Hindi English Translation || Editorial || ​Old ties, new priorities: On India-Mauritius ties

​Old ties, new priorities: On India-Mauritius ties

The Modi visit to Mauritius focused on present-day imperatives (अनिवार्यताएँ)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Mauritius this week, and his meeting with its newly elected Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam, marked (चिह्नित करना, दर्शाना) a decade (दशक) since his last visit. His trip aimed to strengthen the India-Mauritius strategic partnership (रणनीतिक साझेदारी) and launch new economic and development initiatives. While Mr. Ramgoolam’s previous tenure (कार्यकाल, अवधि) (2005–14) overlapped briefly (संक्षेप में, थोड़े समय के लिए) with Mr. Modi’s, the two leaders have maintained close ties (संबंध). Even during India’s strict COVID-19 lockdown (an emergency protocol implemented by the authorities that prevents people from leaving from a place; An extended state of confinement/encirclement/isolation of a person by the authority), the Indian government facilitated (सुगम बनाना, सहायता करना) Mr. Ramgoolam’s medical evacuation (निकासी) to India. Acknowledging (स्वीकार करना, मान्यता देना) this support, Mr. Ramgoolam warmly welcomed (स्वागत करना, अपनाना) Mr. Modi as a guest at Mauritius’ National Day celebrations where he was also conferred (सम्मानित करना, प्रदान करना) the highest national award. Though not India’s closest geographical neighbour (पड़ोसी, सीमावर्ती देश), Mauritius remains deeply (गहराई से, अत्यधिक) connected to India. Over 70% of Mauritians are of Indian descent (ancestry, origin, succession, lineage, heredity), with enduring (स्थायी, दीर्घकालिक) cultural ties to India. While Mr. Modi’s engagements (participation, contribution, taking part, involvement) highlighted (underscore, emphasize, underline, stress, call/draw attention to) these shared historical and cultural bonds, the visit was primarily (mainly, largely, completely, entirely, wholly) focused on strategic (relating to achieving long-term or overall goals) priorities. India seeks (try, aim, attempt (to find or obtain something)) to strengthen its partnership with Mauritius as a key (important, main, leading) player in the Indian Ocean, an African nation, and a link to the Global South (the poor developing countries (of Asia, Africa, South America, amongst others)).

As part of this deepening (growing, increasing, intensifying, strengthening, heightening) partnership, the two leaders upgraded their strategic ties and committed to increased defence cooperation. India also announced several major economic initiatives, that include bilateral trade in national currencies, support for a new Mauritius parliament building, and a ₹487 crore credit facility (a type of pre-approved loan which allows the borrower to borrow money on an ongoing basis over an extended period of time, rather than applying for a new loan each time the borrower needs more money) to improve water infrastructure (the basic physical or organisational structure or framework that a country or organization needs in order to function properly. For a whole nation, it includes all the physical systems such as buildings, roads & railways networks, utilities, etc). These projects build upon previous Indian-led developments, such as an airstrip (landing strip, airfield (a runway for aircraft)) and jetty (a landing place/stage at which boats can be moored/tied up) in the Agalega islands, the Mauritius Metro rail project, and the New Supreme Court Building. The visit also carried geopolitical (relating to (the study of) the geographical factors (a country’s position on the earth, size, climate, and natural resources &, etc.) in world politics and inter-state relations) implications (consequence/outcome, ramification, repercussion). Mr. Ramgoolam has expressed a desire to renegotiate Mauritius’ agreement with the U.K. regarding (concerning, with regard to, in respect of, with reference to, relating to) sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago (a group of (small) islands closely scattered in a body of water; e.g. Indonesia, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Japan, the Philippines, Maldives & etc), home to a U.S. military base (a place for the storage of military equipment and the training of soldiers) in Diego Garcia. While India helped broker (settle, arrange, negotiate, pull off, mediate (an agreement)) the previous deal under Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth’s government, it has assured Mr. Ramgoolam of its full support in whatever course he chooses. Meanwhile, India is also watching China’s growing (increasing) footprint (impression, effect, impact; the area taken control by someone/something). China’s strategic partnership with Mauritius includes a free trade agreement (an agreement between two or more countries designed to reduce or eliminate certain barriers to trade and investment, and to facilitate stronger trade and commercial ties between participating countries) and bilateral trade worth $1.1 billion — double that of India-Mauritius trade at $554 million. With the PLA Navy’s increased presence in the Indian Ocean, Mr. Modi’s announcement of the MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions; India’s larger vision of security across the “Global South. This comes a decade after India laid out Vision ‘SAGAR,’ which outlined India’s role in the security of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR)) doctrine (principle, belief, rule) is significant. At a time when shifting U.S. foreign policy threatens the international rules-based (based on a predetermined set of principles) order, disrupts trade, and risks fragmenting (break up, disintegrate, collapse, break down) global alliances (association, union, bloc, partnership) into rigid spheres of influence (In international politics, the claim by a country (a state) to have an exclusive or predominant control over a foreign area or territory), Mr. Modi’s visit has underscored (highlight, emphasise, underline, stress, call/draw attention to) India’s commitment (dedication, engagement, obligation, responsibility, onus, liability, accountability) to strengthening regional ties and reinforcing (strengthen, support, make stronger, give strength to, fortify, bolster, underpin, buttress) partnerships with trusted friends.

