Hindi English Translation || Editorial || Taming the tiger: On change of guard in Maharashtra

Taming the tiger: On change of guard in Maharashtra

BJP deflected (मोड़ना, टालना, मार्ग बदलना) attention from the defection (an act of changing allegiances/loyalties/sides; desertion, absconding, decamping) by allowing Shinde retain Sena identity (पहचान, मान्यता)

The formation of a new government in Maharashtra on Thursday, led by Eknath Shinde, followed a nail-biting (nerve-racking, stressful, anxious, worrying, concerning, strained, worrisome, difficult) and unique script (लिपि, लिखावट, आलेख). The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) conceded (दे देना, सौंपना, प्रदान करना) the Chief Minister’s post to Mr. Shinde who led a revolt (विद्रोह, हड़ताल, प्रतिरोध) in the Shiv Sena to unseat (oust, remove from office, topple, overthrow, bring down, dismiss) Uddhav Thackeray. Former Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has settled for the post of Deputy Chief Minister. The political churn (disorder/disorganization, confusion, disruption/chaos) in Maharashtra is unlikely to settle with (accept, agree to, accede to (something unsatisfactorily)) this, however. When the Shiv Sena, the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) formed an unlikely alliance (गठबंधन, संधि), the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), to form the government in 2019, it was seen as a new possibility of politics by some and crass opportunism (अवसरवाद, लाभ उठाना, व्यावहारिकता) by many. As it turned out (happen, occur, come about, transpire, develop), Mr. Thackeray, son of Sena founder Bal Thackeray, could not manage the turmoil (उथल-पुथल, अव्यवस्था, अशांति) that his daring (हिम्मत, साहसी) to experiment triggered (activate, set off, spark off) within the party. Initially, it had appeared that the provincialism (प्रांतीयता, संकीर्णता) represented by the Sena might act as a counter (something that is opposing/preventing something else) to the totalising (treating something as having one character/principle) politics of Hindutva. The MVA’s unravelling (fail, collapse, disintegration) shows that the BJP’s ideology (विचारधारा), backed (support, favour, endorse, sanction, approve, uphold) with instruments (उपकरण, यंत्र, साधन) of state power (राज्य की शक्ति), and the capacity to mobilise ((of resources) bring together for a specific cause) resources, could railroad (force someone into doing something or pressurize something to happen hurriedly & wrongfully; coerce, force, compel, pressure, pressurize) regional politics when the situation is favourable. This is one sabotage (तोड़-फोड़) of a government that has a credible (विश्वसनीय, भरोसेमंद) ideological defence (a means of protecting something; protection) — Mr. Shinde, and his BJP backers have argued that the Sena-BJP alliance had fought together in 2019, with Hindutva as their bonding (joining, connecting, establishing (relationship with someone having shared feelings/interests)) ideology. That Mr. Shinde unseated Mr. Thackeray to uphold (confirm, endorse/approve, vindicate/validate) the people’s will (decision, choice, preference) and fidelity (faithfulness, loyalty, allegiance, attachment, closeness; devotion, adherence; dependability, reliability) to the ideology is a strong argument. For all his mild demeanour (behaviour, conduct, attitude, manner, appearance, bearing) and inclusive (broad-based, common, all-embracing) image (public perception/conception, public impression, persona, profile, face, identity), Mr. Thackeray could not command (get, gain, obtain, secure) sufficient chutzpah (audacity, guts, nerve, boldness, self-confidence, temerity) to remake (improve, reengineer, make better, mend, rectify, correct) the Sena. The assumption (premise, belief, expectation) that the Sena could be re-engineered into a benign (considerate, thoughtful, helpful; agreeable, favourable, advantageous, beneficial) political outfit (party, organization, group) seems to have been misplaced (misguided, misconceived, ill-advised, ill-considered, ill-judged). And he failed to notice the resentment (bitterness, indignation, hostility, antipathy, antagonism, enmity, dissatisfaction, discontentment) that was bubbling up ((of emotions/feelings) intensify, increase, raise) right under his nose.

