Hindi English Translation || Editorial || Limits of identity: On facilitating peace in Manipur

Limits of identity: On facilitating peace in Manipur

Civil society (नागरिक समाज) should strive (प्रयास करना) to be non-partisan (गैर पक्षपातपूर्ण, निष्पक्ष) to aid peace in Manipur

One of the most disconcerting (चिंताजनक, अशांतिकर) features (विशेषता, गुण) of the ongoing (चलता हुआ, लगातार) ethnic (प्रजातीय) strife in Manipur remains the inability of civil society representatives (प्रतिनिधि, अधिकारी) to rise above (के ऊपर उठना) their “ethnic (अक्षमता, दुर्बलता)” affiliations (संबंधन) and work towards peace. This is exemplified (उदाहरण देना) by the acts of the Meira Paibi, an amorphous (unstructured, indeterminate, formless/vague) organisation of Meitei women, who have in the past mobilised ((of people) bring together for a particular cause) against armed (equipped with firearms (weapons)) forces (troops; armed forces, soldiers) and police excesses (ज़्यादती, अनियंत्रित व्यवहार), alcoholism, drug addiction and sexual violence in the State. During the conflict (संघर्ष, टकराव) that has raged (be uncontrollable, continue with great intensity) on since early May, however, the Meira Paibi has been working towards disrupting the operations of the Assam Rifles (a central paramilitary force responsible for border security, counter-insurgency, and maintaining law and order in Northeast India) in their attempt to maintain peace, especially in the foothills (a hill or low mountain at the base of a higher mountain). These areas, called “buffer zones (neutral area)”, were created to ensure that there is no further escalation (intensification, aggravation, exacerbation) of violence between arms-wielding (having arms (weapons) in hand) people of the two ethnic communities, but there have been violent attacks with the armed forces unable to act on time (promptly, timely) because of disruptions, allegedly (reportedly, supposedly, purportedly, ostensibly, apparently), by the Meira Paibi among others. Clearly, the situation has been brought to a boil (a situation which is very strong or active or intense) by the looting (steal (goods from a place)) of weapons by both Kuki-Zo and Meitei groups and their use in the strife. But the inability of the State government and its police and the Union government-deployed armed forces in maintaining peace has also been due to civil society groups supporting those engaging in violence.

Some Meira Paibi representatives had, in a press conference in New Delhi on Wednesday, claimed (assert, state, allege, affirm) that they do not recognise (admit, accept, confess, acknowledge, realize) the buffer zones, calling them “unconstitutional (illegitimate, wrongful; undemocratic, autocratic, dictatorial, totalitarian)”. The presence of armed forces in peacekeeping (it is defined as the prevention, containment, moderation and termination of hostilities (between hostile countries/groups), through peaceful third party intervention, organized and directed internationally, using multinational forces of soldiers, police, and civilians to restore and maintain peace; mediation, diplomacy, peacebuilding, negotiation) is not an ideal solution in most circumstances (context, background, backdrop, conditions, situations). But with the ethnicisation (the act or process of making or becoming ethnic) of law enforcement (it describes the agencies and employees responsible for enforcing laws, maintaining public order, and managing public safety), aided by a State government that seems to have lost its legitimacy (constitutionality, reasonableness, justification, validity) of power across ethnic divides (difference, disagreement (between people)), leading to (cause, result in, bring about, bring on, give rise to) demands for a separate administration (government, regime) by Kuki-Zo representatives, the armed forces’ presence and the need for buffer zones to maintain a semblance ((outward) appearance, approximation; similarity, alikeness, likeness, resemblance) of peace have become essential in Manipur. Civil society groups such as the Meira Paibi can rise above their narrow (narrow-minded, intolerant, illiberal, partisan, sectarian, discriminatory) ethnic identities to press (urge, push, insist, pressurize) for justice for women affected in the conflict and thus build solidarity (unity, unanimity, harmony, cohesion, cooperation) networks that will aid the process of reconciliation (restoration of friendly relations, restoration of harmony, agreement, compromise, understanding, peace, an end to hostilities; conciliation, pacification, appeasement) and peace-building. Sadly, that does not seem to be the case today. Civil society organisations have whipped up (excite, evoke/provoke, stimulate, encourage (strong emotions in someone intentionally); it also means to prepare something (specifically food) very quickly) the frenzy (madness, wildness, insanity, uncontrolled excitement/behaviour) of ethnic hatred (enmity, antipathy, antagonism, hostility, resentment, aversion), partially due to the recurring (happening or occurring frequently; constant, continuing, repeated) trauma (torment, distress, suffering) from the violence, as much as cynical (sceptical, doubtful, distrustful, suspicious, disbelieving, doubting) political representatives have. And this has meant that the cycle (the period of time taken to complete a series of events; series, pattern) of violence has endured (continue, persist, remain, last). History suggests that a breakthrough (very important/significant development or progress; advancement, improvement) can only be achieved through non-partisan leadership and civic (public, community, local) dialogue (talks, discussion, discourse, debate, negotiation, deliberation) among civil society and political representatives. As things stand (in the present situation), for that to happen there needs to be a credible (acceptable, trustworthy, reliable, dependable; believable, plausible, reasonable) alternative to the current leadership in the State.

