Hindi English Translation || Editorial || Without sufficient cause: On arrests at the behest of majoritarian outfits

Without sufficient cause: On arrests at the behest of majoritarian outfits

Unwarranted (अनुचित, अनावश्यक, अकारण) arrests at behest (आज्ञा, आदेश) of majoritarian (बहुसंख्यकों) outfits (संगठन, समूह) dent the country’s image (छवि, चरित्र, प्रतिष्ठा)

The recent arrest of a 25-year-old Muslim woman at Mudhol in Bagalkot district of Karnataka for an innocuous (अहानिकर, हानिरहित, आपत्तिजनक) message on Pakistan’s Republic Day is yet another instance of the perverse (विकृत, अतार्किक, तर्कहीन) misuse of the law by authorities (प्राधिकारी, अधिकारी, प्रभारी लोग ). If it was the provision (प्रावधान, शर्त, विशिष्टता) relating to sedition (राजद्रोह, दंगा) that was invoked (आह्वान, हवाला देना, उल्लेख करना) mindlessly in the past, including once for a play (drama, stage show) enacted (प्रदर्शन करना, अभिनय करना) by primary schoolchildren, the latest one involves an alleged (कथित, माना जाता है, दावा किया जाता है) attempt at creating enmity among different groups. Kuthma Sheikh was granted (give, provide, allow) bail (conditional, temporary release of an arrested/imprisoned person when a specified amount of security is deposited or pledged (as cash or property) to ensure his/her appearance in court when required) on the same day of her arrest, but the incident is no less disconcerting (discomfiting, unsettling, disturbing, troubling) as it indicates the ease (freedom) with which members of the minority community can be arrested without sufficient cause (वजह, कारण, आधार), often at the behest of (के कहने पर, आदेश द्वारा, के नाम पर) overzealous (too zealous; excessively sincere, feeling, fervent, impassioned, passionate, enthusiastic) activists (radical, extremist, advocate, promoter) with a disproportionate (inordinate, immoderate, excessive) clout in the administration. In this case, the madrassa (an Islamic religious school; a place (school or college) where people learn about Islam, the religion of Muslims) student had said, “May God bless every nation with peace, unity and harmony (unity, solidarity, cooperation, agreement/concord)” on March 23, but a local Hindu activist complained to the police that she was creating enmity among communities by wishing people on Pakistan Day. With unsurprising (predictable, foreseeable, to be expected, predicted, foreseen, anticipated, awaited) promptitude (the quality of doing something very quickly (without any delay); promptness, punctuality, swiftness. quickness. rapidity), the police booked her under penal sections relating to promoting enmity between different groups. As to (concerning, respecting, with respect to, on the subject of, as regards, regarding) how her wishes would have attracted either Section 153A or 505(2) of the IPC is something only the police can explain. The district police have claimed that the arrest was aimed at preserving (protect, maintain, care for, take care of, look after, keep) peace and maintaining order, but it is quite apparent (evident, obvious, clear, visible, discernible, perceptible, noticeable, recognizable) that they acted in a cavalier (casual, indifferent, dismissive, uninterested, unconcerned (about serious/important matter)) manner without ascertaining (find out, understand, recognize, get to know) whether there was any substance (meaningfulness, significance, importance, soundness, validity) in the complaint.

Ever since a controversy broke out over girl students wearing the hijab (a head covering, generally a veil or a scarf, worn in public by some Muslim women), there seems to be a tendency (inclination, disposition, leaning, penchant; trend) among right-wing (rightist, conservative, reactionary, traditionalist) groups to foment (incite, provoke, agitate, instigate) trouble targeted at Muslims. These groups have called for a ban on Muslim traders and vendors doing business as part of temple fairs (festival, carnival, gala with stalls & exhibition, market, bazaar). Even though the State government is citing a law that prohibits non-Hindus from getting property in the vicinity (surrounding area, locality, neighbourhood) of the temple on lease, it is doubtful whether the rules cover temporary stalls (A market stall or a booth is a structure used by merchants to display and house their merchandise (commodities/products) in a street market, fairs and conventions) on special occasions. It is regrettable (undesirable, unfortunate, disappointing/distressing) that the State government is not doing enough to stem (stop, restrict, control, contain, curb; reduce, diminish) the impression (feeling, sense, suspicion, apprehension; notion, idea, thought, belief, opinion) that its administration is hostile (opposed, against, averse, antagonistic, ill-disposed, unsympathetic) towards minorities. Unwarranted arrests, especially for trivial reasons and on communally motivated complaints, result in (cause, bring about, give rise to, produce) unfair incarceration (imprisonment, confinement, custody), ruined lives and immensely (terrifically, awfully, fearfully, terribly, majorly, seriously) delayed justice. For a regime that takes strong exception to strident (loud & harsh, forceful, discordant, vociferous) criticism about its human rights and religious tolerance (forbearance, toleration, liberality, open-mindedness, lack of prejudice, broad-mindedness, liberalism) record, the Union government should be equally concerned about the possible damage that such incidents may cause to its global image. The Centre may not have anything to do with law and order (the passing of laws and their strict implementation by police and the courts; lawfulness, peacefulness, harmony, non-aggression, non-violence), but it may have to advise certain States to restrain (control, keep under control, check, contain, keep within bounds, limit, regulate, restrict) the police from perfunctory (relating to something (an action) done without much attention/concern/interest/effort; casual, token, routine, automatic, cursory, inattentive, incurious, standard; quick, rapid, brief) use of the power to arrest to please (satisfy, make happy, give pleasure to) majoritarian groups and individuals.

