Hindi English Translation || Editorial || Overweight and weak: On the UN, the 81st session of the UN General Assembly

Overweight and weak: On the UN, the 81st session of the UN General Assembly

The United Nations (संयुक्त राष्ट्र) is unwieldy, and needs to move away from (से दूर हटना, से अलग होना) superpower (महाशक्ति) hegemony (प्रभुत्व, वर्चस्व)

The 81st session (सत्र, बैठक) of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) (संयुक्त राष्ट्र महासभा) could have been written off as just another year, with another set of speeches delivered on the global multilateral stage. However, this year, the UN’s annual Summit (शिखर सम्मेलन) has a unique (अद्वितीय, अनोखा) sense of urgency (तात्कालिकता की भावना). This is UN Secretary-General (UNSG) (the chief administrative officer of the United Nations, appointed by the General Assembly on the recommendation of the Security Council for a five-year renewable term. The Secretary-General is also the symbol of the UN’s ideals and an advocate and spokesperson for the interests of the world’s peoples) António Guterres’s final session, after a tenure (कार्यकाल, पदावधि) marked (विशेषता दर्शाना, चिह्नित करना) by a record number (highest number, unprecedented number, peak figure, maximum recorded figure) of global crises, conflicts (संघर्ष, टकराव), pandemics (महामारी, वैश्विक महामारी), climate disasters and the advent of a dangerous age of Artificial Intelligence. Not since (used to emphasize that something has not happened from a specific time in the past until now; never after, unheard of since) the Second World War (द्वितीय विश्व युद्ध) have there been so many conflicts; one study (a detailed investigation, research, inquiry, review) recorded (document, register, log, note) more than 65 conflicts across 35 countries in 2025, the highest since 1946. Growing (increasing, expanding, rising, mounting) polarisation (division into two sharply contrasting groups or sets of opinions or beliefs; division, separation, divergence, fragmentation, ideological division, rift) on every major issue (an important topic, matter, subject, concern), wars by global superpowers in violation (breach, infringement, contravention, breaking) of the UN charter (the founding treaty of the United Nations, signed in San Francisco on June 26, 1945, and entering into force on October 24, 1945; it sets out the UN’s purposes and principles, membership, structure and principal organs, and the framework governing its activities and international relations), nuclear threats and the imposition (enforcement, introduction, or application) of unilateral and illegitimate sanctions have weakened the UN, which at 81 seems overweight (relating to a system or organisation that is burdened with excess size, quantity, or administrative baggage, making a system inefficient and slow; bloated, heavy, unwieldy, cumbersome, ponderous, overburdened, outsized), weak (कमज़ोर, प्रभावहीन) and unrepresentative (not typical of a class or group; atypical, non-representative, untypical, disproportionate, biased) of the world. This makes it an important year for the world to unite in favour of (to be in agreement with; supporting, backing, approving, endorsing) a strengthened (fortify, bolster, reinforce, enhance) and reformed (revamp, modernized, overhaul, restructure) UN while choosing the next UNSG to guide that process over the next decade (a period of ten years; ten years). This is an important year for South Asia too, with the election of Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman as the President of the UNGA’s 81st session; he will oversee (supervise, manage, direct, administer) the UNSG’s selection. It was disappointing (upsetting, disheartening, discouraging, dismaying) that the world’s most powerful leaders and those at the heart of (forming the central or most important part of something; central to, core to, crucial to, pivotal to) the conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza (a Palestinian territory located on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, bordered by Egypt and Israel, and governed by Hamas since 2007) and the Persian Gulf (an arm of the Arabian Sea, between the Arabian Peninsula and southwestern Iran, known for its significant oil reserves and strategic geopolitical importance) failed to suggest solutions for the future. U.S. President Donald Trump spoke about the possible “annihilation” of Iran, and defended U.S. actions in Venezuela. Much to (intensely to, greatly to, profoundly to, significantly to) India’s chagrin (annoyance, irritation, vexation, exasperation), he again claimed (state or assert that something is the case, typically without providing evidence or proof; assert, declare, profess, maintain) to have negotiated (try to reach an agreement through discussion and compromise, bargain, broker, settle, arrange, mediate) peace in conflicts including the 2025 India-Pakistan four-day war. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian referred to (mention or allude to; mention, allude to, touch on, speak of) the U.S. and Israel as “murderers (killer, assassin, slaughterer, executioner), terrorists and assassins (a person who murders an important person for political or religious reasons; contract killer, hitman, executioner)”. The Russian President skipped (miss, omit, pass up, dodge, pass over, bypass) the session, while the U.S. denied visas (an official authorisation issued by a country allowing a foreign national to travel to its border or seek entry for a specified purpose and, where applicable, for a specified period; entry permit, travel authorisation, entry clearance, immigration authorisation) to the Palestinian (relating to Palestine or its people) delegation. An initiative led by the European Union and a few other countries, co-sponsored by India, to build a Partnership for Multilateralism (P4M) beyond superpower hegemony is well-meaning (having good intentions; well-intentioned, benevolent, earnest, sincere), but was drowned out (overwhelm, muffle, or silence by louder or more dominant noise or hostility; overpower, overwhelm, silence, muffle) by the rancour (bitterness or resentfulness, especially when long-standing; bitterness, spite, hatred, resentment) at this year’s UNGA.

