THE HINDU Editorial Vocabulary-July 1, 2017- Topic 2

Walk the talk

Modi’s remarks on cow vigilantism need to backed by action

While it is impossible to fault Prime Minister Narendra Modi for speaking up against killingin the name of cow protection, it is equally impossible to be convinced about its earnestness and efficacy. His remarks at an event in Mahatma Gandhi’s Sabarmati ashram have come at a time when there is a groundswell of popular revulsion about violent, even murderous, cow vigilantism, leaving the unfortunate impression that it was but a response to public pressure. 

The #notinmyname movement, which began with a Facebook invitation to participate in a protest in Delhi, had assumed viral dimensions, with other cities in India and elsewhere in the world organising or planning to organise similar events. What began as a somewhat limited mobilisation to campaign against lynching morphed into a broader movement involving all communities against state apathy to the phenomenon. The timing is not the only thing that gives rise to scepticism about Mr. Modi’s observations about cow vigilantism. Frequency is the other issue. A phenomenon that has wreaked violence, affected livelihoods, and created insecurities over the last couple of years — all of which have been compounded by a mischievous and hugely flawed order to regulate cattle sale — is deserving of a more muscular and frequent response. More importantly, it needs to be coupled with tangible action on the ground.

One of the contradictions that Mr. Modi must square up to as well as grapple with is that, by and large, aggressive cow vigilantes who take the law into their own hands are members or sympathisers of one or the other organisations of the Sangh Parivar, the Bharatiya Janata Party’s extended family. Given this, words are simply not enough — unaccompanied by strong corroborative action, they only serve to perpetuate the lie that the top is either totally divorced from the distasteful happenings at the bottom or that it doesn’t have the means to control it. It is true that as Prime Minister, Mr. Modi has no direct control over law and order, which is a State subject. But as the BJP’s most popular leader, one who has no real rivals in the party, he must wield his influence and power to crack down on those who indulge in violence in the name of cow protection. In the absence of this, Mr Modi’s remarks may constitute nothing more than a mild reprimand. There is no denying that speech is better than silence and his remarks may help sharpen the focus on how determined governments are to uphold the rule of law — firmly, decisively, and in a manner that deters cow vigilantism. Any politician worth his salt knows there is Condemnation and there is condemnation. Mr. Modi should show us that he hasn’t used the small c.

Vocabulary

Convinced: cause someone to believe firmly in the truth of something.

Example: Robert's expression had obviously convinced her of his innocence

Synonyms: make certain, persuade, satisfy, prove to, assure

Efficacy: the ability to produce a desired or intended result.

Example: There is little information on the efficacy of this treatment

Synonyms: effectiveness, success, productiveness, potency

Earnestness: sincere and intense conviction.

Example: He tells his story with intense earnestness

Revulsion: a sense of disgust and loathing.

Example: News of the attack will be met with sorrow and revulsion

Synonyms: disgust, repulsion, abhorrence, repugnance, nausea

Morphed: change smoothly from one image to another by small gradual steps using computer animation techniques.

Example: 3-D objects can be morphed into other objects

Vigilantism: law enforcement undertaken without legal authority by a self-appointed group of people.

Example: The message here is not to encourage vigilantism

Indulge: allow oneself to enjoy the pleasure of.

Example: We indulged in some hot fudge sundaes

Synonyms: wallow in, give oneself up to, give way to, yield to

Condemnation: the expression of very strong disapproval; censure.

Example: There was strong international condemnation of the attack

Synonyms: censure, criticism, strictures, denunciation, vilification