Courtesy: The Hindu

Important Word List With Meaning

1.ties (noun)

Hindi Meaning - संबंध
English Meaning - association, relationship, bond, connection.

2.imperative (noun)

Hindi Meaning - अनिवार्यताएँ
English Meaning - necessary condition, precondition, condition, essential requirement.

3.mark (verb)

Hindi Meaning - चिह्नित करना, दर्शाना
English Meaning - indicate, represent, signify.

4.decade (noun)

Hindi Meaning - दशक
English Meaning - a period of ten years.

5.strategic partnership (noun)

Hindi Meaning - रणनीतिक साझेदारी
English Meaning - it is a long-term interaction between two countries based on political, economic, social and historical factors.

6.tenure (noun)

Hindi Meaning - कार्यकाल, अवधि
English Meaning - term, period of/in office; period, time, stint, spell.

7.briefly (adverb)

Hindi Meaning - संक्षेप में, थोड़े समय के लिए
English Meaning - for a very short period of time; quickly, shortly.

8.facilitate (verb)

Hindi Meaning - सुगम बनाना, सहायता करना
English Meaning - make easy, make possible, enable; assist, help/aid.

9.evacuation (noun)

Hindi Meaning - निकासी
English Meaning - mass departure, exodus, leaving/exit.

10.acknowledge (verb)

Hindi Meaning - स्वीकार करना, मान्यता देना
English Meaning - accept, recognize, realize.

11.welcome (verb)

Hindi Meaning - स्वागत करना, अपनाना
English Meaning - receive, embrace, play host to, receive with open arms.

12.confer (verb)

Hindi Meaning - सम्मानित करना, प्रदान करना
English Meaning - present to, award to, honour with, bestow on.

13.neighbour (noun)

Hindi Meaning - पड़ोसी, सीमावर्ती देश
English Meaning - a country that is next to another country; (bordering) country.

14.deeply (adverb)

Hindi Meaning - गहराई से, अत्यधिक
English Meaning - very much, intensely, strongly, profoundly.

15.enduring (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - स्थायी, दीर्घकालिक
English Meaning - lasting, long-lasting, continuing; long-standing.

16.overlapp (adjective)

English Meaning - criss cross, intersect; superimpose, underlie, extend over.

17.lockdown (noun)

English Meaning - an emergency protocol implemented by the authorities that prevents people from leaving from a place; An extended state of confinement/encirclement/isolation of a person by the authority.

18.warmly (adverb)

English Meaning - positively, agreeably, graciously, well, amiably, passionately

19.descent (noun)

English Meaning - ancestry, origin, succession, lineage, heredity.

20.engagement (noun)

English Meaning - participation, contribution, taking part, involvement.

21.highlight (verb)

English Meaning - underscore, emphasize, underline, stress, call/draw attention to.

22.primarily (adverb)

English Meaning - mainly, largely, completely, entirely, wholly.

