Hindi English Translation || Editorial || Democratic backsliding: On the state wielding the FCRA as a weapon

Democratic backsliding: On the state wielding the FCRA as a weapon

Curbs (निंयत्रण रखना) on financing of civil society (नागरिक समाज) bodies denote eroding civil liberties (नागरिक स्वतंत्रता)

Less than a year after suspending (निलंबित करना) the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) licence of the Centre for Policy Research (CPR) (नीति अनुसंधान केंद्र), the Government of India has cancelled its FCRA licence. The justification (औचित्य) for this move — CPR’s publications have been equated (समान बनाना) with current affairs (वर्तमान मामले) programming, prohibited for an entity (organization, institution, body, establishment, outfit) using FCRA funds — is nothing if not farcical (हास्यास्पद). As a premier (top, highest, main, leading, foremost, primary) think tank, the CPR has been around for more than half a century, during which it has been an exemplar (नमूना) of public-spirited (सार्वजनिक उत्साही) scholarship feeding into an ecosystem (पारिस्थितिकी तंत्र) of governance and policy-making where multiple stakeholders (हितधारक) and their often divergent (विभिन्न) interests (common concerns (in politics/business)) need consensus-building (a process involving a good-faith effort to meet the interests of all stakeholders and seek a unanimous agreement) through informed (knowledgeable, well educated, well versed; having knowledge of a subject or situation) debates (dialogue, discussion, discourse, deliberation, talks) — the hallmark (distinctive feature, characteristic, trait, attribute, quality) of a democracy. A decision to effectively (practically, virtually, in effect, actually, in reality) shut down (close, discontinue, cease operation, stop) such an institution by crippling its finances is bound to send the message that India is no longer open to (receptive to, amenable, responsive, available) the free flow of knowledge and ideas. The move also fits into a broader, and sadly, by now all-too-familiar (excessively well-known), pattern of the state wielding the FCRA as a weapon to silence (suppress, stifle, stop, muzzle, muffle) entities whose work is not to its liking (disposition, inclination, penchant, partiality, interest, preference, affection) — typically those working on environmental issues, civil liberties and human rights (human rights are rights inherent to all human beings, regardless of race, sex, nationality, ethnicity, language, religion, or any other status). The use of the FCRA to target civil society for political or ideological (relating to a system of ideas (ideology)) reasons is perhaps (maybe, possibly, probably, conceivably, it is possible (that)) written into its DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid (abbreviated as DNA) heredity, gene; (figuratively) fundamental nature). The legislation is the child of the Emergency, enacted by a regime (government, system) paranoid (over-suspicious, distrustful, worried, extremely fearful, nervous, insecure) about foreign governments interfering (impede, obstruct, get in the way of, hinder, disturb, influence, affect) in India’s internal affairs by channelling (transmit, pass through, conduct, direct, guide) funds through NGOs. Since then, it has been amended by successive (subsequent, consecutive, continuous) governments, with the provisions (clause, condition, stipulation, requirement, term) becoming more stringent (strict, severe, extreme, tough, rigorous).

