Daily English Vocab
PDF 19th Jan 2017
Voting in a Season of Discontent
Election pundits are busy interpreting how the state of affairs in Manipur will play out in the March
election. The economic blockade and playing the Naga card could impact the fortunes of the
Congress and the BJP.
The dates for the election to the Manipur Legislative Assembly have been announced. Polling will
be in two phases, on March 4 and March 8. Results will be declared on March 11. A fortnight ago,
there was speculation (अटकलबाज़ी/परिकल्पना) that the election may be preceded (पर्ू वकाल़ीन होना/पहले
होना) by a spell of President’s Rule in the wake of the indefinite economic blockade by the United
Naga Council (UNC), a civil organisation in Manipur which claims to be the apex (श़ीर्व/सर्ोच्च)
body of all Naga tribes in the State, but these have since been put to rest.
Blockade numbs Manipur:
The blockade is now two and a half months old and Manipur continues to reel under the effect of
shortages of many essential commodities, petrol and cooking gas in particular. Petrol stations are
shut, but whenever there is some indication that some of them have been replenished (पुन: पूर्तव
किना/र्िि से भिना) for rationed distribution, miles-long queues of vehicles form outside them,
sometimes overnight. The market understandably is sluggish and prices of commodities have gone
up. Daily wage earners are the hardest hit. Demonetisation has made their trauma even worse.
Thankfully, Imphal valley is a fertile, rice-growing region, ensuring that the people have not gone
hungry. Had it been otherwise, there would have been mayhem (खलबल़ी/अशाांर्त) on the streets by
now.
Election pundits have been busy interpreting how this sorry state of affairs would play out in the
March election. The foremost questions are: Would the hardships caused by the blockade turn the
people against the ruling Congress? Would the Bharatiya Janata Party’s challenge become any
more formidable (दुर्जेय) because of it?
Significance of Assembly composition
The Manipur Assembly has 60 seats. Of these, 40 represent the valley inhabited predominantly by
non-tribal Hindu Meiteis; 39 of these are for the general category and one is reserved for Scheduled
Castes. The BJP had hoped it would be able to reap a harvest here, partly because of the
community’s religious affiliation (सम्बन्ध/र्जुड़ार्). Twenty seats represent the hills and 19 of these are
reserved for Scheduled Tribes, after the Kangpokpi constituency in the erstwhile SADAR
(Selected Area Development and Administrative Region) hills came to be de-reserved to
accommodate its sizeable population of Nepalis.
Of the 20 hill seats, Nagas normally hold sway in 11 to 12. The rest are generally won by Kukis
and aligned tribes.
Given that the BJP government at the Centre is holding peace talks with the Naga militant group,
the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah), the party’s State unit was hoping that it
would be able to win a majority of the Naga seats as well with the blessings of the militant group.
Its main rival here is the Naga People’s Front, which too would be vying for the NSCN(IM)’s
support. The Congress, which once had a lion’s share of the Naga seats, has, in the past few
months, been marginalised as the NSCN(IM) and Naga organisations such as the UNC are opposed
to it. Many Naga Congress MLAs and former ministers thought it prudent (बुर्िमान/र्र्र्ेकी) to resign
from the party ahead of the election wishing to retain their seats. In Nagaland, the Naga People’s
Front (NPF) and the BJP are allies.
Electoral master stroke?
However, the UNC’s blockade — which began on November 1 in anticipation of the Manipur
government giving in to the long-standing demand for upgrading the SADAR and Jiribam
subdivisions to full-fledged districts — has upset these equations radically. This became even more
so after the government, at a cabinet sitting at midnight on December 8 to defy (अर्हेलना किना) the
UNC’s coercive (बलपूर्वक/प्रर्तिोध़ी) protest, created not just the two districts the UNC was opposed
to, but seven by splitting seven of the State’s nine districts.
The UNC considers four of the seven split districts to be a part of the ancestral Naga homeland
and was quick to accuse the Manipur government of splitting this homeland, although, as the
government contends, how districts can split people is incomprehensible (समझ से बाहि). This is
particularly so because the Assembly and parliamentary constituencies have remained untouched.
The worry of the BJP’s State unit amid the current ethnic polarisation is how proximity to the
NSCN(IM), an organisation avowed (स्ऱ्ीकृत) to the dismemberment of Manipur to form a
sovereign (प्रधान/मुख्य) Greater Nagaland, and the UNC (which many consider to be a surrogate of
the former) may alienate its support base in the valley where 40 seats are at stake. The Congress
Chief Minister, Okram Ibobi Singh’s move in this sense may be an electoral master stroke, not for
the splintering (अलग किना/तोडना) or otherwise of any homeland, but for leaving rival BJP on the
horns of a dilemma (in a difficult situation).
This dilemma is visible in the State unit’s muted response to the blockade question, probably not
wanting to offend its Central leadership now holding talks with the NSCN(IM). Under the
circumstances, if nothing happens to change the nature of this polarisation, there can be no doubt
that the Congress’s position is strong in the valley, and the Chief Minister and his team may have
found a way to overcome the anti-incumbency burden of having been in power for 15 years
continuously.
Other than the valley seats, the Congress will also command sympathy in many Kuki
constituencies. It may still win two or three Naga constituencies which had always been its
strongholds if voters are not allowed to be totally coerced by the militants. In the party’s favour
too is the fact that the State unit of the BJP does not have any charismatic leader who can jolt the
confidence of the Congress even at this late stage.
Fluctuating loyalties
But things can change in the run-up to the March election. This happened in the Assam election
of April 2016, and even more dramatically in Arunachal Pradesh later the same year, where the
BJP installed its governments in both States. In Assam it wrested power from the Congress but
only after wooing many Congress leaders to its camp before the election. In Arunachal Pradesh, it
did this by engineering the defection (दल बदल किना/उल्लांघन/कतवव्य छोड़कि भागना) of almost the entire lot
of MLAs from the ruling Congress after the election. In Manipur too, such a scenario is not
impossible to think of. Here too, the BJP is in a position to take advantage of the psychology of
weak and dependent Northeast States of feeling safer by being on the side of the party in power at
the Centre. There is always the feeling here, among political leaders as well as electorate, that the
clearance of projects and Central assistance in lean times will always be smoother if the party that
rules the Centre also rules the State.
There is one more factor that has determined party loyalty. The ceiling on ministry size for small
Northeast States fixed by the anti-defection law is 12. This includes the chief minister. Those in
the ruling Congress, and indeed the contender BJP, who are unsure of making this elite 12 will
begin looking for greener pastures. This will also be an opportunity for smaller parties such as the
Trinamool Congress to enlist potential winners. Irom Sharmila’s brand new party, the People’s
Resurgence and Justice Alliance (PRJA), has shown no interest in this kind of politics, but its
idealism is still too nascent (शुरुआत़ी स्ति पि/नया) to generate the kind of wave that wins elections.
Courtesy: The Hindu (Politics).
1. Speculation (noun): To form an opinion despite a lack of information or evidence/the forming
of a theory or conjecture without firm evidence. (अटकलबाज़ी/परिकल्पना)
 Synonyms: Conjecture, Theorizing, Hypothesizing, Supposition, Guesswork, Thought.
 Antonyms: Reality, Truth, Knowledge, Proof, Fact.
Example: Since I do not know Jim and Karen, I cannot speculate on the reasons behind their
divorce.
Verb forms: Speculate, Speculated, Speculated.
Related words:
Speculate (verb) - अनमु ान लगाना/विचार करना
2. Apex (adjective): The highest point of achievement/ the top or highest part of something.
(श़ीर्व/सर्ोच्च)
 Synonyms: Culmination, Apotheosis, Peak, Summit, Pinnacle, Top.
 Antonyms: Base, Bottom, Nadir.
Example: At the apex of our country sits the president of our nation.
3. Replenish (verb): Fill (something) up again. / restore (a stock or supply) to a former level or
condition. (पनु : पर्ू तव किना/र्िि से भिना)
 Synonyms: Refill, Top Up, Fill Up, Recharge, Reload, Restock, Restore, Fill Up.
 Antonyms: Damage, Deplete, Use Up, Waste.
Example: There was no food in the refrigerator, so I had to visit the grocery store to replenish
our supply.
Verb forms: Replenish, Replenished, Replenished.
Related words:
Replenishment (noun) – विर से भरना
4. Mayhem (noun): Violent or extreme disorder. (खलबल़ी/अशाांर्त)