23.strategic (adjective)

English Meaning - relating to achieving long-term or overall goals.

24.seek (verb)

English Meaning - try, aim, attempt (to find or obtain something).

25.key (adjective)

English Meaning - important, main, leading.

26.The Global South (noun)

English Meaning - the poor developing countries (of Asia, Africa, South America, amongst others).

27.The Global North (noun)

English Meaning - the economically developed countries (of Europe, North America, Australia, amongst others).

28.deepening (adjective)

English Meaning - growing, increasing, intensifying, strengthening, heightening.

29.bilateral (adjective)

English Meaning - involving two groups or countries.

30.Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) (noun)

English Meaning - a formal agreement/deal between two countries which outlines specific terms for trade, commerce, transit, or investment.

31.credit facility (noun)

English Meaning - a type of pre-approved loan which allows the borrower to borrow money on an ongoing basis over an extended period of time, rather than applying for a new loan each time the borrower needs more money.

32.infrastructure (noun)

English Meaning - the basic physical or organisational structure or framework that a country or organization needs in order to function properly. For a whole nation, it includes all the physical systems such as buildings, roads & railways networks, utilities, etc.

33.airstrip (noun)

English Meaning - landing strip, airfield (a runway for aircraft).

34.jetty (noun)

English Meaning - a landing place/stage at which boats can be moored/tied up.

35.geopolitical (adjective)

English Meaning - relating to (the study of) the geographical factors (a country’s position on the earth, size, climate, and natural resources &, etc.) in world politics and inter-state relations.

36.implications (noun)

English Meaning - consequence/outcome, ramification, repercussion.

37.regarding (preposition)

English Meaning - concerning, with regard to, in respect of, with reference to, relating to.

38.sovereignty (noun)

English Meaning - supreme power or authority, jurisdiction, supremacy.

39.Territorial sovereignty (noun)

English Meaning - the power of a state or ruler to have exclusive control and authority over a specific geographical area.

40.archipelago (noun)

English Meaning - a group of (small) islands closely scattered in a body of water; e.g. Indonesia, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Japan, the Philippines, Maldives & etc.

41.military base (noun)

English Meaning - a place for the storage of military equipment and the training of soldiers.

42.broker (verb)

English Meaning - settle, arrange, negotiate, pull off, mediate (an agreement).

43.growing (adjective)

English Meaning - increasing.

44.footprint (noun)

English Meaning - impression, effect, impact; the area taken control by someone/something.

45.Free Trade Agreement (FTA) (noun)

English Meaning - an agreement between two or more countries designed to reduce or eliminate certain barriers to trade and investment, and to facilitate stronger trade and commercial ties between participating countries.

46.People’s Liberation Army (PLA) (noun)

English Meaning - People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is the armed forces of the country of China.

47.MAHASAGAR (noun)

English Meaning - Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions; India’s larger vision of security across the “Global South. This comes a decade after India laid out Vision ‘SAGAR,’ which outlined India’s role in the security of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

48.doctrine (noun)

English Meaning - principle, belief, rule.

49.rules-based (adjective)

English Meaning - based on a predetermined set of principles.

50.world/international/global order (noun)

English Meaning - the arrangement of power and authority that provides the system for the conduct of diplomacy and world politics in relation to the entire world.

51.fragment (verb)

English Meaning - break up, disintegrate, collapse, break down.

52.alliance (noun)

English Meaning - association, union, bloc, partnership.

53.sphere (noun)

English Meaning - arena, domain, realm, field, territory, area; an area/field of activity.

54.influence (noun)

English Meaning - power, authority, sway, clout, leverage, control, dominance, say, weight, position, muscle.

55.sphere of influence (SOI) (noun)

English Meaning - In international politics, the claim by a country (a state) to have an exclusive or predominant control over a foreign area or territory.

56.underscore (verb)

English Meaning - highlight, emphasise, underline, stress, call/draw attention to.

57.commitment (noun)

English Meaning - dedication, engagement, obligation, responsibility, onus, liability, accountability.

58.reinforce (verb)

English Meaning - strengthen, support, make stronger, give strength to, fortify, bolster, underpin, buttress.