THE HINDU Editorial Vocabulary- September 14, 2016- Topic 1
Emotions often trump reason. The Cauvery
water dispute is turning out to be less about water and irrigation and more
about linguistic CHAUVINISM and regional identity. Nothing else can explain the mindless violence in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu over the Supreme Court order asking the
former to release water to the LATTER, keeping in view the distress situation
in both States in a season of deficit rainfall. Many of the acts of violence
have been PERPETUATED in the two States by chauvinistic, FRINGE
organisations that have little to do with the farming community or its
interests. It is clear that there is insufficient water in Karnataka’s
reservoirs to meet the full irrigation needs of both States. The point of the
Supreme Court order was to make the States share their distress and not to
magically fulfil the needs of farmers on both sides. But political parties and
some media houses, especially regional language television channels, have
sought to PORTRAY the issue as one that PITS the people of one State against that of
the other. Indeed, the two major national parties, the Congress and the
Bharatiya Janata Party, have taken different stands in the two States on this
issue. No party or State government appears to believe it can AFFORD
to be seen as taking even so much as a CONCILIATORY step toward defusing the crisis. On
some previous occasions when Karnataka released water in a distress year the
State government did so quietly so as to not give chauvinistic elements any
opportunity to INFLAME passions.
Cauvery is an inter-State dispute, but
this is no reason to turn the issue into a RAGING controversy that draws the peoples of
the two States into CONFRONTATION. That Tamil-speaking people settled in Karnataka for
generations are made to feel insecure, and business establishments run by
entrepreneurs tracing their familial ties to Karnataka are targeted in Tamil
Nadu are indications of how the water dispute goes beyond the interests of the
people and becomes mixed up with the EMOTIVE issue of linguistic identity. Ideally,
as stipulated by the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal, the technicalities of
water-sharing should be left to the Cauvery Management Board, which is to
monitor the water flows with the help of the Cauvery Regulation Committee and
the respective State authorities. If Cauvery is not to be made a PLAYTHING
in the hands of chauvinists, the governments of the two States as well as at
the Centre need to send out a strong signal to the MARAUDING
mobsters that violence, in whatever name, will be put down strongly by the
security forces. As laid down by the CWDT, the issue of water-sharing should be
left in the hands of technical experts, and not politicians who are HOSTAGE
to the emotions of a PAROCHIAL FRINGE.
::::::::::::::::::::::Meanings with example
and Synonyms::::::::::::::::::::::
Chauvinism: exaggerated or aggressive patriotism.
Example: Public opinion was easily moved to chauvinism and nationalism
Latter: situated or occurring nearer to the end of something than to the beginning.
Example: The latter half of 1989
Synonyms: later, closing, end, concluding, final, latest, most
recent
Perpetuated: make (something, typically an undesirable situation or an unfounded belief)
continue indefinitely.
Example: The law perpetuated the interests of the ruling class
Synonyms: keep alive, keep going, preserve, conserve, sustain, maintain
Fringe: decorate (clothing or material) with a fringe.
Example: A rich robe of gold, fringed with black velvet
Synonyms: trim, edge, hem, border, bind, braid, decorate, adorn, ornament, embellish
Portray: depict (someone or something) in a work of art or literature.
Example: The author wanted to portray a new type of hero
Synonyms: paint, draw, sketch, picture, depict, represent, illustrate
Pits: a large hole in the ground.
Example: I do not see any risk of these pits becoming breeding grounds for
mosquitoes.
Synonyms: hole, ditch, trench, trough, hollow, excavation
Afford: provide or supply (an opportunity or facility).
Example: The rooftop terrace affords beautiful views
Synonyms: provide, supply, furnish, offer, give, make
available
Conciliatory: intended or likely to placate or pacify.
Example: A conciliatory approach
Synonyms: propitiatory, placatory, appeasing, pacifying
Inflame: provoke or intensify (strong feelings, especially anger) in someone.
Example: High fines further inflamed public feelings
Synonyms: enrage, incense, anger, madden, infuriate
Raging: showing violent uncontrollable anger.
Example: A raging bull
Synonyms: angry, furious, enraged, incensed, infuriated, irate, fuming
Confrontation: a hostile or argumentative meeting or situation between opposing parties.
Example: A confrontation with the legislature
Synonyms: conflict, clash, fight, battle, encounter, faceoff, engagement
Emotive: arousing or able to arouse intense feeling.
Example: Animal experimentation is an emotive subject
Synonyms: controversial, contentious, inflammatory, sensitive, delicate
Plaything: a toy.
Example: When a battered child looks at his bruises and cries out for help, his favourite
plaything - the computer by his bedside - could be his saviour.
Synonyms: toy, game
Marauding: going about in search of things to steal or people to attack.
Example: Marauding gangs of youths
Synonyms: predatory, rapacious, thieving, plundering, pillaging, looting
Hostage: a person seized or held as security for the fulfillment of a condition.
Example: The kidnapper had instructed the hostage's family to drop the ransom at
noon
Synonyms: captive, prisoner, inmate, detainee, internee, victim, abductee
Parochial: of or relating to a church parish.
Example: The parochial church council