Daily English Vocab
PDF 2nd March 2017
Indian democracy can do with a weak state, the Indian republic cannot
In past days, one could stand when the national anthem played—if one wished to. But that equation
has changed of late. Now, one dare not do otherwise. Although the Supreme Court has made the
playing of the national anthem mandatory in movie theatres and filmgoers are required to stand up
and pay respect, it is not a hidden cop watching them that they fear. Not even a possible secret
informer furtively (गुप्त रूप से) lurking (छिपा रहना) a la (in the style or manner of.) the East German
Stasi. Once the reports of recalcitrant (उद्दण्ड/आज्ञा न माननेवाला) sitters being roughed up started
trickling in, the fear of being at the receiving end of instant “justice” has become real. In a
democracy with no limits, it is the majority that decides for the minority. What makes Indian
democracy palatable (acceptable or satisfactory.) and good for the people of India is the Indian
republic.
As Shruti Rajagopalan has pointed out, the part of the Constitution which lays out the fundamental
rights of citizens is the most “undemocratic” in nature. The fundamental rights of a citizen, or the
republican values in our Constitution, curb the powers of the democratically elected government.
But the real effect of those rights has been gradually eroded due to various exceptions introduced
to the fundamental rights both by the legislature as well as the judiciary, excesses of democracy or
majority rule, inadequate state capacity, and lack of demand by the citizenry for upholding
fundamental rights.
The judiciary is also part of the scheme to curb the powers of the government. And it has indeed
given some very progressive judgements. In Bijoe Emmanuel v. State of Kerala (1986), the
Supreme Court in a welcome judgement expanded freedom of expression to include the right to
remain silent, thus allowing children belonging to a sect called Jehovah’s Witnesses the right to
not sing the national anthem. But the same court has now mandated, from on high, respect for the
anthem. The unremitting (never relaxing or slackening) quest (a long or arduous search for
something.) for popular legitimacy, a product of democracy without curbs, has also corroded
institutions that are supposed to safeguard the cherished values of the Indian republic.
A contest parallel to that of democracy and republic is one between communities and individuals.
The case I wish to make here is that Indian democracy has strengthened the power of communities
and the weak state has meant that the Indian republic has not been able to protect the rights of an
individual in conflict with a community. While the Constitution gives space for affirmative action
for certain castes and allows the right to practise and propagate religion, most of the fundamental
rights have been bestowed upon individuals. In principle, the rights of individuals should trump
(से बढ़ कर होना) those of communities. But the power of democratic mobilization has been skilfully
employed by communities to turn that principle on its head.
The “first past the post” system of electing representatives has permitted political parties to choose
a select number of communities to cultivate for elections. Various tools of governance ranging
from reservations in jobs to subsidies for power, water, fertilizer, etc., are employed to cultivate
groups which can deliver en masse (in a group; all together.) votes. A few minority groups tend
to gain a disproportionate share in the governance agenda. This is not always bad but the worst
sufferers are the minorities or the weaker sections within the minority groups. The case of triple
talaq is an example: Most of the political parties have sided with the Muslim orthodoxy in the
name of protecting the traditions and customs of the minority group.
When it comes to the rights of the individual—the freedom to write a book that offends a religious
community, the freedom to make a film that offends the supporters of a political party, or the
freedom to not sing the national anthem—the weak Indian state surrenders to the mobocracy of
groups with votes. Francis Fukuyama has postulated (मान लेना) that for a liberal democracy to be
successful, it requires the following three institutions in a stable balance: a strong state, rule of law
and political accountability. Fukuyama places India firmly in the group of what Joel Migdal calls
strong societies and weak states.
The weak state that India is can become very efficient when it chooses to do so. And it makes that
choice often to uphold Indian democracy and seldom for the cause of the Indian republic. Take
elections, for example. As the world’s largest democracy, India conducts the world’s largest
democratic exercise when the members of the Lok Sabha are elected. Even many of India’s state
elections are some of the largest in the world. And it is not just elections; take the Hindu religious
gathering of Mahakumbh. Given its scale—the festival is attended by tens of millions of
pilgrims—the state has to get involved and the event is organized in a near-flawless manner.
But the same state fails in empowering the individual—whether it is in protecting the individual’s
freedom of expression or delivering quasi (लग-भग) -public goods like quality education, healthcare
or drinking water. So perverse (छवकृत) is the effect of Indian democracy that there is hardly a
solution in sight for the air pollution choking several cities across north India. Since relief delivered
on this count will not be a “club good” that can be claimed by any particular community, there is
no incentive for the state to take strong decisions.
