Hindi English Translation || Editorial || Silly point: On linking cricket to patriotism

Silly point: On linking cricket to patriotism

Support for the national cricket team or its players is no litmus test (indicative test, measure/gauge, index) for patriotism (देशभक्ति)

People who allegedly (कथित तौर पर, जाहिरा तौर पर) celebrated the victory of Pakistan against India in a T20 cricket World Cup match on October 24 are facing the brunt of the state. All of them are Muslims. In Rajasthan, a young schoolteacher has been terminated by a private school and the police have charged her under IPC Section 153B for ‘imputations (इलज़ाम, आक्षेप, आरोप), assertions (दावा, घोषणा, आश्वासन, पुष्टि) prejudicial (हानिकारक, अहितकर) to national integration (एकीकरण, समेकन, समावेश)’. In Jammu and Kashmir, the police have registered two cases against unknown persons under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) (गैरकानूनी गतिविधियां अधिनियम) and other sections. In Uttar Pradesh, three students from J&K have been charged under IPC Sections 153A (promoting enmity between groups), 505 (creating or publishing content to promote enmity (शत्रुता, विरोध, घृणा)) and, later, Section 124A, sedition (incitement (to riot/rebellion), agitation, trouble making/provocation (against the established government/authority)). The wisdom (बुद्धिमत्ता, सामान्य ज्ञान, समझ), propriety (औचित्य, शिष्टता, नैतिकता) or acceptability (स्वीकार्यता, सहनशीलता, शुद्धता) of celebrating Pakistan’s victory is beside the point (बिन्दु, विषय). From moral, tactical, and practical perspectives (परिप्रेक्ष्य, दृष्टिकोण), this sweeping (overwhelming, complete, total, blanket, over-general) policing (vigilance, guarding, watching, monitoring) is unwise (ill-advised, ill-considered, short-sighted, misguided, thoughtless). No democracy, least of all a country of India’s size and diversity (existence/presence of different people (from a variety of backgrounds and perspectives ranging from race to age to gender to hometown to educational experience) within group; variety, variance, difference), can demand unyielding uniformity and conformity (compliance with, adherence to, accordance with, observance of) from its population, on all questions and at all times (always). It is unlikely (doubtful, implausible, improbable, questionable) that any of these charges will stand (put up with, cope with, handle, withstand, stand up to (a test)) judicial scrutiny, but that only makes this spectacle (display, show, event/scene) a ridiculous distraction (disturbance, intrusion, interference, obstruction, hindrance) for the stretched law enforcement (imposition, implementation, execution) system. Far from (not, not at all) enforcing national integration as the purported (alleged, supposed, professed) aim of this heavy-handed police action is, it will only brew (develop, loom, impend) more resentment and social disharmony (discord, friction, conflict, hostility) apart from derailing young lives.

An unremitting (relentless, constant, continuous) loyalty test of citizens can be a self-defeating (futile, pointless, useless) pursuit (activity, occupation; quest, search, hunt for something) for a country like India that has global ambitions. People of Indian origin live around the world, with split (divided) loyalties. There are U.S. citizens who chant (shout, sing, chorus, say something loudly) victory for India at gatherings in their home countries addressed (talk to, speak to, give a discourse to) by the Indian Prime Minister, and there are British and Australian citizens who boo (mock, ridicule, laugh at, deride, tease, insult, shout disapproval at) their own country in favour of (in support of, to the advantage of, approve of) India during sporting events. Sports teams around the world have members of foreign origin. Infusion (introduction, instilling, infusion, imbuing, inculcation) of toxic hyper-nationalism (extreme nationalism, ultra-nationalism) in sports is bad in such a world; more so for India. While the BJP has been championing this link between cricket and nationalism (it refers to a system (with a narrow set of ideas) created by a group of people who believe their nation is superior to all others. It is also a perception of national superiority and an orientation toward national dominance-called chauvinism (excessive nationalism)), other parties are not far behind as the incident in Rajasthan, a Congress-ruled State, shows. AAP in Delhi was one step ahead and questioning the Narendra Modi government for allowing the cricket match with Pakistan. Had all this been on account of (because of, owing to, due to, by virtue of) an unspoken link between cheering for the national cricket team and support for a united India, the police would have also charged those who mercilessly (ruthlessly, pitilessly, brutally/cruelly, heartlessly, inhumanly) trolled Mohammed Shami, a Muslim in the Indian cricket team. True, it would have been wonderful for the Indian cricket team to enjoy the unqualified support of the entire nation, but, surely, there is no reason to charge those who support another team with sedition. The Indian state looks silly (नासमझ, मूर्ख) now, and the whole episode (incident, event, occurrence) bodes ill for cricket, and the country.