Courtesy: The Hindu

Important Word List With Meaning

1.identity (noun)

Hindi Meaning - पहचान
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.

2.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.

3.strive (verb)

Hindi Meaning - प्रयास करना
English Meaning - try, try hard, aim, aspire, seek, struggle, make every effort.

4.non-partisan (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - गैर पक्षपातपूर्ण, निष्पक्ष
English Meaning - unbiased, unprejudiced, impartial, disinterested, neutral, fair-minded, even-handed, non-discriminatory.

5.disconcerting (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - चिंताजनक, अशांतिकर
English Meaning - upsetting, discomfiting, unsettling, disturbing, disquieting, troubling.

6.feature (noun)

Hindi Meaning - विशेषता, गुण
English Meaning - characteristic, attribute, quality, trait, aspect, factor.

7.ongoing (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - चलता हुआ, लगातार
English Meaning - continuing, continuous, unceasing, unrelenting, unabating.

8.ethnic (adjective)

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

9.inability (noun)

Hindi Meaning - अक्षमता, दुर्बलता
English Meaning - incapability, incapacity, ineffectiveness, inefficacy, uselessness.

10.representative (noun)

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

11.rise above (phrase)

Hindi Meaning - के ऊपर उठना
English Meaning - to tackle a difficult or unpleasant situation successfully. (or) cut across, transcend, go beyond (differences/divisions between groups/parties).

12.affiliation (noun)

Hindi Meaning - संबंधन
English Meaning - connection, relationship, association, partnership, attachment, link.

13.exemplify (verb)

Hindi Meaning - उदाहरण देना
English Meaning - show, demonstrate, display, illustrate, represent.

14.excesses (noun)

Hindi Meaning - ज़्यादती, अनियंत्रित व्यवहार
English Meaning - uncontrolled behaviour; unrestricted conduct; extreme, violent actions which are unacceptable.

15.conflict (noun)

Hindi Meaning - संघर्ष, टकराव
English Meaning - clash, fight, tussle, quarrel, dispute; discord , hostility, friction, strife.

16.facilitate (verb)

English Meaning - assist, help, aid, ease, make easy, make possible.

17.strife (noun)

English Meaning - conflict, friction, discord, dispute, argument, hostility, disagreement.

18.amorphous (adjective)

English Meaning - unstructured, indeterminate, formless/vague.

19.mobilise (verb)

English Meaning - (of people) bring together for a particular cause.

20.armed (adjective)

English Meaning - equipped with firearms (weapons).

21.forces (noun)

English Meaning - troops; armed forces, soldiers.

22.rage (verb)

English Meaning - be uncontrollable, continue with great intensity.

23.Assam Rifles (AR) (noun)

English Meaning - a central paramilitary force responsible for border security, counter-insurgency, and maintaining law and order in Northeast India.

24.foothill (noun)

English Meaning - a hill or low mountain at the base of a higher mountain.

25.buffer zone (noun)

English Meaning - neutral area.