Synonyms: Chaos, Disorder, Confusion, Havoc, Bedlam, Pandemonium, Tumult, Uproar,
Turmoil.
 Antonyms: Calm, Peace, Harmony.
Example: A criminal who escaped from prison and caused mayhem in the city.
5. Formidable (adjective): Inspiring fear or respect through being impressively large, powerful,
intense, or capable. (दुर्जेय)
 Synonyms: Impregnable, Daunting, Impenetrable, Invulnerable, Unassailable.
 Antonyms: Feeble, Powerless, Weak.
Example: With Kevin's formidable speaking skills, he will beat everyone in the speech contest.
Related words:
Formidably (adverb) - दर्जु ेय रूप से
6. Affiliation (noun): The involvement or connection that somebody (having a religious or
political organization) (सम्बन्ध/र्जड़ु ार्)
 Synonyms: Association, Attachment, Bonding, Tie-Up, Alliance, Amalgamation.
 Antonyms: Detachment, Dissolution, Disunion, Separation.
Example: He gang requires all members to tattoo their necks with slogans, which proclaims their
affiliation loudly and clearly.
Verb forms: Affiliate, Affiliated, Affiliated.
Related words:
Affiliate (verb) – सम्बन्ध होना
7. Prudent (adjective): Acting with or showing care and thought for the future. (बुर्िमान/र्र्र्ेकी)
 Synonyms: Wise, Judicious, Sagacious, Shrewd. Discreet.
 Antonyms: careless, Foolish, Incautious, Indiscreet, Imprudent.
Example: Since so many car accidents have happened at that intersection, it would be prudent
for the city to put a stop sign in the area.
Related words:
Prudence (noun) – बुविमानी
8. Defy (verb): Appear to be challenging/ openly resist or refuse to obey. (अर्हेलना किना)
 Synonyms: Challenge, Dare, Confront, Repugn, disobey, Ignore.
 Antonyms: Surrender, Give Up, Hide, Follow, Obey.
Example: The soldier was imprisoned for defying an order to shoot the enemy captives.
Verb forms: Verb forms: Defy, Defied, Defied.
Related words:
Defiance (noun) – अिहेलना
9. Coercive (adjective): Characterized by someone do something by using force or threats.
(बलपूर्वक/प्रर्तिोध़ी)
 Synonyms: Pressured, Forced, Suppressive, Constraining.
 Antonyms: Free, Liberated, Assisted, Helpful, Aiding.
Example: When the mob guys wanted the property, they tried to coerce the owners into signing
over the deed.
Verb forms: Coerce, Coerced, Coerced.
Related words:
Coerce (verb) - बाध्य करना
Coercion (noun) – ज़बरदस्ती/दबाि
Coercible (adjective) - वििश वकया हुआ
10. Incomprehensible (adjective): Not able to be understood; not intelligible. (समझ से बाहि)

