Hindi English Translation || Editorial || Quadrilateral queasiness: On India’s stance in Russia-Ukraine crisis

Quadrilateral queasiness: On India’s stance in Russia-Ukraine crisis

India cannot be forced to pick a side in the conflict (टकराव, युद्ध, सशस्त्र संघर्ष), but Russia could test its resolve (संकल्प, निश्चय, विघटन करना)

At a snap (अनियोजित, आकस्मिक) virtual meeting (आभासी बैठक) of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue or Quad, comprising India, the U.S., Australia and Japan, leaders discussed the crisis of Russia’s invasion (आक्रमण, कब्जा, अधिग्रहण) of Ukraine along with (के साथ) more traditional topics of interest (ब्याज, दिलचस्पी, लाभ) for the Dialogue, including territorial and maritime (समुद्रतटीय) security across the Indo-Pacific. In the joint statement, issued after the summit (सम्मेलन, बैठक), the four nations reaffirmed (पुष्टि करना, जोर देना, राज्य करना) their commitment (प्रतिबद्धता, जिम्मेदारी, दायित्व) to a free and open Indo-Pacific, “in which the sovereignty (संप्रभुता, अधिकार क्षेत्र, वर्चस्व) and territorial integrity (अखंडता, एकता) of all states (government, the regime, the authorities, the Establishment) is respected and countries are free from military, economic, and political coercion (दबाव, बल, मजबूरी)”. The latest Quad meeting was in part likely motivated by the concern (चिंता, बेचैनी, आशंका) of the U.S., Australia, and Japan that India, in not explicitly (clearly, unequivocally, understandably (without question/doubt)) condemning (censure, criticize, castigate, denounce, reprimand, rebuke, reprove) Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decision to launch a ground offensive (k, assault, onslaught, drive, invasion, act of war) across the Russia-Ukraine border and to bomb Ukrainian infrastructure (the basic physical or organisational structure or framework that a country or organization needs in order to function properly. For a whole nation, it includes all the physical systems such as buildings, roads & railways networks, utilities, etc), might not be on the same page (in agreement) as the other Quad members vis-à-vis (concerning, with regard to, in relation to, as/in comparison with, in connection with (Vis-à-vis from Latin via. French, means literally “face-to-face)) this conflict. They have not only condemned Russia’s aggression (hostility, belligerence, combativeness, warmongering, hawkishness) but have also slapped (impose, levy, put on) Kremlin (The name “Kremlin” means “fortress inside a city”, and is often also used metonymically to refer to the official residence of the President of the Russian Federation in a similar sense to how “White House” refers to the Executive Office of the President of the United States; Kremlin is a fortified complex in the center of Moscow city. (Metonym is used as an alternative for something else with which it is closely related/associated)) elites and organisations linked to them with crippling (weakening, impairing, paralyzing) sanctions (action taken, or an order given to force a country to obey international laws by limiting or stopping trade with that country, by not allowing economic aid for that country, etc). India, contrarily (in a conflicting manner), has abstained (reject, avoid, deny, refrain from) from three UN resolutions (United Nations resolution is formal expression of the opinion or will of United Nations organs. It is a decision or declaration voted on by all member states of the United Nations and it usually requires a simple majority (50 percent of all votes plus one) to pass. Although any UN body can issue resolutions, in practice most resolutions are issued by the Security Council or the General Assembly) condemning Russia. There is also a considerable (reasonable, a fair degree of, substantial, appreciable, significant) difference (distinction, differentiation, variation) on the Russia-Ukraine issue in terms of the individual readouts (an official statement summing up the main points of a meeting/phone call between two leaders) of the Quad members. While the U.S., Australia and Japan directly called out Russia’s attempt to unilaterally (used to indicate something done by a person/country without approval/agreement from other people/countries involved in the situation) force changes to the status quo in Ukraine and vowed (swear, pledge, promise, affirm) not to let such action occur anywhere in the Indo-Pacific, India’s readout only referenced (refer to, mention, make reference to) Ukraine in passing (incidentally, by the way, briefly), in the context (circumstances, conditions, factors, state of affairs) of establishing a new humanitarian (it is intended to “save lives, alleviate suffering and maintain human dignity during and after man-made crises and disasters caused by natural hazards, as well as to prevent and strengthen preparedness for when such situations occur. It is given to meet the immediate needs of victims of disasters or violence. It can include food, money, medical supplies, and other things required by those affected; compensation) assistance and disaster relief mechanism for this cause.

