun)

English Meaning - government; system.

60.usher in (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - initiate, put in place, institute, pave the way for, clear the way for.

61.interest (noun)

English Meaning - common concerns (in politics/business).

62.end (noun)

English Meaning - intention, desire, aim, goal, purpose, objective.

63.legitimate (adjective)

English Meaning - valid, reasonable, reliable; lawful.

64.refrain from (verb)

English Meaning - stop oneself, abstain, desist from, hold back.

65.status quo (noun)

English Meaning - the present situation, the current state, the existing state of affairs.

66.cover up (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - conceal, hide, camouflage, gloss over, whitewash, paper over.

67.misdeed (noun)

English Meaning - wrongdoing, wrong, crime, criminal act, misdemeanour, misconduct, offence, violation.

68.lead to (verb)

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

69.preserve (verb)

English Meaning - protect, continue, conserve, keep up, maintain, uphold, sustain.

70.ill-gotten (adjective)

English Meaning - relating to something acquired by illegal/unfair methods.

71.ill-gotten gains (noun)

English Meaning - plunder, booty, loot, stolen goods, spoils.