Synonyms: Unintelligible, Indecipherable, baffeling, Mystifying, Unfathomable,
Inarticulate.
 Antonyms: Clear, Comprehensible, Fathomable, Imaginable, Intelligible, Understandable.
Example: The economy speech was incomprehensible for college students.
Verb forms: Comprehend, Comprehended, Comprehended.
Related words:
Comprehend (verb) – समझना
Comprehensibility (noun) - समझ आने की योग्यता
11. Avowed (adjective): That has been asserted, admitted, or stated publicly. (स्ऱ्ीकृत)
 Synonyms: Professed, Accepted, Acknowledged, Admitted, Affirmed.
 Antonyms: refused, Denied.
Example: After losing four matches in five match series, the captain avowed series defeat of his
team.
Verb forms: Avow, Avowed, Avowed.
Related words:
Avow (verb) – स्िीकार करना
Avowedly (adverb) - स्पष्ट रूप से
12. Sovereign (adjective): Possessing supreme or ultimate power. (प्रधान/मुख्य)

Synonyms: Supreme, Absolute, Ultimate, Unconditional, Full, Paramount, Chief,
Principal, Ruling.
 Antonyms: Minor, Secondary, Subordinate, Unimportant, Inferior.
Example: While a few people believe Mexico is a part of the United States, it is actually a
sovereign country with its own government.
Related words:
Sovereignty (noun) - प्रधानता
13. Splinter (verb): Break or cause to break into small fragments. (अलग किना/तोडना)
 Synonyms: Shatter, Smash, Split, Crack, Disintegrate.
 Antonyms: Unite, Combine, Integrate, Join.
Example: A political party that has been splintered by disagreements, now contesting elections
against each other.
Verb forms: Splinter, Splintered, Splintered.
14. Defection (adjective): Withdrawing support or help despite allegiance or responsibility. (दल
बदल किना/उल्लांघन/कतवव्य छोड़कि भागना)
 Synonyms: Abandonment, Desertion, Apostasy, Renunciation.
 Antonyms: Faithfulness, Joining, Continuation.
Example: His defection from the Labor Party proved out to be fruitful, as the new party he joined
won the election.
15. Nascent (adjective): Just coming into existence and beginning to display signs of future
potential. (शुरुआत़ी स्ति पि/नया)

Synonyms: Burgeoning, Fledgling, Growing, Incipient, Beginning, Blossoming,
Germinating.
 Antonyms: Dying, Shrinking.
Example: Although our nonprofit organization is nascent, we have already raised over a half a
million dollars in four months.
Related words:
Nascence (noun) - नयापन
16. Kinship (noun): The state of being related to the people in your family/ a feeling of being
close or connected to other people. (घनिष्‍
टता/सम्‍बन्‍
ध/िाता)‍


Synonyms: Relationship, Relatedness, Affinity, Sympathy, Kindred, Rapport.
Antonyms: Hatred, Dislike, Acrimony, Animosity, Hostility.
Example: There is kinship among all human beings, which is very necessary for the survival of
humanity.
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