For India, this year was significant as the Narendra Modi government launched (initiate, begin, start, set in motion) a campaign (an organized course of action to achieve a goal; drive, push, movement, crusade) for a second two-year non-permanent (temporary, transient, interim, short-term) term (period, stint, duration, spell) in the UN Security Council in 2028-29. It was therefore (for that reason, consequently; consequently, so, as a result, hence) surprising that Mr. Modi decided to skip the UNGA speech this year, and the multilateral summits on the side-lines, fresh from his hosting of the Delhi BRICS Summit. India’s voice (opinion, view, perspective, stance), of a balancing power (a state or entity that uses its influence to maintain equilibrium in international relations, preventing any single power from gaining absolute dominance; counterweight, stabilizing force, equalizer, equilibrator) that speaks for (to represent the views or interests of someone or something; represent, advocate for, defend, uphold) a rules-based (governed by an agreed set of conventions, laws, or protocols; legally bound, structured, regulated, standardized) international order (the structured system of rules, norms, and institutions that govern interactions between states on a global level; global system, world order, international framework, geopolitical structure) based on (having something as a foundation or starting point; founded on, built on, grounded in, resting on) the UN Charter, diplomacy (the profession, activity, or skill of managing international relations; statesmanship, statecraft, foreign affairs, negotiation, mediation) and dialogue (discussion, conversation, debate, exchange of views), is needed more than ever (to a greater degree or extent than in the past; increasingly, profoundly, intensely, undeniably) amidst (surrounded by or in the middle of; amid, among, in the middle of, surrounded by) the global warmongering.

Courtesy: The Hindu

Important Word List With Meaning

1.weak (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - कमज़ोर, प्रभावहीन
English Meaning - lacking the power to perform physically or effectively; fragile, feeble, ineffective, powerless.

2.United Nations (UN) (proper noun)

Hindi Meaning - संयुक्त राष्ट्र
English Meaning - an international organisation founded in 1945, established on October 24, 1945, and headquartered in New York, whose purposes under the UN Charter include maintaining international peace and security, developing friendly relations among nations, promoting international cooperation, and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.

3.Second World War (proper noun)

Hindi Meaning - द्वितीय विश्व युद्ध
English Meaning - a global conflict fought from 1939 to 1945 between two principal coalitions: the Allied Powers, including Britain, the Soviet Union, the United States and China, and the Axis Powers, led by Germany, Italy and Japan; it involved countries across Europe, Asia, Africa and the Pacific and ended with the defeat of the Axis powers in 1945.

4.move away from (phrasal verb)

Hindi Meaning - से दूर हटना, से अलग होना
English Meaning - gradually leave, abandon, or shift away from something; abandon, move beyond, shift from, depart from, pivot away from.

5.superpower (noun)

Hindi Meaning - महाशक्ति
English Meaning - a country with exceptionally great economic, military, and political influence; a very powerful and influential nation; world power, major power, hegemon, great power.

6.hegemony (noun)

Hindi Meaning - प्रभुत्व, वर्चस्व
English Meaning - dominance, supremacy, authority, ascendancy, leadership.