When the latest round of amendments (revision, change, modification) was passed in 2020, the International Commission of Jurists (Since 1952 the ICJ has performed a unique and prominent role as a nongovernmental organization (NGO) defending human rights and the rule of law worldwide. 60 eminent judges and lawyers - from all parts of the world and all legal systems - with unparalleled knowledge of the law and human rights) denounced it as “incompatible (opposed, contrasting, conflicting, divergent, different, differing, varying, inconsistent, contradictory) with international law (International law defines the legal responsibilities of States (Countries) in their conduct with each other, and their treatment of individuals within State (Countries) boundaries. International law’s domain encompasses a wide range of issues of international concern, such as human rights, disarmament, international crime, refugees, migration, problems of nationality, the treatment of prisoners, the use of force, and the conduct of war, among others. International law also regulates the global commons, such as the environment and sustainable development, international waters, outer space, global communications and world trade)” and warned that it would “impose ... extraordinary (unusual, uncommon, surprising, rare, strange) obstacles (hurdle, difficulty, problem, barrier, impediment, obstruction, hindrance) on the capacity of … civil society actors (participants (in an action)) to carry out their important work”. It appears as though the government has been working hard to prove the ICJ right. Even before dust could settle on the FCRA cancellation of CPR, World Vision India (a non-governmental organisation (NGO) that focusses on children’s issues. The U.S.-based World Vision is one of the world’s largest Christian voluntary groups with a presence in over 100 countries. It has been operational in India for the past 70 years), which works with children, has had its FCRA cancelled. On the one hand (it is used to introduce the first of two contrasting different, points, facts, or ways of looking at something. It is always followed later by “on the other hand” or ‘on the other’), India seeks recognition ((formal) acknowledgement, acceptance, admission) as a ‘Vishwaguru (a reformer and teacher/master to the entire world)’. Its calling card (identification; demonstration, proof, evidence) as the G-20 (The G20, formed in 1999, is a group of twenty of the world’s largest economies that meets regularly to coordinate global policy on trade, health, climate, and other issues. It brings together the world’s major advanced and emerging economies. The G20 comprises Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, EU, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, UK and USA. The G20 Countries together represent around 90% of global GDP, 80% of global trade, and two thirds of the world’s population) host (conductor, organizer, arranger (an event)) was ‘Mother of Democracy’. The government is hypersensitive (intolerant; inflexible, dogmatic, uncompromising, unforgiving, unsympathetic) to rankings on international indices, yet unwilling (reluctant, disinclined, hesitant, against) to acknowledge (accept, recognize, realize) the link between perception (feeling, thought, belief, understanding, comprehension, interpretation) and reality. When the U.S.-based non-profit, Freedom House, in its Democracy Index, downgraded India to an “electoral autocracy (dictatorship, monocracy, authoritarianism, tyranny, totalitarianism, despotism)”, a reason it cited was erosion (decline, decrease, deterioration, disintegration, weakening) of civil liberties. Shutting off the finances of civil society organisations on flimsy (unconvincing, unsatisfactory, unsubstantial; feeble, weak, poor, lame) grounds (reason, cause, basis, motive, pretext, purpose) is a textbook (most typical, standard, conventional, classic, model, exemplary, quintessential) example of civil liberties erosion, guaranteed (assure, promise, pledge, vow) to amplify (increase, raise, intensify, heighten, escalate) the narrative (a representation of a particular situation; portrayal, account, description, statement) of democratic backsliding. It would then be pointless to complain about bias (prejudice, partiality, unfairness, one-sidedness, bigotry, intolerance, discrimination) or invoke (cite, mention, refer to, point to, adduce, turn to, resort to) “conspiracies (unlawful plan, intrigue, collaboration/deception)” to tarnish (damage, injure, mar, spoil, ruin, harm, stain, taint, defame) India’s image (public impression, persona, identity, reputation, stature, fame) when these actions get reflected (indicate, show, display, demonstrate, represent, exhibit) in India’s downgrading in global indices of freedom and democracy.

Courtesy: The Hindu

Important Word List With Meaning

1.the state (noun)

Hindi Meaning - राज्य
English Meaning - the government.

2.curb (noun)

Hindi Meaning - निंयत्रण रखना
English Meaning - constraint, restriction, limitation, control.

3.civil society (noun)

Hindi Meaning - नागरिक समाज
English Meaning - civil society refers to space for collective action around shared interests, purposes, and values, generally distinct from government and commercial for-profit actors. It refers to a wide array of organizations: community groups, non-governmental organizations [NGOs], labour unions, indigenous groups, charitable organizations, faith-based organizations, professional associations, and foundations. Civil society - sometimes called the “third sector” (after government and commerce) - has the power to influence the actions of elected policy-makers and businesses.

4.civil liberty (noun)

Hindi Meaning - नागरिक स्वतंत्रता
English Meaning - freedoms guaranteed to the citizens by the Constitution to protect them from the government.

5.suspend (verb)

Hindi Meaning - निलंबित करना
English Meaning - remove, prohibit, debar, eliminate, prevent.

6.Centre for Policy Research (CPR) (noun)

Hindi Meaning - नीति अनुसंधान केंद्र
English Meaning - Founded in 1973, the CPR is a “non-profit, non-partisan, independent institution dedicated to conducting research that contributes to high quality scholarship, better policies, and a more robust public discourse about the issues that impact life in India”. This Delhi-based think tank works with government departments, autonomous institutions, charitable organisations and universities in India and across the globe.

7.justification (noun)

Hindi Meaning - औचित्य
English Meaning - reason, explanation, rationale, basis, grounds, vindication.

8.equate (verb)

Hindi Meaning - समान बनाना
English Meaning - compare, relate, consider/regard as the same as.

9.current affairs (noun)

Hindi Meaning - वर्तमान मामले
English Meaning - important political or social events that are currently occurring in the world.

10.farcical (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - हास्यास्पद
English Meaning - ridiculous, preposterous, absurd, laughable.

11.exemplar (noun)

Hindi Meaning - नमूना
English Meaning - perfect example, textbook example, definitive example, epitome, pattern, model, criterion.

