Hindi English Translation || Editorial || Madam President: On Droupadi Murmu’s election as India’s 15th President

Madam President: On Droupadi Murmu’s election as India’s 15th President

The election of Droupadi Murmu as India’s 15th President should lead to (result in, cause, bring on, bring about, give rise to) more attention (ध्यान, मान्यता, सम्मान) on the rights of tribals

The election (vote in, choose, cast one’s vote for) of Droupadi Murmu as India’s 15th President is rich (धनी, विशाल, महान) in symbolism (प्रतीक, प्रतिनिधित्व). In the 75th year of the country’s Independence, Ms. Murmu becomes the second woman to occupy (पर कब्जा, पकड़ना) the Rashtrapati Bhavan, and the first member of a tribal community to do so. Her membership of the Santhal tribe is in focus (चर्चा में, स्पष्ट). She has risen through the ranks in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and has shown a mind of her own during her stint (कार्यकाल, अवधि) as Governor of Jharkhand. Her election to the highest office of the country comes 101 years after two tribespeople were elected to legislative bodies (वैधानिक निकाय) in colonial (औपनिवेशिक, क्षेत्रीय, राज्य) India. Founding figures (आकृति) of the Republic (गणतंत्र) were acutely cognisant (परिचित, जानकार) of the disadvantageous position of the tribespeople (people who belong to a tribe) and made special provisions (प्रावधान) such as the Fifth and Sixth Schedules (छठी अनुसूची) of the Constitution. Jaipal Singh Munda, sportsman and tribal leader, was a prominent member of the Constituent Assembly (संविधान सभा) who forcefully (जोर जबरदसती) articulated (express, convey, communicate, voice) the fears and hopes of tribespeople. In 2000, two States, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh, were formed to give more focused attention to the concentrated (populous, densely populated) tribal population in these regions. The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (forest people/resident) (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, was passed in 2006. Ms. Murmu’s election is a milestone (major achievement) in the journey of tribal empowerment (authorization, accreditation; capacity-building, inclusiveness), though she is by no means (not at all, in no way, certainly not, absolutely not, definitely not, under no circumstances) limited to her identity (identification, recognition; individuality, originality). It is a moment of pride for India.

For the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, this is a moment of political triumph (victory, win, success) over the Opposition. Paving the way for (clear the way for, make preparations for, put things in order for) a tribal woman to succeed (take over from, come after, follow (a position from)) a Dalit in the highest office, Mr. Modi has shown yet again his capacity to constantly script invigorating (revitalizing, refreshing, reviving, rejuvenating, encouraging) politics by gauging (assess, evaluate, analyze, judge) the political aspirations (ambition, hope, goal) of marginalised (treated as insignificant, treated as unimportant, neglected) communities and enlisting (join, enroll in, sign up for) them for Hindutva politics. Ms. Murmu’s elevation has elated (make (someone) very happy) tribespeople across the country, and this could convert into significant electoral gains for the BJP in the coming days. Her candidacy (the state/condition/fact of being a candidate, particularly in an election; candidate-ship) split the Opposition, as many members of the Shiv Sena and JMM supported her. Tribespeople have high expectations from Ms. Murmu’s rise to the top, but that could be realised only if the Modi government backs up (support, stand by, give one’s support to, side with) its symbolism with substance (significant subject, important matter/content, valid message). This is the right moment to pay attention to (take notice of, take into account, bear in mind, be mindful of, consider) the concerns that many tribal activists (a person who supports a political change or cause; (or societal change/cause)) have been raising — of a systematic erosion (undermining, weakening, deterioration, disintegration) of protections accorded (give, grant, present) to tribals, harassment (oppression, victimization, discrimination, punishment) and suppression (repression, clampdown, crackdown, restriction, crushing, quelling, stifling) by the police, and a general intolerance (bigotry, narrow-mindedness, dogmatism, illiberality, insularity, sensitivity, oversensitivity) of the state towards tribal autonomy (independence, freedom, self-rule). Ms. Murmu personally may have limited leeway (freedom, scope/flexibility, latitude/elbow room) in championing (support, back, espouse, advocate, promote, defend, protect, uphold) any political cause (principle, aim, ideal, belief), but she has certainly become an inspiration for all disadvantaged (deprived, underprivileged, poor, poverty-stricken) sections of society — women, tribals and the poor in general. To make her election more meaningful, state policy too must bend towards justice and fairness to all. Ms. Murmu’s election should not be used as a convenient excuse for inaction (neglect, negligence, disregard, apathy, inactivity, lethargy) on countering the wider disempowerment (the condition/state of being disempowered (less powerful)) of tribespeople.