Courtesy: The Hindu

Important Word List With Meaning

1.cause (noun)

Hindi Meaning - वजह, कारण, आधार
English Meaning - reason, grounds, basis, motive, pretext, purpose.

2.behest (noun)

Hindi Meaning - आज्ञा, आदेश
English Meaning - instruction, command, order, demand, insistence.

3.at the behest of (phrase)

Hindi Meaning - के कहने पर, आदेश द्वारा, के नाम पर
English Meaning - in the name of, by the authority/command/order of; for the sake of; on behalf of.

4.majoritarian (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - बहुसंख्यकों
English Meaning - relating to a philosophy that states that a majority (sometimes categorized by religion, language, social class, or some other identifying factor) of the population is entitled to a certain degree of primacy (priority) in society, and has the right to make decisions that affect the society.

5.outfit (noun)

Hindi Meaning - संगठन, समूह
English Meaning - organization, group.

6.unwarranted (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - अनुचित, अनावश्यक, अकारण
English Meaning - unjustified, unnecessary, unreasonable, uncalled for, groundless.

7.image (noun)

Hindi Meaning - छवि, चरित्र, प्रतिष्ठा
English Meaning - reputation, good name, character, standing, stature, status.

8.innocuous (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - अहानिकर, हानिरहित, आपत्तिजनक
English Meaning - harmless, inoffensive, unobjectionable, unoffending.

9.perverse (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - विकृत, अतार्किक, तर्कहीन
English Meaning - illogical, irrational, unreasonable; wrong, incorrect.

10.authorities (noun)

Hindi Meaning - प्राधिकारी, अधिकारी, प्रभारी लोग
English Meaning - officials, officialdom, the people in charge, the government, the administration, the establishment, the bureaucracy, the system.

11.provision (noun)

Hindi Meaning - प्रावधान, शर्त, विशिष्टता
English Meaning - clause, stipulation, condition, specification, requirement.

12.sedition (noun)

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

13.invoke (verb)

Hindi Meaning - आह्वान, हवाला देना, उल्लेख करना
English Meaning - cite, refer to, adduce, resort to, use, put into effect.

14.enact (verb)

Hindi Meaning - प्रदर्शन करना, अभिनय करना
English Meaning - perform, play, present, stage, act out.

15.alleged (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - कथित, माना जाता है, दावा किया जाता है
English Meaning - supposed, claimed, professed, purported, reported, ostensible.

16.play (noun)

English Meaning - drama, stage show.

17.dent (verb)

English Meaning - diminish, reduce, lessen, shrink, weaken, erode, undermine, damage, impair.

18.enmity (noun)

English Meaning - hostility, animosity, antagonism, friction, antipathy, hatred, hate, bitterness.

19.grant (verb)

English Meaning - give, provide, allow.

20.bail (noun)

English Meaning - conditional, temporary release of an arrested/imprisoned person when a specified amount of security is deposited or pledged (as cash or property) to ensure his/her appearance in court when required.

21.no less (phrase)

English Meaning - essentially, importantly.

22.disconcerting (adjective)

English Meaning - discomfiting, unsettling, disturbing, troubling.

23.ease (noun)

English Meaning - freedom.

24.overzealous (adjective)

English Meaning - too zealous; excessively sincere, feeling, fervent, impassioned, passionate, enthusiastic.

25.activist (adjective)

English Meaning - radical, extremist, advocate, promoter.

26.disproportionate (adjective)

English Meaning - inordinate, immoderate, excessive.

27.clout (noun)

English Meaning - influence, power, weight, sway, leverage.

28.administration (noun)

English Meaning - government, ministry, regime, authority.

29.madrassa (noun)

English Meaning - an Islamic religious school; a place (school or college) where people learn about Islam, the religion of Muslims.