12.public-spirited (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - सार्वजनिक उत्साही
English Meaning - community-minded, socially concerned, humanitarian, selfless, generous.

13.ecosystem (noun)

Hindi Meaning - पारिस्थितिकी तंत्र
English Meaning - complex situation/environment.

14.stakeholder (noun)

Hindi Meaning - हितधारक
English Meaning - a person with an interest in something.

15.divergent (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - विभिन्न
English Meaning - different, differing, varying, contradictory.

16.backsliding (noun)

English Meaning - a return to a previous lower state; a return to a less developed condition; retrogression, reversion, regression, relapse.

17.wield (verb)

English Meaning - use, handle, exercise, exert, deploy, apply, have, hold, control.

18.Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) (noun)

English Meaning - It regulates the acceptance and utilisation of foreign contribution by individuals, associations and companies.

19.civil society body/organization (CSO) (noun)

English Meaning - non-governmental organizaiton (NGO); any non-profit, voluntary citizens’ group which is organized on a local, national or international level.

20.denote (verb)

English Meaning - indicate, represent, suggest, signify, point to.

21.erode (verb)

English Meaning - (gradually) reduce, undermine, weaken, spoil, deteriorate, wear out.

22.move (noun)

English Meaning - action, act, step, measure.

23.affairs (noun)

English Meaning - events, incidents, happenings, occurrences, concerns, matters, activities.

24.entity (noun)

English Meaning - organization, institution, body, establishment, outfit.

25.premier (adjective)

English Meaning - top, highest, main, leading, foremost, primary.

26.think tank (noun)

English Meaning - a panel of experts who provide advice and ideas on political, social or economic issues.

27.has been around/had been around (phrase)

English Meaning - to have a lot of experience (of different situations).

28.feed into (verb)

English Meaning - to have an effect/influence on something.

29.interest (noun)

English Meaning - common concerns (in politics/business).

30.consensus-building (noun)

English Meaning - a process involving a good-faith effort to meet the interests of all stakeholders and seek a unanimous agreement.

31.consensus (noun)

English Meaning - an idea or opinion that is shared by all the people in a group, agreement, concurrence.

32.informed (adjective)

English Meaning - knowledgeable, well educated, well versed; having knowledge of a subject or situation.

33.debate (noun)

English Meaning - dialogue, discussion, discourse, deliberation, talks.

34.hallmark (noun)

English Meaning - distinctive feature, characteristic, trait, attribute, quality.

35.effectively (adverb)

English Meaning - practically, virtually, in effect, actually, in reality.

36.shut down (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - close, discontinue, cease operation, stop.

37.cripple (verb)

English Meaning - ruin, destroy, spoil; weaken, paralyse, disable.

38.bound to (adjective)

English Meaning - sure, likely, guaranteed.

39.no longer (phrase)

English Meaning - not any more.

40.open to (adjective)

English Meaning - receptive to, amenable, responsive, available.

41.fit into (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - to be part of a group; to be accepted by the people in a group.

42.broader superlative adjective of broad (adjective)

English Meaning - comprehensive, extensive, wide, wide-ranging, broad-ranging.

43.all-too-familiar (adjective)

English Meaning - excessively well-known

44.silence (verb)

English Meaning - suppress, stifle, stop, muzzle, muffle.

45.liking (noun)

English Meaning - disposition, inclination, penchant, partiality, interest, preference, affection.

46.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.

47.ideological (adjective)

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

48.perhaps (adverb)

English Meaning - maybe, possibly, probably, conceivably, it is possible (that).

49.DNA (abbreviation)

English Meaning - Deoxyribonucleic acid (abbreviated as DNA) heredity, gene; (figuratively) fundamental nature.

50.regime (noun)

English Meaning - government, system.

51.paranoid (adjective)

English Meaning - over-suspicious, distrustful, worried, extremely fearful, nervous, insecure.

52.interfere (adverb)

English Meaning - impede, obstruct, get in the way of, hinder, disturb, influence, affect.

53.channel (verb)

English Meaning - transmit, pass through, conduct, direct, guide.

54.successive (adjective)

English Meaning - subsequent, consecutive, continuous.

55.provision (noun)

English Meaning - clause, condition, stipulation, requirement, term.

56.stringent (adjective)

English Meaning - strict, severe, extreme, tough, rigorous.

57.amendment (noun)

English Meaning - revision, change, modification.

58.International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) (noun)

English Meaning - Since 1952 the ICJ has performed a unique and prominent role as a nongovernmental organization (NGO) defending human rights and the rule of law worldwide. 60 eminent judges and lawyers - from all parts of the world and all legal systems - with unparalleled knowledge of the law and human rights.

