Hindi English Translation || Editorial || The blueprint: On internal elections and Congress revival

The blueprint: On internal elections and Congress revival

Internal elections will be key to the Congress's revival (पुनः प्रवर्तन, वापसी, पुन: स्थापना) as an alternative to the BJP

The beleaguered (परेशान, कठोर, पीड़ित) Congress has been trying to find ways to get out of (बाहर निकलना, बचना) the rut (a fixed (especially tedious) pattern of behaviour that is difficult to change; boring routine, routine job, same old round, groove, grind, daily grind) that it has got itself into after a series of electoral debacles (पराजय, विफलता, आपदा) in the last decade (दशक, दस साल का समय). Its inability (असमर्थता. क्षमता की कमी, अक्षमता) to project (परियोजना, पेश करना) a cohesive (जोड़नेवाला, संयुक्त, एकीकृत), decisive (निर्णायक, दृढ़ निश्चयी) and vibrant (spirited, lively, high-spirited, energetic, vigorous, dynamic, exciting, passionate, fiery, determined, strong) leadership ever since it lost power at the Centre has certainly (निश्चित रूप से, निःसंदेह) played a role (भूमिका निभाओ, में योगदान देना, सहायक होना) in this, but attempts at revitalisation (पुनरोद्धार, नवीनीकरण) have focused more on quickly regaining electoral viability (व्यावहारिकता) than on addressing (tackle, deal with, attend to, try to sort out) serious structural (संरचनात्मक, प्रणालीगत, औपचारिक) issues. Prashant Kishor, the much sought-after (मांग में, लोकप्रिय) election strategist (someone skilled in planning action/policy (especially in politics/war)) who has successfully advised several parties on how to leverage (use or utilize something to maximum advantage) new media tools, messaging and promotion of leaders, might not have joined the Congress, but his diagnosis (identification, recognition, judgement) of what ails (trouble, bother, burden, distress, beset, harass, worry, oppress, annoy, vex, irritate) the party is not without merit (good/strong point). Beginning after Independence as the flag bearer (one who openly promotes an idea or value and becomes symbolic for it) of secularism (the belief that religion should not have a strong influence in education or other public parts of society), social democracy, scientific temper (disposition, nature, spirit, personality, character), planned development and strategic autonomy (the ability of a state (country) to pursue its national interests and adopt its preferred foreign policy without being constrained in any manner by other states (countries). In its pure form, strategic autonomy presupposes the state (country) in question possessing overwhelmingly superior power. This is what would enable that state (country) to resist the pressures that may be exerted by other states (countries) to compel it to change its policy or moderate its interests) on global matters, the party managed to retain its primacy (greater importance, supremacy, dominance, leadership, priority, preference, first place) for decades because of the legitimacy (reasonableness, justification, validity) of its leadership that played a central role in the freedom movement and who articulated (express, voice, pronounce, state, communicate) these values clearly during their struggles. Dissension (disagreement, difference of opinion, dispute, dissent) within and discontent (disappointment, dissatisfaction, disgruntlement, resentment, grievances, unhappiness, displeasure) against the party on the issue of authoritarianism (dictatorship, tyranny, autocracy, totalitarianism, despotism) (the Emergency), the post-Mandal (post Mandal Commission recommendations, which sanctioned 27 per cent reservations in education and government jobs to categories officially listed as Other Backward Castes) rise of OBC-based parties, and the gradual federalisation (the act of being put under a federal system) of India’s polity (a politically organized society) led to its decline. Soon it was bested (defeat, beat, get the better of, outdo) by the rise of the religious right, which managed the politics of caste arithmetic (calculation, reckoning, tally) far better in the Hindi heartland (the most important part of a field of activity; the central part of something) and western India and thrived (flourish, prosper, grow vigorously, develop well, burgeon) because of the strong presence of a cadre-based (based on members of a (political) group) force (a group of people brought together for a specific activity), besides (except, except for, apart from, other than, barring, excluding) a decisive leadership, articulating its ideology and agenda.