Courtesy: The Hindu

Important Word List With Meaning

1.silly (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - नासमझ, मूर्ख
English Meaning - foolish, stupid, unintelligent, idiotic, brainless, mindless.

2.point (noun)

Hindi Meaning - बिन्दु, विषय
English Meaning - subject, subject matter, issue, matter, talking point, concern, argument, discussion.

3.patriotism (noun)

Hindi Meaning - देशभक्ति
English Meaning - devoted love and support for country; nationalism, national loyalty.

4.allegedly (adverb)

Hindi Meaning - कथित तौर पर, जाहिरा तौर पर
English Meaning - reportedly, supposedly, purportedly, ostensibly, apparently.

5.Indian Penal Code (IPC) (noun)

Hindi Meaning - भारतीय दंड संहिता
English Meaning - The Indian Penal Code (IPC) is the official criminal code of India. It is a comprehensive code intended to cover all substantive aspects of criminal law. The draft was passed into law on 6 October 1860. The Code came into operation on 1 January 1862. The Indian Penal Code of 1860, subdivided into 23 chapters, comprises 511 sections. IPC deals with crimes and punishments.

6.imputation (noun)

Hindi Meaning - इलज़ाम, आक्षेप, आरोप
English Meaning - accusation, allegation, insinuation, charge.

7.assertion (noun)

Hindi Meaning - दावा, घोषणा, आश्वासन, पुष्टि
English Meaning - declaration, announcement, assurance, attestation, affirmation.

8.prejudicial (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - हानिकारक, अहितकर
English Meaning - detrimental, damaging, harmful, disadvantageous.

9.integration (noun)

Hindi Meaning - एकीकरण, समेकन, समावेश
English Meaning - unification, consolidation, inclusion.

10.Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) (noun)

Hindi Meaning - गैरकानूनी गतिविधियां अधिनियम
English Meaning - an Indian law aimed at effective prevention of unlawful activities associations in India. Its main objective was to make powers available for dealing with activities directed against the integrity and sovereignty of India.

11.enmity (noun)

Hindi Meaning - शत्रुता, विरोध, घृणा
English Meaning - hostility, opposition, hatred/hate, bitterness.

12.wisdom (noun)

Hindi Meaning - बुद्धिमत्ता, सामान्य ज्ञान, समझ
English Meaning - knowledge, common sense, understanding.

13.propriety (noun)

Hindi Meaning - औचित्य, शिष्टता, नैतिकता
English Meaning - decorum, morality, rightness, correctness, appropriateness, good manners.

14.acceptability (noun)

Hindi Meaning - स्वीकार्यता, सहनशीलता, शुद्धता
English Meaning - tolerability, correctness, rightness.

15.perspective (noun)

Hindi Meaning - परिप्रेक्ष्य, दृष्टिकोण
English Meaning - outlook, viewpoint, approach.

16.litmus test (noun)

English Meaning - indicative test, measure/gauge, index.

17.brunt (noun)

English Meaning - impact, shock, burden, pressure, strain.

18.bear the brunt (phrase)

English Meaning - to suffer or endure the worst part of something (force/burden/pressure) when a very bad or unpleasant thing happens.

19.the state (noun)

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

20.Section 153B of the IPC (noun)

English Meaning - Section 153B of the Indian Penal Code seeks to punish imputations against national integration.

21.Section 153A of the IPC (noun)

English Meaning - it deals with speech that seeks to promote enmity between different communities.

22.Section 505 of the IPC (noun)

English Meaning - Section 505 of the Indian Penal Code deals with statements conducing to public mischief, statements creating or promoting enmity, hatred or ill-will between classes and offence under sub-section (2) committed in place of worship, etc.

23.Section 124A of the IPC (noun)

English Meaning - Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code lays down the punishment for sedition.