59.denounce (verb)

English Meaning - condemn, criticize, censure, castigate, hit out at, discredit, find fault with, slam.

60.incompatible (adjective)

English Meaning - opposed, contrasting, conflicting, divergent, different, differing, varying, inconsistent, contradictory.

61.international law (noun)

English Meaning - International law defines the legal responsibilities of States (Countries) in their conduct with each other, and their treatment of individuals within State (Countries) boundaries. International law’s domain encompasses a wide range of issues of international concern, such as human rights, disarmament, international crime, refugees, migration, problems of nationality, the treatment of prisoners, the use of force, and the conduct of war, among others. International law also regulates the global commons, such as the environment and sustainable development, international waters, outer space, global communications and world trade.

62.impose (verb)

English Meaning - force, apply, enforce, exact.

63.extraordinary (adjective)

English Meaning - unusual, uncommon, surprising, rare, strange.

64.obstacle (noun)

English Meaning - hurdle, difficulty, problem, barrier, impediment, obstruction, hindrance.

65.actor (noun)

English Meaning - participants (in an action).

66.the dust settles (phrase)

English Meaning - things calm down.

67.World Vision India (WVI) (noun)

English Meaning - a non-governmental organisation (NGO) that focusses on children’s issues. The U.S.-based World Vision is one of the world’s largest Christian voluntary groups with a presence in over 100 countries. It has been operational in India for the past 70 years.

68.on the one hand (phrase)

English Meaning - it is used to introduce the first of two contrasting different, points, facts, or ways of looking at something. It is always followed later by “on the other hand” or ‘on the other’.

69.seek (verb)

English Meaning - try, aim, attempt.

70.recognition (noun)

English Meaning - (formal) acknowledgement, acceptance, admission.

71.Vishwaguru (noun)

English Meaning - a reformer and teacher/master to the entire world.

72.calling card (noun)

English Meaning - identification; demonstration, proof, evidence.

73.G-20 (noun)

English Meaning - The G20, formed in 1999, is a group of twenty of the world’s largest economies that meets regularly to coordinate global policy on trade, health, climate, and other issues. It brings together the world’s major advanced and emerging economies. The G20 comprises Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, EU, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, UK and USA. The G20 Countries together represent around 90% of global GDP, 80% of global trade, and two thirds of the world’s population.

74.host (noun)

English Meaning - conductor, organizer, arranger (an event).

75.hypersensitive (adjective)

English Meaning - intolerant; inflexible, dogmatic, uncompromising, unforgiving, unsympathetic.

76.indices plural of index (noun)

English Meaning - a data figure reflecting something compared with a standard or base value; pointer, indicator.

77.unwilling (adjective)

English Meaning - reluctant, disinclined, hesitant, against.

78.acknowledge (verb)

English Meaning - accept, recognize, realize.

79.perception (noun)

English Meaning - feeling, thought, belief, understanding, comprehension, interpretation.

80.downgrade (verb)

English Meaning - relegate, lower, assign a less important position to.

81.autocracy (noun)

English Meaning - dictatorship, monocracy, authoritarianism, tyranny, totalitarianism, despotism

82.erosion (noun)

English Meaning - decline, decrease, deterioration, disintegration, weakening.

83.shut off (verb)

English Meaning - stop, discontinue, cease, barricade, close up/off, block off, seal, bar.

84.flimsy (adjective)

English Meaning - unconvincing, unsatisfactory, unsubstantial; feeble, weak, poor, lame.

85.grounds (noun)

English Meaning - reason, cause, basis, motive, pretext, purpose.

86.textbook (adjective)

English Meaning - most typical, standard, conventional, classic, model, exemplary, quintessential.

87.guarantee (verb)

English Meaning - assure, promise, pledge, vow.

88.amplify (verb)

English Meaning - increase, raise, intensify, heighten, escalate.

89.narrative (noun)

English Meaning - a representation of a particular situation; portrayal, account, description, statement.

90.bias (noun)

English Meaning - prejudice, partiality, unfairness, one-sidedness, bigotry, intolerance, discrimination.

91.invoke (verb)

English Meaning - cite, mention, refer to, point to, adduce, turn to, resort to.

92.conspiracy (noun)

English Meaning - unlawful plan, intrigue, collaboration/deception.

93.tarnish (verb)

English Meaning - damage, injure, mar, spoil, ruin, harm, stain, taint, defame.

94.image (noun)

English Meaning - public impression, persona, identity, reputation, stature, fame.

95.reflect (verb)

English Meaning - indicate, show, display, demonstrate, represent, exhibit.