Russia’s action has obviously posed complex questions for India’s strategic calculus (calculation, estimation, reasoning), even as New Delhi continues to be guided by the 21st century variant (version, alternative form) of its non-alignment (a term used for an international organization who do not want to officially align themselves with, or against, any major power bloc (group of countries)) paradigm (model, pattern, case in point), and by its need to remain close to Moscow, a major defence supplier. South Block is already well versed (scholarly, erudite, well informed, well read) at playing hardball (act/behave aggressively and competitively) with the mandarins at the U.S. State Department over getting a CAATSA waiver for India’s purchase of $5.43 billion worth of the Russian Triumf missile defence system. While the discussions on the Ukraine crisis will continue at the Quad and across other plurilateral ((of an agreement) involving many different countries) platforms (forum, medium, channel, venue) where India and the U.S. work together for the greater good of the rules-based (based on a predetermined set of principles) international order, the idea that NATO countries or even Russia can force sovereign (independent, self-governing, autonomous, self-determining, self-legislating) nations with a proud history of non-alignment to pick a side in a complex geopolitical (relating to (the study of) the geographical factors (a country’s position on the earth, size, climate, and natural resources &, etc.) in world politics and inter-state relations) conflict is quite passé (out of date, outdated, old-fashioned, outmoded, archaic, obsolete, ancient) and eminently (very, highly, extremely) unviable (not feasible; unfeasible, undoable, impracticable) in today’s interdependent (dependent on each other; supportive) global arena. The Quad, for example, cannot afford to alienate India, a critical partner in the global-strategic plan to balance the rise of China as a potential (possible, likely, probable) Asian hegemon (super power, major power). Yet, India may find its resolve and patience with Russia tested should Russian occupying forces (troops; armed forces, soldiers) begin committing war crimes (According to the United Nations, a war crime is a serious violation/breach of international law committed against civilians or “enemy combatants” during an international or domestic armed conflict) and human rights violations in contravention (infringement, breach, violation, breaking) of the Geneva Convention (The Geneva Conventions (1864-1949) and their Additional Protocols (in 1977 and 2005) is a body of Public International Law, also known as the Humanitarian Law of Armed Conflicts, whose purpose is to provide minimum protections, standards of humane treatment, and fundamental guarantees of respect to individuals who become victims of armed conflicts. The Geneva Conventions are a series of treaties on the treatment of civilians, prisoners of war (POWs) and soldiers who are otherwise rendered hors de combat (French, literally “outside the fight”), or incapable of fighting), the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other applicable global treaties (agreement, pact, accord, deal, compact).

Courtesy: The Hindu

Important Word List With Meaning

1.conflict (noun)

Hindi Meaning - टकराव, युद्ध, सशस्त्र संघर्ष
English Meaning - war, armed conflict, battle, fighting.

2.resolve (noun)

Hindi Meaning - संकल्प, निश्चय, विघटन करना
English Meaning - determination, willpower, firmness, resolution, courage.

3.snap (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - अनियोजित, आकस्मिक
English Meaning - unplanned, unplanned, unprepared, spontaneous, suddenly happened.

4.virtual meeting (noun)

Hindi Meaning - आभासी बैठक
English Meaning - (interactive) online meeting.

5.invasion (noun)

Hindi Meaning - आक्रमण, कब्जा, अधिग्रहण
English Meaning - occupation, conquering, capture, seizure, annexation, annexing, takeover.

6.along with (phrase)

Hindi Meaning - के साथ
English Meaning - together with, accompanying.

7.interest (noun)

Hindi Meaning - ब्याज, दिलचस्पी, लाभ
English Meaning - common concerns (in politics/business).

8.maritime (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - समुद्रतटीय
English Meaning - of or related to the sea.

9.summit (noun)

Hindi Meaning - सम्मेलन, बैठक
English Meaning - meeting, conference, conclave.

10.reaffirm (verb)

Hindi Meaning - पुष्टि करना, जोर देना, राज्य करना
English Meaning - assert, state, assure again strongly.

11.commitment (noun)

Hindi Meaning - प्रतिबद्धता, जिम्मेदारी, दायित्व
English Meaning - responsibility, obligation, duty; dedication, devotion.