The lack (absence, unavailability, deficit) of a structured cadre (members of a (political) group) base that could trumpet (display, spread, headline, publicize) the Congress’s legacy (something received from a predecessor or from the past) and achievements is a severe weakness. But the inability to state ideological (relating to a system of ideas (ideology)) positions and values clearly is another disadvantage — by seeking (try, aim, attempt) to remain a big tent (camp; base, station, post) of ideas, the Congress has in the past been numbed (deaden, desensitize; stun, paralyse, immobilize, freeze) into vapid (uninteresting, feeble, zestless, spiritless) centrism (a position with moderate political views) or taken recourse to (resort to, turning to, the use of, utilizing) opportunist use of non-secular (religious, spiritual) values seeing its effect in the rise of the BJP. There is no magic bullet ((quick) solution, answer, remedy, cure) for these weaknesses, but it would not hurt to kindle (stimulate, inspire, call forth, bring out, excite, evoke, trigger, prompt, induce, encourage, promote) internal democracy to reconstitute the party’s leadership at various levels. Thoroughgoing (thorough, complete, radical) elections as a procedure should rev up the party’s organisation, clarify what it truly stands for — based on its founding principles and how its sympathisers (supporter, well wisher) and members articulate them during the electoral process — and also bring about a decisive leadership that will legitimately (validly, justifiably, reasonably) claim the position based on the results of the elections rather than (instead of) familial legacy. This exercise should enable (make easy, make possible, assist, help) it to later engage with like-minded (compatible, closely connected, well suited) political forces (many parties that were formed after splintering (dividing, splitting, separating, disintegrating) from the parent Congress) and face the electorate (all the people who entitled to vote in an election) with better cohesion (unity, togetherness, solidarity, coherence).

Courtesy: The Hindu

Important Word List With Meaning

1.revival (noun)

Hindi Meaning - पुनः प्रवर्तन, वापसी, पुन: स्थापना
English Meaning - comeback, re-establishment, reintroduction, restoration, resurrection, resuscitation, revitalization.

2.beleaguered (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - परेशान, कठोर, पीड़ित
English Meaning - hard-pressed, troubled, suffering; under pressure, under stress.

3.get out of (phrasal verb)

Hindi Meaning - बाहर निकलना, बचना
English Meaning - avoid, escape, evade, sidestep.

4.debacle (noun)

Hindi Meaning - पराजय, विफलता, आपदा
English Meaning - fiasco, failure, disaster.

5.decade (noun)

Hindi Meaning - दशक, दस साल का समय
English Meaning - a period of ten years.

6.inability (noun)

Hindi Meaning - असमर्थता. क्षमता की कमी, अक्षमता
English Meaning - lack of ability, incapability, incapacity, powerlessness, impotence, helplessness.

7.project (verb)

Hindi Meaning - परियोजना, पेश करना
English Meaning - present, promote, propose.

8.cohesive (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - जोड़नेवाला, संयुक्त, एकीकृत
English Meaning - united, integrated, cooperated.

9.decisive (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - निर्णायक, दृढ़ निश्चयी
English Meaning - resolute, firm, determined.

10.certainly (adverb)

Hindi Meaning - निश्चित रूप से, निःसंदेह
English Meaning - surely, definitely, unquestionably.

11.play a role (phrase)

Hindi Meaning - भूमिका निभाओ, में योगदान देना, सहायक होना
English Meaning - contribute to, be instrumental in, be a factor in.

12.revitalisation (noun)

Hindi Meaning - पुनरोद्धार, नवीनीकरण
English Meaning - rejuvenation, revival, renewal, resurgence, reactivation.

13.viability (verb)

Hindi Meaning - व्यावहारिकता
English Meaning - practicality, workability, feasibility (to work successfully).

14.structural (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - संरचनात्मक, प्रणालीगत, औपचारिक
English Meaning - organizational, systemic, formational; basic, foundational, underlying.

15.sought-after (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - मांग में, लोकप्रिय
English Meaning - popular, in demand, desired.

16.rut (noun)

English Meaning - a fixed (especially tedious) pattern of behaviour that is difficult to change; boring routine, routine job, same old round, groove, grind, daily grind.

17.blueprint (noun)

English Meaning - model, plan, guide, template, framework.

18.vibrant (adjective)

English Meaning - spirited, lively, high-spirited, energetic, vigorous, dynamic, exciting, passionate, fiery, determined, strong.

19.address (verb)

English Meaning - tackle, deal with, attend to, try to sort out.

20.strategist (noun)

English Meaning - someone skilled in planning action/policy (especially in politics/war).

21.leverage (verb)

English Meaning - use or utilize something to maximum advantage.

22.diagnosis (noun)

English Meaning - identification, recognition, judgement.

23.ail (verb)

English Meaning - trouble, bother, burden, distress, beset, harass, worry, oppress, annoy, vex, irritate.

24.merit (noun)

English Meaning - good/strong point.

25.flag-bearer (noun)

English Meaning - one who openly promotes an idea or value and becomes symbolic for it.

26.secularism (noun)

English Meaning - the belief that religion should not have a strong influence in education or other public parts of society.

27.temper (noun)

English Meaning - disposition, nature, spirit, personality, character.