Indian democracy can do with a weak state that can conduct elections efficiently, but the Indian
republic needs a strong state (not to be confused with an authoritarian state) that can protect
individuals from the groups that those elections empower.
Courtesy: Live Mint (Concerning)
1. Furtively (adverb): In a way that attempts to avoid notice or attention. (गुप्त रूप से)
Synonyms: Secretly, Clandestinely, Covertly, Confidentially.
Antonyms: Overtly, Openly.
Example: Students who cheat in exams employ their furtive tactics to avoid getting
caught.
Related words:
Furtive (adjective) - Marked by quiet, caution, and secrecy
Origin: from Latin furtum means ‘theft’.
2. Lurk (verb): To be concealed but capable of being discovered/ to move furtively
or Inconspicuously/ Be Or Remain Hidden. (छिपा रहना)
Synonyms: Hide, Conceal Oneself, Take Cover, Skulk.
Antonyms: Come Out.
Example: After the accident, we caught a glimpse of someone lurking around the
corner.
Verb forms: Lurk, Lurked, Lurked.
Origin: From German lūren to lie in wait.
3. Recalcitrant (adjective): Having an obstinately uncooperative attitude towards
authority or discipline. (उद्दण्ड/आज्ञा न माननेवाला)
Synonyms: Defiant, Incompliant, Fractious, Recusant, Obstreperous.
Antonyms: Compliant, Docile, Obedient.
Example: Despite being offered treats by his parents, the little boy was still
recalcitrant about doing his homework.
Origin: From Latin recalcitrant/ recalcitrans, present participle of recalcitrare means
to be stubbornly disobedient.
4. Palatable (adjective): Acceptable or satisfactory. (स्वीकार्य/तुछिकारक)
Synonyms: Acceptable, Satisfactory, Acceptable, Good Enough.
Antonyms: Inadequate, Insufficient, Unacceptable.
Example: Obviously the black dress is more palatable for a funeral than the bright
pink garment.
5. Unremitting (adjective): Never relaxing or slackening. (अनवरत/छनरंतर)
Synonyms: Relentless, Unrelenting, Ceaseless Nonstop, Perpetual.
Antonyms: Discontinuous, Interrupted.
Example: Several months before the election, the mayor’s political rival launched
an unremitting campaign against him.
Related words:
Unremittingly (adverb) - लगातार
6. Quest (noun): A long or arduous search for something. (तलाश)
Synonyms: Hunt, Search, Pursuit, Delving.
Antonyms: Reluctance.
Example: During my quest to be healthier, I will seek assistance from both a
nutritionist and a personal trainer.
Verb forms: Quest, Quested, Quested.
Related words:
Quest (noun) - search for something.
Origin: From Latin quaerere ‘ask, seek’.
7. Trump (verb): Surpass (something) by saying or doing something better. (से बढ़
कर होना)
Synonyms: Outshine, Outclass, Surpass, Outperform.
Antonyms: Fall Behind, Lose, Lag.
Example: Possessing an athletic attitude, he trumped his incurable disease and won
the medal.
Verb forms: Trump, Trumped, Trumped.
8. Postulate (verb): Suggest or assume the existence, fact, or truth of (something)
as a basis for reasoning, discussion, or belief. (मान लेना)
Synonyms: Hypothecate, Hypothesize, Assume, Premise, Presume.
Antonyms: Challenge, Controvert, Disagree.
Example: In an attempt to create controversy, some experts postulate alternatives
to historical beliefs that have been accepted for years.
Verb forms: Postulate, Postulated, Postulated.
Related words:
Postulation (noun) – अभिधारणा
Origin: Latin postulatus, past participle of postulare; akin to Latin poscere means to
ask.
9. Quasi (Suffix): Being partly or almost./ in some significant sense or degree./
having features that are similar to another thing (लग-भग)
Synonyms: Partly, Partially, To A Limited Extent/Degree,
Antonyms: Completely, Fully, Wholly.
Example: Since my father was in the military for twenty-five years, he treats our
home like it is a quasi-base camp.
Origin: from Latin quasi ‘as if, almost’.
10. Perverse (adjective): Contrary to the accepted or expected standard or practice./
not normal or proper. (छवकृत)
Synonyms: Irrational, Contradictory, Deviant, Anomalous.
Antonyms: Compliant, Reasonable.
Example: The serial killer found perverse pleasure in every murder he committed.
Origin: from Latin perversus means ‘turned about’.
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