Hindi English Translation || Editorial || Lives at stake: On recurring instances of attack by ‘self-styled’ cow vigilantes

Lives at stake: On recurring instances of attack by ‘self-styled’ cow vigilantes

The Karnataka police must act with alacrity (तत्परता, शीघ्रता) in bringing murderers to book

The scourge (menace, nuisance, affliction, misfortune, burden/bane) of murders, where cattle traders or transporters have been attacked by self-styled (so-called, self-appointed, self-avowed, self-professed) “cow vigilantes (a member of the self-appointed group which unofficially punishing crimes)”, has surfaced again in Karnataka — on Saturday, a 39-year-old assistant driver of a van transporting cattle was allegedly (कथित रूप से) tortured (यातनाएं देना, दुर्व्यवहार) and killed by a right-wing (दक्षिणपंथी, रूढ़िवादी) activist and his associates (सहयोगी, समर्थक). The incident must be seen as one among recurring (पुनरावर्ती) murderous (brutal, violent, savage, vicious, bloodthirsty, barbaric, cruel, inhuman) acts across States, but predominantly (मुख्य रूप से) in the north of India. From the murder of Pehlu Khan in Rajasthan, who was transporting cattle, to Mohammad Akhlaq in Dadri, Uttar Pradesh, on the suspicion (शक, संदेह, शंका) of storing cow meat — it was proven to be false — to two tribal men lynched (वध करना) by alleged (कथित, माना जाता है) activists (कार्यकर्ता, सक्रिय प्रतिभागी) of the Bajrang Dal in Seoni, Madhya Pradesh, and scores of such incidents, the venality (corruptible state; a state of being vulnerable to be corrupt/bribery/grafting) of those committing the murders has been matched by the acuity (तीक्ष्णता, नुकीलापन) by law enforcement agencies (कानून प्रवर्तन एजेंसियां) in implementing (impose, enforce, execute, carry out) cattle slaughter (killing of animals (for food)) laws to find a pretext (बहाना) for these acts while not bringing those responsible to book. That the murderers of Pehlu Khan were acquitted (declare innocent, exonerate, absolve; discharge, release, free (from a criminal charge)) for the lack of (absence, non-existence, unavailability) prompt (quick, swift, speedy, immediate, expeditious, on time) police action is emblematic of this trend. The recurrence (repetition, reoccurrence, reappearance, reemergence) of these acts is also a consequence (implication, result, outcome, ramification, repercussion) of the emboldening (encourage, motivate; strengthen, fortify) of these right-wing activists, who show little regard (consideration, sympathy, concern, care, attention) for human lives as opposed to (in contrast with, as against, as an alternative to, rather than, instead of) their perceived (discernable, noticeable, recognizable; supposed, regarded, considered) religious beliefs on cow slaughter. Another common factor that is more often the case is that these acts recur (happen again, reoccur, be repeated, happen repeatedly, appear again) in States ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and are generally condoned (approve, sanction, justify, vindicate, endorse (something bad as acceptable)) by its fellow travellers in the Sangh Parivar.