12.sovereignty (noun)

Hindi Meaning - संप्रभुता, अधिकार क्षेत्र, वर्चस्व
English Meaning - jurisdiction, supremacy, authority, power.

13.integrity (noun)

Hindi Meaning - अखंडता, एकता
English Meaning - unity, unification, wholeness, coherence, cohesion, togetherness, solidarity.

14.coercion (noun)

Hindi Meaning - दबाव, बल, मजबूरी
English Meaning - force, compulsion, constraint, enforcement, demand, pressure.

15.concern (noun)

Hindi Meaning - चिंता, बेचैनी, आशंका
English Meaning - (a cause of) anxiety, worry, disquiet, apprehension.

16.Quad/Quadrilateral (noun)

English Meaning - The ‘Quadrilateral’ is described as four democracies (the United States, Japan, Australia and India) with a shared objective to ensure and support a “free, open and prosperous” Indo-Pacific region.

17.queasiness (noun)

English Meaning - (slight) nervousness; worrisome (about something).

18.stance (noun)

English Meaning - stand, viewpoint, standpoint, opinion.

 
19.virtual (adjective)

English Meaning - performing a task with the use of computer, especially over a network.

20.Indo-Pacific (noun)

English Meaning - the Indo-Pacific region refers to the confluence (convergence) of the Pacific and Indian Oceans, which interconnect in Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, and more).

21.(the) state (noun)

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

22.in part (phrase)

English Meaning - to a certain degree/extent, relatively, to a point, somewhat.

23.explicitly (adverb)

English Meaning - clearly, unequivocally, understandably (without question/doubt).

24.condemn (verb)

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

25.offensive (noun)

English Meaning - attack, assault, onslaught, drive, invasion, act of war.

26.infrastructure (noun)

English Meaning - the basic physical or organisational structure or framework that a country or organization needs in order to function properly. For a whole nation, it includes all the physical systems such as buildings, roads & railways networks, utilities, etc.

27.on the same page (phrase)

English Meaning - in agreement.

28.vis-à-vis (preposition)

English Meaning - concerning, with regard to, in relation to, as/in comparison with, in connection with (Vis-à-vis from Latin via. French, means literally “face-to-face).

29.aggression (noun)

English Meaning - hostility, belligerence, combativeness, warmongering, hawkishness.

30.slap (verb)

English Meaning - impose, levy, put on.

31.Kremlin (noun)

English Meaning - The name “Kremlin” means “fortress inside a city”, and is often also used metonymically to refer to the official residence of the President of the Russian Federation in a similar sense to how “White House” refers to the Executive Office of the President of the United States; Kremlin is a fortified complex in the center of Moscow city. (Metonym is used as an alternative for something else with which it is closely related/associated).

32.elite (noun)

English Meaning - high society people; the group of most powerful people in a society.

33.crippling (adjective)

English Meaning - weakening, impairing, paralyzing.

34.sanctions (noun)

English Meaning - action taken, or an order given to force a country to obey international laws by limiting or stopping trade with that country, by not allowing economic aid for that country, etc.

35.contrarily (adverb)

English Meaning - in a conflicting manner.

36.abstain (verb)

English Meaning - reject, avoid, deny, refrain from.

37.UN resolution (noun)

English Meaning - United Nations resolution is formal expression of the opinion or will of United Nations organs. It is a decision or declaration voted on by all member states of the United Nations and it usually requires a simple majority (50 percent of all votes plus one) to pass. Although any UN body can issue resolutions, in practice most resolutions are issued by the Security Council or the General Assembly.

38.UN resolution 8979 (noun)

English Meaning - The 8979th meeting of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) was held on February 25 to pass a resolution under Chapter VII of the UN charter. The draft resolution was called to vote to end Russia’s military offensive against Ukraine. It also aimed to deplore Russia’s decision to grant independence to Ukraine’s breakaway regions Donetsk and Luhansk and reverse the decision, calling it violative of territorial integrity and political independence of Ukraine.

39.considerable (adjective)

English Meaning - reasonable, a fair degree of, substantial, appreciable, significant.

40.difference (noun)

English Meaning - distinction, differentiation, variation.

41.in terms of (phrase)

English Meaning - with regard to, concerning, as to, in respect of, with reference to, in the matter of, in connection with.

42.readout (noun)

English Meaning - an official statement summing up the main points of a meeting/phone call between two leaders.

43.call out (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - criticize someone for something (bad/incorrect) publicly and ask them to justify/explain it.