The Maharashtra episode (a group of events; incident, event, affair, occurrence) proves yet again the BJP’s capacity to play the long game (follow a long-term strategy; it also refers to active participation in achieving goals which may take some time). Soon after the patriarch (a powerful & eldest male head of a family or an organisation or a social system) Thackeray’s passing (demise, death, passing away) in 2012, the BJP’s plans to gain an upper hand (a dominating position) in its relations with the Sena began to roll out (start, begin, embark on, usher in (something officially)); by 2014 the party was ahead of the Sena. By winning a consecutive election in 2019, in alliance with the Sena, it reinforced (strengthen, support, make stronger, bolster, buttress) its position. All this should have tempered (moderate, tone down, mitigate, decrease, lessen) the ambitions of the Thackerays — which by then included a third-generation scion (heir, successor, descendant, next in line), Aaditya. When they claimed power by forming the MVA, the BJP harnessed (utilize, use, make use of, put to use, capitalize on) the resentment among Sena MLAs, finally toppling (remove, unseat, oust, bring down) the Thackerays. But the BJP and the Shinde-led Sena faction (bloc, camp, group, side) have been careful not to bruise (upset, insult, affront, hurt) the sentiments of the Sena cadre (members of a (political) group) that still holds the founder’s family in high esteem. Which faction will win the legal battle to own the party name and symbol and which one will win the hearts of the party workers are two different questions. It is not impossible that the Sena could dissipate (disappear, vanish, disintegrate, dissolve, scatter) and its cadres dissolve (change gradually to) into the BJP. The concession (handover, sacrifice, yielding, giving up, ceding, relinquishment, surrender) of the CM’s post to Mr. Shinde is not an act of political altruism (selflessness and concern for the well-being of others. Those who possess this quality typically put others first and truly care about the people around them, whether they have a personal tie to them or not; unselfishness, compassion, generosity, humanitarianism), but cold (objective, impersonal, unemotional, unfeeling, unsentimental, dispassionate, aloof) strategy (plan of action (in order to achieve a more expansive set of political, economic, and security interests)). Having deflected the potential (possible, likely, probable) hurt and anger of the Sainiks for now, the BJP will now wait for the best time for its next move. The next episode of the Maharashtra saga (a series of incidents) will then play out (happen, occur, take place, come about, transpire).

Courtesy: The Hindu

Important Word List With Meaning

1.deflect (verb)

Hindi Meaning - मोड़ना, टालना, मार्ग बदलना
English Meaning - divert, avert, change course, change direction.

2.identity (noun)

Hindi Meaning - पहचान, मान्यता
English Meaning - identification, recognition.

3.script (noun)

Hindi Meaning - लिपि, लिखावट, आलेख
English Meaning - screenplay, storyline, plot.

4.concede (verb)

Hindi Meaning - दे देना, सौंपना, प्रदान करना
English Meaning - cede, hand over, yield, give up, relinquish.

5.revolt (noun)

Hindi Meaning - विद्रोह, हड़ताल, प्रतिरोध
English Meaning - rebellion, protest, strike, act of resistance/defiance; disobedience, dissent, nonconformity.

6.alliance (noun)

Hindi Meaning - गठबंधन, संधि
English Meaning - coalition, association, union, partnership.

7.opportunism (noun)

Hindi Meaning - अवसरवाद, लाभ उठाना, व्यावहारिकता
English Meaning - expediency, exploitation, taking advantage, pragmatism, realism.

8.turmoil (noun)

Hindi Meaning - उथल-पुथल, अव्यवस्था, अशांति
English Meaning - disorder, turbulence, confusion, trouble, chaos.

9.daring (noun)

Hindi Meaning - हिम्मत, साहसी
English Meaning - confidence, boldness, audacity, temerity.

10.provincialism (noun)

Hindi Meaning - प्रांतीयता, संकीर्णता
English Meaning - narrow-mindedness, parochialism, localism, small-mindedness, sightedness, myopia, intolerance.

11.ideology (noun)

Hindi Meaning - विचारधारा
English Meaning - a system of belief, set of principles.

12.instrument (noun)

Hindi Meaning - उपकरण, यंत्र, साधन
English Meaning - apparatus, mechanism, means, medium, vehicle.

13.state power (noun)

Hindi Meaning - राज्य की शक्ति
English Meaning - the capacity of a state to regulate behaviours and enforce order within its territory.

14.sabotage (noun)

Hindi Meaning - तोड़-फोड़
English Meaning - damage or destruction of something deliberately; (intentional/deliberate) disruption, spoiling, ruining, wrecking, undermining, impairment.

15.credible (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - विश्वसनीय, भरोसेमंद
English Meaning - trustworthy, reliable, dependable; believable, plausible, reasonable.

16.tame (verb)

English Meaning - control, master, bring to heel, overcome, get the better of, get a grip on.

17.change of guard (phrase)

English Meaning - It used to refer to a situation in which there is a (dramatic) change in which new people are replacing people (existing) in positions of importance.

18.defection (noun)

English Meaning - an act of changing allegiances/loyalties/sides; desertion, absconding, decamping.

19.nail-biting (adjective)

English Meaning - nerve-racking, stressful, anxious, worrying, concerning, strained, worrisome, difficult.

20.unseat (verb)

English Meaning - oust, remove from office, topple, overthrow, bring down, dismiss.

21.settle for (verb)

English Meaning - accept, agree to, accede to (something unsatisfactorily).

22.churn (noun)

English Meaning - disorder/disorganization, confusion, disruption/chaos.

23.crass (adjective)

English Meaning - very stupid, insensitive, mindless, rude, uncivilized, impolite (and not caring other people’s emotions/feelings); gross, total, complete, outright, thorough, blatant.