The Opposition in Karnataka has rightly sought to put the government in the dock and to highlight (emphasize, put stress on, underline, underscore, draw attention to) how this could foster (encourage, promote, advance, stimulate, cultivate, nurture, support) communal disharmony. Any dilly-dallying (waste time, delay, linger) by the Karnataka police in bringing the guilty (the person who is culpable, blameworthy, at fault, in the wrong, responsible for some wrongdoing) to book will be a signal that this is a repetition of the injustices that were committed (do, perform, carry out, effect (an unjust or unfair or immoral act)) against Pehlu Khan and others. More so, the repeated nature of these acts calls into question the outcome of recent jurisprudence (legal system) on cattle slaughter, the 2005 judgment by the Supreme Court in particular (particularly, specifically, especially) which banned cattle slaughter based on an expansive (extensive, sweeping, all-embracing, comprehensive, thorough, inclusive) interpretation (explanation, elucidation, clarification, definition, reading, evaluation) of the Directive Principles of state policy, besides (except, except for, apart from, other than, barring, excluding) Articles 48, 48A, and 51(A) of the Constitution. This judgment had overturned (reverse, overrule, nullify/cancel) an earlier ruling (decision, judgement, finding, verdict, resolution) in 1958, which had limited the ban only to “useful” cattle engaged in agriculture and husbandry. The judgment’s interpretation resulted in (lead to, cause, bring on, bring about, give rise to) States, mostly led by the BJP, to come up with (devise, propose, put forward, present, submit, suggest, recommend, introduce, bring forward, moot) stringent laws on cow slaughter, and the stigmatisation (accusation, cursing, denouncement, discredit, dishonor, disparagement) of 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 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), besides allowing for impudent (shameless, brazen, audacious, impolite, ill-mannered, unmannerly, outrageous) behaviour by so-called (supposed, alleged, claimed, professed, reported, ostensible) “vigilantes”. It is not enough to condemn (censure, criticize, castigate, denounce, reprimand, rebuke, reprove) these acts; it is time, yet again, for a judicial rethink (reevaluation, reassessment, reexamination, restudy) on legislation (body of laws, acts, rules, regulations, statutes) over cow slaughter.

Courtesy: The Hindu

Important Word List With Meaning

1.recurring (adjective)

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

2.alacrity (noun)

Hindi Meaning - तत्परता, शीघ्रता
English Meaning - eagerness, readiness, promptness, willingness, swiftness.

3.allegedly (adverb)

Hindi Meaning - कथित रूप से
English Meaning - reportedly, supposedly, purportedly, ostensibly, apparently.

4.torture (verb)

Hindi Meaning - यातनाएं देना, दुर्व्यवहार
English Meaning - abuse, oppress, mistreat, ill-treat, torment, harass.

5.right-wing (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - दक्षिणपंथी, रूढ़िवादी
English Meaning - rightist, conservative, reactionary, traditionalist.

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.associate (noun)

Hindi Meaning - सहयोगी, समर्थक
English Meaning - partner, friend, colleague, supporter, fellow worker.

8.predominantly (adverb)

Hindi Meaning - मुख्य रूप से
English Meaning - mainly, mostly, typically, usually, commonly, generally, .

9.suspicion (noun)

Hindi Meaning - शक, संदेह, शंका
English Meaning - misgiving, doubt, qualm, scepticism; impression, speculation, guess.

10.lynch (verb)

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

11.alleged (adjective)

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

12.acuity (noun)

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

13.enforcement (noun)

Hindi Meaning - प्रवर्तन, आरोपण
English Meaning - imposition, implementation, execution, carrying out.

14.law enforcement agencies (noun)

Hindi Meaning - कानून प्रवर्तन एजेंसियां
English Meaning - a government agency responsible for enforcing the law. For example - Enforcement Directorate (ED), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and etc.

15.pretext (noun)

Hindi Meaning - बहाना
English Meaning - a false reason that we give for doing something by hiding the real reason; excuse, false excuse, ostensible reason, alleged reason, supposed grounds, pretence, semblance

16.at stake (phrase)

English Meaning - at issue, at risk; or in question.

17.self-styled (adjective)

English Meaning - so-called, self-appointed, self-avowed, self-professed.

18.vigilante (noun)

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

19.bring to book (phrase)

English Meaning - punish officially.

20.scourge (noun)

English Meaning - menace, nuisance, affliction, misfortune, burden/bane.

21.surface (verb)

English Meaning - emerge, appear, arise, come up, become visible.

22.murderous (adjective)

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

23.scores of (adjective)

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

24.venality (noun)

English Meaning - corruptible state; a state of being vulnerable to be corrupt/bribery/grafting.

25.implement (verb)

English Meaning - impose, enforce, execute, carry out.