Courtesy: The Hindu

Important Word List With Meaning

1.attention (noun)

Hindi Meaning - ध्यान, मान्यता, सम्मान
English Meaning - recognition, regard, awareness, attentiveness; care, support, aid.

2.rich (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - धनी, विशाल, महान
English Meaning - huge, great.

3.symbolism (noun)

Hindi Meaning - प्रतीक, प्रतिनिधित्व
English Meaning - (indirect) representation, epitomisation, illustration, exemplification.

4.occupy (verb)

Hindi Meaning - पर कब्जा, पकड़ना
English Meaning - hold, have, be in (a position).

5.in focus (phrase)

Hindi Meaning - चर्चा में, स्पष्ट
English Meaning - distinct, clear-cut, well defined.

6.stint (noun)

Hindi Meaning - कार्यकाल, अवधि
English Meaning - spell, period, time, turn, term.

7.legislative body (noun)

Hindi Meaning - वैधानिक निकाय
English Meaning - parliament, legislative assembly, legislature; governing body, executive, government, law makers.

8.colonial (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - औपनिवेशिक, क्षेत्रीय, राज्य
English Meaning - regional, state, territorial, local.

9.figure (noun)

Hindi Meaning - आकृति
English Meaning - (important or distinctive) person.

10.republic (noun)

Hindi Meaning - गणतंत्र
English Meaning - a group of people involved in a particular activity with certain equality; “The Republic” is a form of government in which a state (country) is ruled by elected representatives of the people (citizen body).

11.cognisant (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - परिचित, जानकार
English Meaning - aware, well informed about, familiar with.

12.provision (noun)

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

13.Sixth Schedule (noun)

Hindi Meaning - छठी अनुसूची
English Meaning - Article 244 (2) provides - “The provisions of the Sixth Schedule shall apply to the administration of the tribal areas in the State of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram”. Sixth Schedule allows constitution (formation) of Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) in the Northeastern states of Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram (three Councils each), and Tripura (one Council) to safeguard the rights of tribal population.

14.Constituent Assembly (noun)

Hindi Meaning - संविधान सभा
English Meaning - The Constituent Assembly of India, consisting of indirectly elected representatives, was established to draft a constitution for India. It existed for approx. three years, the first parliament of India after independence in 1947.

15.forcefully (adverb)

Hindi Meaning - जोर जबरदसती
English Meaning - vigorously, outspokenly, vehemently, forcefully, forthrightly.

16.lead to (verb)

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

17.tribespeople (noun)

English Meaning - people who belong to a tribe.

18.rise through the ranks (phrase)

English Meaning - to make progress by one’s own efforts.

19.have a mind of one’s own (phrase)

English Meaning - to have the ability/habit to think, act, or form opinions without others’ influence.

20.elect (verb)

English Meaning - vote in, choose, cast one’s vote for.

21.legislative (adjective)

English Meaning - law-making, parliamentary, policy-making, administrative.

22.founding fathers/figures (India) (noun)

English Meaning - The leaders those who fought the British Empire non-violently for India’s independence. Some of the most famous are Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Dr.Ambedkar, Sardar Vallabhai Patel, Subhash Chandra Bose and more.