28.strategic autonomy (noun)

English Meaning - the ability of a state (country) to pursue its national interests and adopt its preferred foreign policy without being constrained in any manner by other states (countries). In its pure form, strategic autonomy presupposes the state (country) in question possessing overwhelmingly superior power. This is what would enable that state (country) to resist the pressures that may be exerted by other states (countries) to compel it to change its policy or moderate its interests.

29.primacy (noun)

English Meaning - greater importance, supremacy, dominance, leadership, priority, preference, first place.

30.legitimacy (noun)

English Meaning - reasonableness, justification, validity.

31.articulate (verb)

English Meaning - express, voice, pronounce, state, communicate.

32.dissension (noun)

English Meaning - disagreement, difference of opinion, dispute, dissent.

33.discontent (noun)

English Meaning - disappointment, dissatisfaction, disgruntlement, resentment, grievances, unhappiness, displeasure.

34.authoritarianism (noun)

English Meaning - dictatorship, tyranny, autocracy, totalitarianism, despotism.

35.The Emergency (noun)

English Meaning - In India, “The Emergency” refers to a 21-month period from 1975 to 1977 when Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had a state of emergency declared across the country. Officially issued by President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed under Article 352 of the Constitution because of the prevailing “internal disturbance”, the Emergency was in effect from 25 June 1975 until its withdrawal on 21 March 1977.

36.post-Mandal (adjective)

English Meaning - post Mandal Commission recommendations, which sanctioned 27 per cent reservations in education and government jobs to categories officially listed as Other Backward Castes.

37.Other Backward Class (OBC) (noun)

English Meaning - In the Indian Constitution, OBCs are described as socially and educationally backward classes (SEBC), and the Government of India is enjoined to ensure their social and educational development.

38.federalisation (noun)

English Meaning - the act of being put under a federal system.

39.federal (adjective)

English Meaning - relating to a system of government in which establishments such as states or provinces share power with a national government.

40.federalism/federal framework/system (noun)

English Meaning - a system of government in which establishments such as states or provinces share power with a national government.

41.polity (noun)

English Meaning - a politically organized society.

42.lead to (verb)

English Meaning - result in, cause, bring on.

43.best (verb)

English Meaning - defeat, beat, get the better of, outdo.

44.arithmetic (noun)

English Meaning - calculation, reckoning, tally.

45.heartland (noun)

English Meaning - the most important part of a field of activity; the central part of something.

46.thrive (verb)

English Meaning - flourish, prosper, grow vigorously, develop well, burgeon.

47.cadre-based (adjective)

English Meaning - based on members of a (political) group.

48.force (noun)

English Meaning - a group of people brought together for a specific activity.

49.besides (preposition)

English Meaning - except, except for, apart from, other than, barring, excluding.

50.ideology (noun)

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

51.lack (noun)

English Meaning - absence, unavailability, deficit.

52.cadre (noun)

English Meaning - members of a (political) group.

53.base (noun)

English Meaning - a group of people considered as supporting an organization/party.

54.trumpet (verb)

English Meaning - display, spread, headline, publicize.

55.legacy (noun)

English Meaning - something received from a predecessor or from the past.

56.ideological (adjective)

English Meaning - relating to a system of ideas (ideology).

57.seek (verb)

English Meaning - try, aim, attempt.

58.tent (noun)

English Meaning - camp; base, station, post.

59.numb (verb)

English Meaning - deaden, desensitize; stun, paralyse, immobilize, freeze.

60.vapid (adjective)

English Meaning - uninteresting, feeble, zestless, spiritless.

61.centrism (noun)

English Meaning - a position with moderate political views.

62.opportunist (noun)

English Meaning - a person who is selfish, self-centred, self-seeking, egocentric.

63.have/take recourse to (phrase)

English Meaning - resort to, make use of, use, utilize, employ, turn to.

64.recourse to (noun)

English Meaning - resort to, turning to, the use of, utilizing.

65.non-secular (adjective)

English Meaning - religious, spiritual.

66.magic bullet (noun)

English Meaning - (quick) solution, answer, remedy, cure.

67.kindle (verb)

English Meaning - stimulate, inspire, call forth, bring out, excite, evoke, trigger, prompt, induce, encourage, promote.

68.thoroughgoing (adjective)

English Meaning - thorough, complete, radical.

69.rev up (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - become more active, make someone or something more active; accelerate, speed up, increase the speed (of an engine/motor/something similar) quickly.

70.sympathiser (noun)

English Meaning - supporter, well wisher.

71.bring about (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - cause, create, give rise to.

72.legitimately (adverb)

English Meaning - validly, justifiably, reasonably.

73.rather than (phrase)

English Meaning - instead of.

74.enable (verb)

English Meaning - make easy, make possible, assist, help.

75.like-minded (adjective)

English Meaning - compatible, closely connected, well suited.