26.slaughter (noun)

English Meaning - killing of animals (for food).

27.acquit (verb)

English Meaning - declare innocent, exonerate, absolve; discharge, release, free (from a criminal charge).

28.lack of (noun)

English Meaning - absence, non-existence, unavailability.

29.prompt (adjective)

English Meaning - quick, swift, speedy, immediate, expeditious, on time.

30.emblematic (adjective)

English Meaning - typical, symbolic, representative, demonstrative, suggestive.

31.recurrence (noun)

English Meaning - repetition, reoccurrence, reappearance, reemergence,.

32.consequence (noun)

English Meaning - implication, result, outcome, ramification, repercussion.

33.embolden (verb)

English Meaning - encourage, motivate; strengthen, fortify.

34.regard (noun)

English Meaning - consideration, sympathy, concern, care, attention.

35.as opposed to (phrase)

English Meaning - in contrast with, as against, as an alternative to, rather than, instead of.

36.perceived (adjective)

English Meaning - discernable, noticeable, recognizable; supposed, regarded, considered.

37.belief (noun)

English Meaning - ideology, principle, conviction, tenet, dogma.

38.recur (verb)

English Meaning - happen again, reoccur, be repeated, happen repeatedly, appear again.

39.condone (verb)

English Meaning - approve, sanction, justify, vindicate, endorse (something bad as acceptable).

40.sought past and past participle of seek (verb)

English Meaning - try, aim, attempt.

41.put (someone) in the dock (phrase)

English Meaning - accuse someone of committing a crime and subject him/her to intense scrutiny; on trial in court, particularly in a criminal case (the “dock” is the enclosed place in a criminal court where a defendant stands or sits during a trial)

42.highlight (verb)

English Meaning - emphasize, put stress on, underline, underscore, draw attention to.

43.foster (verb)

English Meaning - encourage, promote, advance, stimulate, cultivate, nurture, support.

44.disharmony (noun)

English Meaning - discord, friction, conflict, hostility.

45.dilly-dally (verb)

English Meaning - waste time, delay, linger.

46.the guilty (noun)

English Meaning - the person who is culpable, blameworthy, at fault, in the wrong, responsible for some wrongdoing.

47.injustice (noun)

English Meaning - lack of justice, unfairness, misdeed, unjust/unfair act.

48.commit (verb)

English Meaning - do, perform, carry out, effect (an unjust or unfair or immoral act).

49.more so (phrase)

English Meaning - to a greater degree or extent or level.

50.draw/call into question (phrase)

English Meaning - doubt, distrust, mistrust, suspect, feel apprehensive about.

51.jurisprudence (noun)

English Meaning - legal system.

52.in particular (phrase)

English Meaning - particularly, specifically, especially.

53.expansive (adjective)

English Meaning - extensive, sweeping, all-embracing, comprehensive, thorough, inclusive.

54.interpretation (noun)

English Meaning - explanation, elucidation, clarification, definition, reading, evaluation.

55.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.

56.besides (preposition)

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

57.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.

58.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.

59.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”.

60.overturn (verb)

English Meaning - reverse, overrule, nullify/cancel.

61.ruling (noun)

English Meaning - decision, judgement, finding, verdict, resolution.

62.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.

63.result in (verb)

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

64.come up with (phrasal verb)

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

65.stringent (adjective)

English Meaning - strict, severe, extreme, rigorous.

66.stigmatisation (noun)

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

67.dietary habit (noun)

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

68.livelihood (noun)

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

69.impudent (adjective)

English Meaning - shameless, brazen, audacious, impolite, ill-mannered, unmannerly, outrageous.

70.so-called (adjective)

English Meaning - supposed, alleged, claimed, professed, reported, ostensible.

71.condemn (verb)

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

72.rethink (noun)

English Meaning - reevaluation, reassessment, reexamination, restudy.

73.legislation (noun)

English Meaning - body of laws, acts, rules, regulations, statutes.