Daily English Vocab
PDF 11th Dec 2016
Zero Balance Politics
Demonetization has scrambled (गड़बड़़ा देऩा) equations in the run-up to crucial UP elections. On the
ground in Uttar Pradesh, all political equations have been thrown out of gear by the vanishing
money post-demonetization. There is anger and the threat of low-grade violence if the situation
does not improve, in some sectors that have been badly hit.
There is equally a level of acceptance among the very poor, who had little to lose anyway and
some of whom believe there may be justice down the road if the moneyed classes suffer. There is
admiration among the professional classes who see Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the Absolute
Leader for whom there is no replacement.
There is complete shock among the baniya community manufacturers, traders, shopkeepers and
moneylenders who have traditionally been BJP's financiers and most ardent (उत्स़ाही/उत्कट)
supporters.
How does one therefore read the political script in a world turned upside down? The 2017 assembly
elections had represented the best opportunity for BJP to get power in the state after a quarter
century. The last time they had a majority government was in 1991, when the Kalyan Singh regime
(श़ासन) rode in on the Ram temple wave and rode out after being dismissed following the
demolition (विध्िंस/तोडऩा) of the Babri mosque.
Subsequently there were two short lived BJP governments in the state, one led by Ram Prakash
Gupta, an old Jan Sangh hand, who was in the CM chair for 351 days, followed by Rajnath Singh
who ruled for little over a year till March 2002.
After the virtual sweep of UP Lok Sabha seats in the Modi powered wave of 2014, it makes
absolute sense for BJP to have ambitions to capture the state where elections are due in the early
part of next year. But since demonetization has hit its own base hard, the party is currently on
unknown territory.
An invented narrative with communal overtones could be created but currently all communities
and castes stand side by side in queues. If there is actual delivery of cash into zero balance bank
accounts, plus packages to bail out the unorganized sector, farmers and traders, it could still be
advantage BJP.
But on current realities it would be fair to say that surprisingly, it is the incumbent (पदस्थ/पदध़ारी)
regime of Akhilesh Yadav that seems to have a small edge in the triangular battle. There are
multiple reasons for this. Presuming that both BSP and SP have found huge wads (ढेर स़ाऱा) of notes
turn to dust, the difference is that SP is in government, a definite vantage (ल़ाभप्रद अिसर य़ा वस्थवत)
position to
change currency and raise fresh funds.
The second reason is more surprising. The feud (कलह/लड़़ाई) in the SP family has actually enhanced
Akhilesh's image even as it has allocated the blame for all that's wrong with the regime on the
unappealing uncles and interlopers.
Akhilesh is young, personable and preparing a presidential style campaign that showcases him
(often with his wife, Dimple Yadav who is actually an asset on her own in the campaign). In the
age of the Modi brand of politics, Akhilesh has kept the photo op moments for himself. His regime
has delivered on electricity and roads besides giving all manner of freebies.
If father Mulayam Singh Yadav once tapped the rustic (देह़ाती/ग्ऱामीण) energy of the backward castes,
Akhilesh taps into an aspirational urge of the upwardly mobile. He speaks the language of
connectivity and development beyond sectional appeals to caste community groups.
It is hard to find people speak ill of him even if they do not intend to vote for him. Even if he does
not retain power, he is a young man with a future in politics.
Equations could further change if SP works on an alliance with Congress. Mulayam is in charge
of such arrangements and it's faltered (डगमग़ा ज़ाऩा/ कमजोर पड़ऩा) on the question of seats (he's
reportedly offered 50 plus to the national party). Yet BJP strategists know that trader Baniya Vaish
support could shift to such an alliance as in urban centres like Kanpur, Lucknow and Varanasi,
Congress is still the second party after BJP.
If that happens, Mayawati would lose further momentum. At the candidate level there is some
palpable (प्रत्यक्ष/ दृश्य) unhappiness in BSP over the manner in which they are being asked to convert
old currency as opposed to preparing for an election. Besides, it's not clear if the arithmetic will
still work for her: she needs to get a section of Muslim votes (19% of the population) or the
Brahmins (10%) to add to her solid Dalit base (21%).
In western UP she has traditionally been the main force taking on BJP but minorities elsewhere
actually prefer SP even as an older generation hankers (ल़ाल़ावयत रहऩा/ च़ाहऩा/ वकसी के पक्ष में होऩा) for
Congress. The Brahmins would stick with BJP unless the Congress looks viable (व्यिह़ायय), only
possible if an alliance is forged.
Electoral choices change depending on the assessment of which party appears likely to win. On
current assessment it's zero balance for everyone, as across parties, leader and cadre are
disoriented. In the PM's constituency, Varanasi, the chairman of the Vastra Udyog Sangh, has a
profile picture of himself with Modi. But he's laid off thousands of weavers and lost 70% of his
business. He believes the PM has been misled and is waiting for a chance to tell him so.
(Courtesy: The Times of India)
1. Ardent (adjective) - Very enthusiastic or passionate. (उत्स़ाही/उत्कट)