44.unilaterally (adverb)

English Meaning - used to indicate something done by a person/country without approval/agreement from other people/countries involved in the situation.

45.status quo (noun)

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

46.vow (verb)

English Meaning - swear, pledge, promise, affirm.

47.reference (verb)

English Meaning - refer to, mention, make reference to.

48.in passing (phrase)

English Meaning - incidentally, by the way, briefly.

49.passing (adjective)

English Meaning - approval, endorsement, acceptance, ratification, validation.

50.context (noun)

English Meaning - circumstances, conditions, factors, state of affairs.

51.humanitarian (adjective)

English Meaning - compassionate, humane socially concerned, welfare.

52.humanitarian assistance/humanitarian aid (noun)

English Meaning - it is intended to “save lives, alleviate suffering and maintain human dignity during and after man-made crises and disasters caused by natural hazards, as well as to prevent and strengthen preparedness for when such situations occur. It is given to meet the immediate needs of victims of disasters or violence. It can include food, money, medical supplies, and other things required by those affected; compensation.

53.calculus (noun)

English Meaning - calculation, estimation, reasoning.

54.variant (noun)

English Meaning - version, alternative form.

55.non-alignment (noun)

English Meaning - a term used for an international organization who do not want to officially align themselves with, or against, any major power bloc (group of countries).

56.paradigm (noun)

English Meaning - model, pattern, case in point.

57.South & North Block (noun)

English Meaning - South Block is a metonym of the Prime Minister’s Office. North Block is a metonym of the Ministry of Finance, India. (The Secretariat Building (consists North & South Block) or Central Secretariat is where the Cabinet Secretariat is housed, which administers the Government of India. The South Block houses the Prime Minister’s Office, Ministry of Defence, and the Ministry of External Affairs). The North Block primarily houses the Ministry of Finance and the Home Ministry). (Metonym is used as an alternative for something else with which it is closely related/associated).

58.well versed (adjective)

English Meaning - scholarly, erudite, well informed, well read.

59.play hardball (phrase)

English Meaning - act/behave aggressively and competitively.

60.hardball (noun)

English Meaning - uncompromising dealings.

61.plurilateral (adjective)

English Meaning - (of an agreement) involving many different countries.

62.platform (noun)

English Meaning - forum, medium, channel, venue.

63.rules-based (adjective)

English Meaning - based on a predetermined set of principles.

64.world/international/global order (noun)

English Meaning - the arrangement of power and authority that provides the system for the conduct of diplomacy and world politics in relation to the entire world.

65.sovereign (adjective)

English Meaning - independent, self-governing, autonomous, self-determining, self-legislating

66.geopolitical (adjective)

English Meaning - relating to (the study of) the geographical factors (a country’s position on the earth, size, climate, and natural resources &, etc.) in world politics and inter-state relations.

67.passé (adjective)

English Meaning - out of date, outdated, old-fashioned, outmoded, archaic, obsolete, ancient.

68.eminently (adverb)

English Meaning - very, highly, extremely.

69.unviable (adjective)

English Meaning - not feasible; unfeasible, undoable, impracticable.

70.interdependent (adjective)

English Meaning - dependent on each other; supportive.

71.potential (adjective)

English Meaning - possible, likely, probable.

72.hegemon (noun)

English Meaning - super power, major power.

73.occupying (adjective)

English Meaning - capturing, seizing, invading, dominating, commandeering.

74.forces (noun)

English Meaning - troops; armed forces, soldiers.

75.war crime (noun)

English Meaning - According to the United Nations, a war crime is a serious violation/breach of international law committed against civilians or “enemy combatants” during an international or domestic armed conflict.

76.contravention (noun)

English Meaning - infringement, breach, violation, breaking.

77.Geneva convention (noun)

English Meaning - The Geneva Conventions (1864-1949) and their Additional Protocols (in 1977 and 2005) is a body of Public International Law, also known as the Humanitarian Law of Armed Conflicts, whose purpose is to provide minimum protections, standards of humane treatment, and fundamental guarantees of respect to individuals who become victims of armed conflicts. The Geneva Conventions are a series of treaties on the treatment of civilians, prisoners of war (POWs) and soldiers who are otherwise rendered hors de combat (French, literally “outside the fight”), or incapable of fighting.

78.treaty (noun)

English Meaning - agreement, pact, accord, deal, compact.