24.sedition (noun)

English Meaning - incitement (to riot/rebellion), agitation, trouble making/provocation (against the established government/authority).

25.beside the point (phrase)

English Meaning - irrelevant, immaterial, pointless, unimportant, not to the point.

26.sweeping (adjective)

English Meaning - overwhelming, complete, total, blanket, over-general.

27.policing (noun)

English Meaning - vigilance, guarding, watching, monitoring.

28.unwise (adjective)

English Meaning - ill-advised, ill-considered, short-sighted, misguided, thoughtless.

29.diversity (noun)

English Meaning - existence/presence of different people (from a variety of backgrounds and perspectives ranging from race to age to gender to hometown to educational experience) within group; variety, variance, difference.

30.unyielding (adjective)

English Meaning - resolute, firm, stiff, inflexible, uncompromising.

31.conformity (noun)

English Meaning - compliance with, adherence to, accordance with, observance of.

32.at all times (phrase)

English Meaning - always.

33.unlikely (adjective)

English Meaning - doubtful, implausible, improbable, questionable.

34.stand (verb)

English Meaning - put up with, cope with, handle, withstand, stand up to (a test).

35.scrutiny (noun)

English Meaning - examination, inspection, investigation.

36.spectacle (noun)

English Meaning - display, show, event/scene.

37.ridiculous (adjective)

English Meaning - absurd, pointless, unreasonable, irrational, illogical.

38.distraction (noun)

English Meaning - disturbance, intrusion, interference, obstruction, hindrance.

39.stretched (adjective)

English Meaning - overtaxed, overextended, strained.

40.enforcement (noun)

English Meaning - imposition, implementation, execution.

41.far from (phrase)

English Meaning - not, not at all.

42.purported (adjective)

English Meaning - alleged, supposed, professed.

43.heavy-handed (adjective)

English Meaning - oppressive, overbearing, highhanded, harsh.

44.brew (verb)

English Meaning - develop, loom, impend.

45.resentment (noun)

English Meaning - bitterness, indignation, irritation, enmity, hatred/hate.

46.disharmony (noun)

English Meaning - discord, friction, conflict, hostility.

47.derail (verb)

English Meaning - obstruct, impede, hinder, hamper, block, interrupt, thwart, stop, restrict.

48.unremitting (adjective)

English Meaning - relentless, constant, continuous.

49.loyalty (noun)

English Meaning - allegiance, faithfulness, adherence.

50.self-defeating (adjective)

English Meaning - futile, pointless, useless.

51.pursuit (noun)

English Meaning - activity, occupation; quest, search, hunt for something.

52.split (adjective)

English Meaning - divided.

53.chant (verb)

English Meaning - shout, sing, chorus, say something loudly.

54.gathering (noun)

English Meaning - meeting.

55.address (verb)

English Meaning - talk to, speak to, give a discourse to.

56.boo (verb)

English Meaning - mock, ridicule, laugh at, deride, tease, insult, shout disapproval at.

57.in favour of (phrase)

English Meaning - in support of, to the advantage of, approve of.

58.infusion (noun)

English Meaning - introduction, instilling, infusion, imbuing, inculcation.

59.hyper- (prefix)

English Meaning - over; beyond; excessively.

60.hyper-nationalism (noun)

English Meaning - extreme nationalism, ultra-nationalism.

61.more so (phrase)

English Meaning - to a greater degree or extent.

62.nationalism (noun)

English Meaning - it refers to a system (with a narrow set of ideas) created by a group of people who believe their nation is superior to all others. It is also a perception of national superiority and an orientation toward national dominance-called chauvinism (excessive nationalism).

63.champion (verb)

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

64.on account of (phrase)

English Meaning - because of, owing to, due to, by virtue of.

65.unspoken (adjective)

English Meaning - unstated, unexpressed, unmentioned.

66.mercilessly (adverb)

English Meaning - ruthlessly, pitilessly, brutally/cruelly, heartlessly, inhumanly.

67.unqualified (adjective)

English Meaning - unconditional, unreserved, unlimited, categorical, unequivocal, unambiguous, unrestricted, wholehearted, positive.

68.episode (noun)

English Meaning - incident, event, occurrence.