7.session (noun)

Hindi Meaning - सत्र, बैठक
English Meaning - a formal meeting, sitting, assembly, convention, gathering.

8.United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) (proper noun)

Hindi Meaning - संयुक्त राष्ट्र महासभा
English Meaning - the chief deliberative, policy-making and representative organ of the United Nations, comprising all 193 UN Member States, with each Member State having an equal vote; it provides a forum for multilateral discussion and consideration of international issues within the scope of the UN Charter.

9.summit (noun)

Hindi Meaning - शिखर सम्मेलन
English Meaning - a meeting between heads of government; conference, meeting, conclave, assembly.

10.unique (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - अद्वितीय, अनोखा
English Meaning - distinctive, special, unparalleled, exclusive.

11.sense of urgency (phrase)

Hindi Meaning - तात्कालिकता की भावना
English Meaning - a strong feeling that immediate or swift action or attention is required; pressing need, immediacy, urgency, imperative, promptness, rush, exigency.

12.tenure (noun)

Hindi Meaning - कार्यकाल, पदावधि
English Meaning - the period during which a person holds an office or position; term, incumbency, period in office, service, stint.

13.mark (verb)

Hindi Meaning - विशेषता दर्शाना, चिह्नित करना
English Meaning - characterize, define, distinguish, typify.

14.conflict (noun)

Hindi Meaning - संघर्ष, टकराव
English Meaning - confrontation, clash, dispute, hostilities, warfare.

15.pandemic (noun)

Hindi Meaning - महामारी, वैश्विक महामारी
English Meaning - an outbreak of a disease prevalent over a whole country or the world; widespread disease, global epidemic, plague, contagion.

16.unwieldy (adjective)

English Meaning - difficult to move, manage, or operate efficiently because of size, complexity, structure, or bureaucracy; cumbersome, unmanageable, clumsy, awkward.

17.polarisation (noun)

English Meaning - division into two sharply contrasting groups or sets of opinions or beliefs; division, separation, divergence, fragmentation, ideological division, rift.

18.record number (noun)

English Meaning - highest number, unprecedented number, peak figure, maximum recorded figure.

19.growing (adjective)

English Meaning - increasing, expanding, rising, mounting.

20.overweight (adjective)

English Meaning - relating to a system or organisation that is burdened with excess size, quantity, or administrative baggage, making a system inefficient and slow; bloated, heavy, unwieldy, cumbersome, ponderous, overburdened, outsized.

21.UN Secretary-General (UNSG) (noun)

English Meaning - the chief administrative officer of the United Nations, appointed by the General Assembly on the recommendation of the Security Council for a five-year renewable term. The Secretary-General is also the symbol of the UN’s ideals and an advocate and spokesperson for the interests of the world’s peoples.

22.write off (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - to dismiss or regard someone or something as insignificant, useless, failure, or ineffective; dismiss, disregard, ignore, discount.

23.record (adjective)

English Meaning - unprecedented, unsurpassed, exceptional, highest.

24.not since (phrase)

English Meaning - used to emphasize that something has not happened from a specific time in the past until now; never after, unheard of since.

25.study (noun)

English Meaning - a detailed investigation, research, inquiry, review.

26.record (verb)

English Meaning - document, register, log, note.

27.issue (noun)

English Meaning - an important topic, matter, subject, concern.

28.violation (noun)

English Meaning - breach, infringement, contravention, breaking.

29.UN Charter (proper noun)

English Meaning - the founding treaty of the United Nations, signed in San Francisco on June 26, 1945, and entering into force on October 24, 1945; it sets out the UN’s purposes and principles, membership, structure and principal organs, and the framework governing its activities and international relations.

30.imposition (noun)

English Meaning - enforcement, introduction, or application.

31.unrepresentative (adjective)

English Meaning - not typical of a class or group; atypical, non-representative, untypical, disproportionate, biased.

32.in favour of (phrase)

English Meaning - to be in agreement with; supporting, backing, approving, endorsing.

33.strengthen (verb)

English Meaning - fortify, bolster, reinforce, enhance.

34.reform (verb)

English Meaning - revamp, modernized, overhaul, restructure.

35.decade (noun)

English Meaning - a period of ten years; ten years.

36.oversee (verb)

English Meaning - supervise, manage, direct, administer.