30.harmony (noun)

English Meaning - unity, solidarity, cooperation, agreement/concord.

31.unsurprising (adjective)

English Meaning - predictable, foreseeable, to be expected, predicted, foreseen, anticipated, awaited.

32.promptitude (noun)

English Meaning - the quality of doing something very quickly (without any delay); promptness, punctuality, swiftness. quickness. rapidity.

33.book (verb)

English Meaning - make an official note of the personal details of (a person who has violated a law or rule).

34.penal (noun)

English Meaning - disciplinary, punitive, corrective.

35.section (noun)

English Meaning - a part of an Act.

36.as to (phrase)

English Meaning - concerning, respecting, with respect to, on the subject of, as regards, regarding.

37.Section 153A of the IPC (noun)

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

38.Section 505(2) of the IPC (noun)

English Meaning - it deals with statements creating or promoting enmity, hatred or ill-will between classes.

39.Indian Penal Code (IPC) (noun)

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.

40.claim (verb)

English Meaning - state, profess, affirm, assert.

41.preserve (verb)

English Meaning - protect, maintain, care for, take care of, look after, keep.

42.apparent (adjective)

English Meaning - evident, obvious, clear, visible, discernible, perceptible, noticeable, recognizable.

43.cavalier (adjective)

English Meaning - casual, indifferent, dismissive, uninterested, unconcerned (about serious/important matter).

44.ascertain (verb)

English Meaning - find out, understand, recognize, get to know.

45.substance (noun)

English Meaning - meaningfulness, significance, importance, soundness, validity.

46.break out (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - flare up, begin suddenly, start suddenly, erupt, burst out.

47.hijab (noun)

English Meaning - a head covering, generally a veil or a scarf, worn in public by some Muslim women.

48.tendency (noun)

English Meaning - inclination, disposition, leaning, penchant; trend.

49.right-wing (adjective)

English Meaning - rightist, conservative, reactionary, traditionalist.

50.foment (verb)

English Meaning - incite, provoke, agitate, instigate.

51.call for (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - require, need, necessitate, make necessary, demand, publicly ask for.

52.fair (noun)

English Meaning - festival, carnival, gala with stalls & exhibition, market, bazaar.

53.vicinity (noun)

English Meaning - surrounding area, locality, neighbourhood.

54.stall (noun)

English Meaning - A market stall or a booth is a structure used by merchants to display and house their merchandise (commodities/products) in a street market, fairs and conventions.

55.occasion (noun)

English Meaning - event, affair, function, gathering.

56.regrettable (adjective)

English Meaning - undesirable, unfortunate, disappointing/distressing.

57.stem (verb)

English Meaning - stop, restrict, control, contain, curb; reduce, diminish.

58.impression (noun)

English Meaning - feeling, sense, suspicion, apprehension; notion, idea, thought, belief, opinion.

59.hostile (adjective)

English Meaning - opposed, against, averse, antagonistic, ill-disposed, unsympathetic.

60.trivial (adjective)

English Meaning - unimportant, insignificant, inconsequential, minor, petty, small, little.

61.result in (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - cause, bring about, give rise to, produce.

62.incarceration (noun)

English Meaning - imprisonment, confinement, custody.

63.immensely (adverb)

English Meaning - terrifically, awfully, fearfully, terribly, majorly, seriously.

64.regime (noun)

English Meaning - government.

65.take exception to (phrase)

English Meaning - object, disagree with, raise an objection, express objection/opposition to something.

66.strident (adjective)

English Meaning - loud & harsh, forceful, discordant, vociferous.

67.human rights (noun)

English Meaning - Human rights are rights inherent to all human beings, regardless of race, sex, nationality, ethnicity, language, religion, or any other status. Human rights include the right to life and liberty, freedom from slavery and torture, freedom of opinion and expression, the right to work and education, and many more. Everyone is entitled to these rights, without discrimination.

68.tolerance (noun)

English Meaning - forbearance, toleration, liberality, open-mindedness, lack of prejudice, broad-mindedness, liberalism.

69.have (something/anything) to do with (phrase)

English Meaning - be concerned with; be connected with; relate to, have a bearing on.

70.law and order (phrase)

English Meaning - the passing of laws and their strict implementation by police and the courts; lawfulness, peacefulness, harmony, non-aggression, non-violence.

71.restrain (verb)

English Meaning - control, keep under control, check, contain, keep within bounds, limit, regulate, restrict.

72.perfunctory (adjective)

English Meaning - relating to something (an action) done without much attention/concern/interest/effort; casual, token, routine, automatic, cursory, inattentive, incurious, standard; quick, rapid, brief.

73.please (verb)

English Meaning - satisfy, make happy, give pleasure to.