24.turn out (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - happen, occur, come about, transpire, develop.

25.trigger (verb)

English Meaning - activate, set off, spark off.

26.counter (noun)

English Meaning - something that is opposing/preventing something else.

27.totalising (adjective)

English Meaning - treating something as having one character/principle.

28.(the) unravelling (noun)

English Meaning - fail, collapse, disintegration.

29.back (verb)

English Meaning - support, favour, endorse, sanction, approve, uphold.

30.mobilise (verb)

English Meaning - (of resources) bring together for a specific cause.

31.railroad (verb)

English Meaning - force someone into doing something or pressurize something to happen hurriedly & wrongfully; coerce, force, compel, pressure, pressurize.

32.defence (noun)

English Meaning - a means of protecting something; protection.

33.bonding (adjective)

English Meaning - joining, connecting, establishing (relationship with someone having shared feelings/interests).

34.uphold (verb)

English Meaning - confirm, endorse/approve, vindicate/validate.

35.will (noun)

English Meaning - decision, choice, preference.

36.fidelity (noun)

English Meaning - faithfulness, loyalty, allegiance, attachment, closeness; devotion, adherence; dependability, reliability.

37.demeanour (noun)

English Meaning - behaviour, conduct, attitude, manner, appearance, bearing.

38.inclusive (adjective)

English Meaning - broad-based, common, all-embracing.

39.image (noun)

English Meaning - public perception/conception, public impression, persona, profile, face, identity.

40.command (verb)

English Meaning - get, gain, obtain, secure.

41.chutzpah (noun)

English Meaning - audacity, guts, nerve, boldness, self-confidence, temerity.

42.remake (verb)

English Meaning - improve, reengineer, make better, mend, rectify, correct.

43.assumption (noun)

English Meaning - premise, belief, expectation.

44.reengineer (verb)

English Meaning - reorganize something (an organization/party) in order to improve its efficiency.

45.benign (adjective)

English Meaning - considerate, thoughtful, helpful; agreeable, favourable, advantageous, beneficial.

46.outfit (noun)

English Meaning - party, organization, group.

47.misplaced (adjective)

English Meaning - misguided, misconceived, ill-advised, ill-considered, ill-judged.

48.resentment (noun)

English Meaning - bitterness, indignation, hostility, antipathy, antagonism, enmity, dissatisfaction, discontentment.

49.bubble up (verb)

English Meaning - (of emotions/feelings) intensify, increase, raise.

50.under someone’s nose (phrase)

English Meaning - something happens right in front of someone, but that person is not seeing it or even if that person sees it, could not do anything to prevent it from happening.

51.episode (noun)

English Meaning - a group of events; incident, event, affair, occurrence.

52.play the long game (phrase)

English Meaning - follow a long-term strategy; it also refers to active participation in achieving goals which may take some time.

53.patriarch (noun)

English Meaning - a powerful & eldest male head of a family or an organisation or a social system.

54.passing (noun)

English Meaning - demise, death, passing away.

55.upper hand (noun)

English Meaning - a dominating position.

56.roll out (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - start, begin, embark on, usher in (something officially).

57.reinforce (verb)

English Meaning - strengthen, support, make stronger, bolster, buttress.

58.temper (verb)

English Meaning - moderate, tone down, mitigate, decrease, lessen.

59.scion (noun)

English Meaning - heir, successor, descendant, next in line.

60.harness (verb)

English Meaning - utilize, use, make use of, put to use, capitalize on.

61.topple (verb)

English Meaning - remove, unseat, oust, bring down.

62.faction (noun)

English Meaning - bloc, camp, group, side.

63.bruise (verb)

English Meaning - upset, insult, affront, hurt.

64.cadre (noun)

English Meaning - members of a (political) group.

65.hold someone in high regard/esteem (phrase)

English Meaning - have great respect for.

66.dissipate (verb)

English Meaning - disappear, vanish, disintegrate, dissolve, scatter.

67.dissolve (into) (verb)

English Meaning - change gradually to.

68.concession (noun)

English Meaning - handover, sacrifice, yielding, giving up, ceding, relinquishment, surrender.

69.altruism (noun)

English Meaning - selflessness and concern for the well-being of others. Those who possess this quality typically put others first and truly care about the people around them, whether they have a personal tie to them or not; unselfishness, compassion, generosity, humanitarianism.

70.cold (adjective)

English Meaning - objective, impersonal, unemotional, unfeeling, unsentimental, dispassionate, aloof.

71.strategy (noun)

English Meaning - plan of action (in order to achieve a more expansive set of political, economic, and security interests).

72.potential (adjective)

English Meaning - possible, likely, probable.

73.saga (noun)

English Meaning - a series of incidents.

74.play out (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - happen, occur, take place, come about, transpire.