37.disappointing (adjective)

English Meaning - upsetting, disheartening, discouraging, dismaying.

38.at the heart of (phrase)

English Meaning - forming the central or most important part of something; central to, core to, crucial to, pivotal to.

39.Gaza (noun)

English Meaning - a Palestinian territory located on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, bordered by Egypt and Israel, and governed by Hamas since 2007.

40.Persian Gulf (noun)

English Meaning - an arm of the Arabian Sea, between the Arabian Peninsula and southwestern Iran, known for its significant oil reserves and strategic geopolitical importance.

41.much to (phrase)

English Meaning - intensely to, greatly to, profoundly to, significantly to.

42.chagrin (noun)

English Meaning - annoyance, irritation, vexation, exasperation.

43.claim (verb)

English Meaning - state or assert that something is the case, typically without providing evidence or proof; assert, declare, profess, maintain.

44.negotiate (verb)

English Meaning - try to reach an agreement through discussion and compromise, bargain, broker, settle, arrange, mediate.

45.refer to (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - mention or allude to; mention, allude to, touch on, speak of.

46.murderer (noun)

English Meaning - killer, assassin, slaughterer, executioner.

47.assassin (noun)

English Meaning - a person who murders an important person for political or religious reasons; contract killer, hitman, executioner.

48.skip (verb)

English Meaning - miss, omit, pass up, dodge, pass over, bypass.

49.visa (noun)

English Meaning - an official authorisation issued by a country allowing a foreign national to travel to its border or seek entry for a specified purpose and, where applicable, for a specified period; entry permit, travel authorisation, entry clearance, immigration authorisation.

50.Palestinian (adjective)

English Meaning - relating to Palestine or its people.

51.well-meaning (adjective)

English Meaning - having good intentions; well-intentioned, benevolent, earnest, sincere.

52.drown out (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - overwhelm, muffle, or silence by louder or more dominant noise or hostility; overpower, overwhelm, silence, muffle.

53.rancour (noun)

English Meaning - bitterness or resentfulness, especially when long-standing; bitterness, spite, hatred, resentment.

54.launch (verb)

English Meaning - initiate, begin, start, set in motion.

55.campaign (noun)

English Meaning - an organized course of action to achieve a goal; drive, push, movement, crusade.

56.non-permanent (adjective)

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

57.term (noun)

English Meaning - period, stint, duration, spell.

58.United Nations Security Council (UNSC) (proper noun)

English Meaning - one of the six principal organs of the United Nations, with primary responsibility under the UN Charter for the maintenance of international peace and security; it consists of 15 members—5 permanent members and 10 non-permanent members, the latter elected by the General Assembly for two-year terms.

59.therefore (adverb)

English Meaning - for that reason, consequently; consequently, so, as a result, hence.

60.it is surprising that (phrase)

English Meaning - used to introduce a fact or situation that is unexpected or contrary to what might be expected; unexpectedly, remarkably, surprisingly, contrary to expectation.

61.voice (noun)

English Meaning - opinion, view, perspective, stance.

62.balancing power (noun)

English Meaning - a state or entity that uses its influence to maintain equilibrium in international relations, preventing any single power from gaining absolute dominance; counterweight, stabilizing force, equalizer, equilibrator.

63.speak for (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - to represent the views or interests of someone or something; represent, advocate for, defend, uphold.

64.rules-based (adjective)

English Meaning - governed by an agreed set of conventions, laws, or protocols; legally bound, structured, regulated, standardized.

65.international order (noun)

English Meaning - the structured system of rules, norms, and institutions that govern interactions between states on a global level; global system, world order, international framework, geopolitical structure.

66.based on (phrase)

English Meaning - having something as a foundation or starting point; founded on, built on, grounded in, resting on.

67.diplomacy (noun)

English Meaning - the profession, activity, or skill of managing international relations; statesmanship, statecraft, foreign affairs, negotiation, mediation.

68.dialogue (noun)

English Meaning - discussion, conversation, debate, exchange of views.

69.more than ever (phrase)

English Meaning - to a greater degree or extent than in the past; increasingly, profoundly, intensely, undeniably.

70.amidst (preposition)

English Meaning - surrounded by or in the middle of; amid, among, in the middle of, surrounded by.