Synonym: Passionate, Avid, Impassioned, Fervent, Fervid, Zealous, Wholehearted,
Vehement.
 Antonyms: Dispassionate, Dull, Indifferent, Unenthusiastic, Unexcited, Impassionate.
Example: Paul feels out of place among his friends because of his ardent love of classical music.
Related words:
 Ardently (verb) - उत्साह से
2. Demolition (noun) - An act (or the result of an event) that completely destroys something.
(विध्िंस/तोडऩा)

Synonym: Annihilation, Destruction, Extermination, Razing, Wrecking, Bulldozing,
Wipeout.
 Antonyms: Building, Construction, Fixing, Production, Repair.
Example: After the demolition of the old school building a modern masonry armory was
constructed in 1936 and still stands today and serves as a community gathering center.
Verb forms: Demolish, Demolished, Demolished.
Related words:
 Demolish (verb) - गिराना/तोडना
3. Incumbent (adjective) - (of an official or regime) Currently holding office. (पदस्थ/पदध़ारी)
 Synonym: Current, Existing, Present, In Office, In Power, Reigning.
 Antonyms: Retired, Resigned, Superannuated.
Example: After twenty years in office, the incumbent politician is finally retiring from politics.
Related words:
 Incumbency (noun) - पदग्रहण
4. Wad (noun): A bundle or roll of paper or banknotes. (ढेर स़ाऱा)
 Synonym: Bundle, Roll, Bankroll, Pile, Stack, Sheaf, Pocketful, Loaded.
 Antonyms: Lack, Scarcity, Opening.
Example: Demonetization proved to be major stroke to take out the wads of black money, as was
expected.
Verb forms: Wad, Wadded, Wadded.
Related words:
 Wad (verb) - ठूं स ठूं सकर भरना
5. Vantage (noun) - The quality of having a superior or more favorable position. (ल़ाभप्रद अिसर य़ा
वस्थवत)
 Synonym: Assistance, Aid, Favor, Leverage, Prestige, Prevalence.
 Antonyms: Disfavor, Harm, Incapacity, Impairment.
Example: Surrounded by very long wall around his kingdom, the king always enjoys the vantage
of being safer.
6. Feud (noun): A state of long-standing mutual hostility. (कलह/लड़़ाई)


Synonyms: Enmity, Animosity, Confliction, Embroilment, Discord.
Antonyms: Accord, Harmony, Concurrence, Concord.
Example: Here is a long standing feud between mine and my cousin’s families, which is why
neither of us will attend the other family’s weddings.
7. Rustic (adjective) - Of or relating to the countryside; rural. / made in a plain and simple.
(देह़ाती/ग्ऱामीण)
 Synonym: Plain, Simple, Homely, Unsophisticated, Homespun, Peasant.
 Antonyms: Sophisticated, Urbane, Cultured, Metropolitan, Refined, Polished.
Example: Since Rebecca has a rural upbringing, she is planning a rustic wedding in the
mountains.
Related words:
 Rusticity (noun) – सीधापन
8. Falter (verb): To hesitate or waver in action, purpose, intent, etc. (डगमग़ा ज़ाऩा/ कमजोर पड़ऩा)
 Synonym: Hesitate, Waver, Bumble, Stammer, Stutter, Stumble.
 Antonyms: Stabilize, Stay, Steady, Continue, Endure, Maintain, Persist.
Example: When the bank teller noticed that the masked man began to falter slightly, she discreetly
pressed the silent alarm.
Verb forms: Falter, Faltered, Faltered.
Related words:
 Falteringly (adverb) - डिमिाता हुआ
9. Palpable (adjective) - Capable of being perceive./ comprehensible with ease. (प्रत्यक्ष/ दृश्य)
 Synonyms: Evident, Apparent, Noticeable, Seeming, Clear, Visible, Sure.
 Antonyms: Ambiguous, Doubtful, Suspicious, Vague, Uncertain.
Example: Because the bank was being robbed, the sense of fear among the patrons was palpable.
Related words:
 Palpability (adjective) - प्रत्यक्षता

Palpably (adverb) - स्पष्ट रूप से
10. Hanker (verb): Feel a strong desire for or to do something. (ल़ाल़ावयत रहऩा/ च़ाहऩा/ वकसी के पक्ष में
होऩा)
 Synonym: Crave, Want, Desire, Yearn.
 Antonyms: Dislike, Hate, Despise, Be averse.
Example: Since Kelly has a hankering to listen to music, she’s going to a jazz club tonight.
Verb forms: Hanker, Hankered, Hankered.
Related words:
 Hankering (noun) - तीव्र इच्छा
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