23.Fifth & Sixth Schedule (noun)

English Meaning - Article 244 of the Constitution of India read with two Schedules - the Fifth and Sixth Schedules - to the Constitution of India provide special arrangements for areas inhabited by Scheduled Tribes. Article 244 (1) provides- “The provisions of the Fifth Schedule shall apply to the administration and control of the Scheduled Area and Scheduled Tribes in any State other than the States of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram”.

24.articulate (verb)

English Meaning - express, convey, communicate, voice.

25.concentrated (adjective)

English Meaning - populous, densely populated.

26.The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 (noun)

English Meaning - An Act to recognise and vest the forest rights and occupation in forest land in forest dwelling Scheduled Tribes and other traditional forest dwellers who have been residing in such forests for generations but whose rights could not be recorded; to provide for a framework for recording the forest rights so vested and the nature of evidence required for such recognition and vesting in respect of forest land.

27.forest dweller (noun)

English Meaning - forest people/resident.

28.milestone (noun)

English Meaning - major achievement.

29.empowerment (noun)

English Meaning - authorization, accreditation; capacity-building, inclusiveness.

30.by no means (phrase)

English Meaning - not at all, in no way, certainly not, absolutely not, definitely not, under no circumstances.

31.identity (noun)

English Meaning - identification, recognition; individuality, originality.

32.identity (noun)

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.

33.triumph (noun)

English Meaning - victory, win, success.

34.pave the way for (phrase)

English Meaning - clear the way for, make preparations for, put things in order for.

35.succeed (verb)

English Meaning - take over from, come after, follow (a position from).

36.invigorating (adjective)

English Meaning - revitalizing, refreshing, reviving, rejuvenating, encouraging.

37.gauge (verb)

English Meaning - assess, evaluate, analyze, judge.

38.aspiration (noun)

English Meaning - ambition, hope, goal.

39.marginalised (adjective)

English Meaning - treated as insignificant, treated as unimportant, neglected.

40.enlist (verb)

English Meaning - join, enroll in, sign up for.

41.elevation (noun)

English Meaning - promotion, rise.

42.elate (verb)

English Meaning - make (someone) very happy.

43.candidacy (noun)

English Meaning - the state/condition/fact of being a candidate, particularly in an election; candidate-ship.

44.back up (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - support, stand by, give one’s support to, side with.

45.substance (noun)

English Meaning - significant subject, important matter/content, valid message.

46.pay attention to (phrase)

English Meaning - take notice of, take into account, bear in mind, be mindful of, consider.

47.activist (noun)

English Meaning - a person who supports a political change or cause; (or societal change/cause).

48.erosion (noun)

English Meaning - undermining, weakening, deterioration, disintegration.

49.accord (verb)

English Meaning - give, grant, present.

50.harassment (noun)

English Meaning - oppression, victimization, discrimination, punishment.

51.suppression (noun)

English Meaning - repression, clampdown, crackdown, restriction, crushing, quelling, stifling.

52.intolerance (noun)

English Meaning - bigotry, narrow-mindedness, dogmatism, illiberality, insularity, sensitivity, oversensitivity.

53.the state (noun)

English Meaning - government, the administration, the regime, the authorities.

54.autonomy (noun)

English Meaning - independence, freedom, self-rule.

55.leeway (noun)

English Meaning - freedom, scope/flexibility, latitude/elbow room.

56.champion (verb)

English Meaning - support, back, espouse, advocate, promote, defend, protect, uphold.

57.cause (noun)

English Meaning - principle, aim, ideal, belief.

58.disadvantaged (adjective)

English Meaning - deprived, underprivileged, poor, poverty-stricken.

59.inaction (noun)

English Meaning - neglect, negligence, disregard, apathy, inactivity, lethargy.

60.disempowerment (noun)

English Meaning - the condition/state of being disempowered (less powerful).