26.far from (phrase)

English Meaning - not, not at all; nowhere near, a long way from.

27.escalation (noun)

English Meaning - intensification, aggravation, exacerbation.

28.arms-wielding (adjective)

English Meaning - having arms (weapons) in hand.

29.on time (phrase)

English Meaning - promptly, timely.

30.allegedly (adverb)

English Meaning - reportedly, supposedly, purportedly, ostensibly, apparently.

31.boil (noun)

English Meaning - a situation which is very strong or active or intense.

32.loot (verb)

English Meaning - steal (goods from a place).

33.Meitei/Manipuri people (noun)

English Meaning - an ethnic group native to the state of Manipur in northeastern India. Valley-dwellers & non-tribals Meitei/Manipuri community is the largest & dominant community in Manipur, account for about 53% of the State’s total population of 2.85 million (2011 census).

34.Kuki-Zomi community (noun)

English Meaning -The Kuki (hill tribes) 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.

35.deployed (adjective)

English Meaning - (of armed forces) positioned, stationed, placed for an effective action.

36.claim (verb)

English Meaning - assert, state, allege, affirm.

37.recognise (verb)

English Meaning - admit, accept, confess, acknowledge, realize.

38.unconstitutional (adjective)

English Meaning - illegitimate, wrongful; undemocratic, autocratic, dictatorial, totalitarian.

39.peacekeeping (noun)

English Meaning - it is defined as the prevention, containment, moderation and termination of hostilities (between hostile countries/groups), through peaceful third party intervention, organized and directed internationally, using multinational forces of soldiers, police, and civilians to restore and maintain peace; mediation, diplomacy, peacebuilding, negotiation.

40.circumstances (noun)

English Meaning - context, background, backdrop, conditions, situations.

41.ethnicisation (noun)

English Meaning - the act or process of making or becoming ethnic.

42.law enforcement (noun)

English Meaning - it describes the agencies and employees responsible for enforcing laws, maintaining public order, and managing public safety.

43.aid (verb)

English Meaning - help, assist, support, back.

44.legitimacy (noun)

English Meaning - constitutionality, reasonableness, justification, validity.

45.divide (noun)

English Meaning - difference, disagreement (between people).

46.lead to (verb)

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

47.administration (noun)

English Meaning - government, regime.

48.semblance (noun)

English Meaning - (outward) appearance, approximation; similarity, alikeness, likeness, resemblance.

49.narrow (adjective)

English Meaning - narrow-minded, intolerant, illiberal, partisan, sectarian, discriminatory.

50.press (verb)

English Meaning - urge, push, insist, pressurize.

51.solidarity (noun)

English Meaning - unity, unanimity, harmony, cohesion, cooperation.

52.reconciliation (noun)

English Meaning - restoration of friendly relations, restoration of harmony, agreement, compromise, understanding, peace, an end to hostilities; conciliation, pacification, appeasement.

53.whip up (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - excite, evoke/provoke, stimulate, encourage (strong emotions in someone intentionally); it also means to prepare something (specifically food) very quickly.

54.frenzy (noun)

English Meaning - madness, wildness, insanity, uncontrolled excitement/behaviour.

55.hatred (noun)

English Meaning - enmity, antipathy, antagonism, hostility, resentment, aversion.

56.recurring (adjective)

English Meaning - happening or occurring frequently; constant, continuing, repeated.

57.trauma (noun)

English Meaning - torment, distress, suffering.

58.cynical (adjective)

English Meaning - sceptical, doubtful, distrustful, suspicious, disbelieving, doubting.

59.cycle (noun)

English Meaning - the period of time taken to complete a series of events; series, pattern.

60.endure (verb)

English Meaning - continue, persist, remain, last.

61.breakthrough (noun)

English Meaning - very important/significant development or progress; advancement, improvement.

62.civic (adjective)

English Meaning - public, community, local.

63.dialogue (noun)

English Meaning - talks, discussion, discourse, debate, negotiation, deliberation.

64.as things stand (phrase)

English Meaning - in the present situation.

65.credible (adjective)

English Meaning - acceptable, trustworthy, reliable, dependable; believable, plausible, reasonable.