EK DUM BASIC
5_6073181943791355695.pdf
💢💢The Hindu Editorial with Vocab - 22nd MAY
Act early, decisively: On the bid to change nature of places of worship
It is a matter of great concern that laws are being used to rake up religious controversies to give a fig-leaf of legitimacy to a communal onslaught on the country’s secular character. Obviously emboldened by the Supreme Court verdict handing over a disputed site in Ayodhya to Hindu claimants, determined and malicious efforts are being made by communal elements to capture sites in Varanasi and Mathura where the Gyanvapi mosque and Shahi Idgah Masjid are located. The idea that key places of worship among Muslims have been built after demolishing Hindu temples is beginning to take hold among sections of Indian society, with the active encouragement of politically affiliated religious groups. It was to prevent such attempts to change the character of places of worship in the name of correcting perceived historical wrongs that Parliament enacted the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991. It sought to freeze the status of places of worship as on August 15, 1947, so that existing suits and proceedings abate and new claims are not entertained. Yet, in flagrant violation of the law, courts are repeatedly allowing proceedings to be initiated. In Gyanvapi, not only has a civil judge entertained a suit but has also ordered a commission to videograph the mosque to ascertain its religious character. The Supreme Court has not been strong enough. Instead of putting an immediate halt to such proceedings aimed at creating a groundswell of opinion in favour of converting such sites into temples, it has only ordered some elementary measures to protect Muslim worshippers and their place of worship.
Anyone familiar with the history of the Ayodhya dispute, which led to the Babri Masjid’s demolition, riots and bombings, will understand that all such attempts to change the character of places of worship have a motive of using religion for political ends and marginalising minorities. Yet, even the Supreme Court feels some inexplicable need to let procedural aspects of civil law to be gone through in such litigation. It has transferred the Gyanvapi suit to the District Judge and asked for priority to be given to the petition to reject the plaint — which will involve the question whether the suit is barred by the Places of Worship Act. As long as even one application is pending somewhere, revanchist groups will continue the relentless onslaught on minority places of worship. In Mathura, the District Court has overturned a lower court’s order and ruled that the Act will not bar a suit aimed at removing a Masjid in the name of the site being the birthplace of Lord Krishna. The political atmosphere is conducive for such efforts, whose proponents will expect state backing. It is up to the courts to act early and act decisively to uphold the spirit of the Places of Worship Act and preserve communal peace.
CREDIT SOURCE - THE HINDU
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1. Fig leaf(N): a thing intended to conceal a difficulty or embarrassment.
2. Onslaught(N): a fierce or destructive attack. हमला
3. Perceive(V): Recognize, discern;
4. Flagrant ( निन्दनीय): conspicuously offensive
5. Groundswell(N): a rapid spontaneous growth
6. Demolition(N): destruction; defeat; विध्वंस
7. Litigation(N) : the process of taking legal action.मुक़दमेबाज़ी
8. Decisively(adverb): निर्णायक रूप से; n a way that shows the ability to make decisions quickly and effectively.
Act early, decisively: On the bid to change nature of places of worship
It is a matter of great concern that laws are being used to rake up religious controversies to give a fig-leaf of legitimacy to a communal onslaught on the country’s secular character. Obviously emboldened by the Supreme Court verdict handing over a disputed site in Ayodhya to Hindu claimants, determined and malicious efforts are being made by communal elements to capture sites in Varanasi and Mathura where the Gyanvapi mosque and Shahi Idgah Masjid are located. The idea that key places of worship among Muslims have been built after demolishing Hindu temples is beginning to take hold among sections of Indian society, with the active encouragement of politically affiliated religious groups. It was to prevent such attempts to change the character of places of worship in the name of correcting perceived historical wrongs that Parliament enacted the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991. It sought to freeze the status of places of worship as on August 15, 1947, so that existing suits and proceedings abate and new claims are not entertained. Yet, in flagrant violation of the law, courts are repeatedly allowing proceedings to be initiated. In Gyanvapi, not only has a civil judge entertained a suit but has also ordered a commission to videograph the mosque to ascertain its religious character. The Supreme Court has not been strong enough. Instead of putting an immediate halt to such proceedings aimed at creating a groundswell of opinion in favour of converting such sites into temples, it has only ordered some elementary measures to protect Muslim worshippers and their place of worship.
Anyone familiar with the history of the Ayodhya dispute, which led to the Babri Masjid’s demolition, riots and bombings, will understand that all such attempts to change the character of places of worship have a motive of using religion for political ends and marginalising minorities. Yet, even the Supreme Court feels some inexplicable need to let procedural aspects of civil law to be gone through in such litigation. It has transferred the Gyanvapi suit to the District Judge and asked for priority to be given to the petition to reject the plaint — which will involve the question whether the suit is barred by the Places of Worship Act. As long as even one application is pending somewhere, revanchist groups will continue the relentless onslaught on minority places of worship. In Mathura, the District Court has overturned a lower court’s order and ruled that the Act will not bar a suit aimed at removing a Masjid in the name of the site being the birthplace of Lord Krishna. The political atmosphere is conducive for such efforts, whose proponents will expect state backing. It is up to the courts to act early and act decisively to uphold the spirit of the Places of Worship Act and preserve communal peace.
CREDIT SOURCE - THE HINDU
------------------------------------------
1. Fig leaf(N): a thing intended to conceal a difficulty or embarrassment.
2. Onslaught(N): a fierce or destructive attack. हमला
3. Perceive(V): Recognize, discern;
4. Flagrant ( निन्दनीय): conspicuously offensive
5. Groundswell(N): a rapid spontaneous growth
6. Demolition(N): destruction; defeat; विध्वंस
7. Litigation(N) : the process of taking legal action.मुक़दमेबाज़ी
8. Decisively(adverb): निर्णायक रूप से; n a way that shows the ability to make decisions quickly and effectively.
EK DUM BASIC
5_6077685543418725654.pdf
💢💢The Hindu Editorial with Vocab - 23rd MAY
Boxing days: On Nikhat Zareen
For a country that sought boxing inspiration from six-time World boxing champion M.C. Mary Kom and Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Lovlina Borgohain, Nikhat Zareen’s World title in the women’s 52 kg class in Istanbul is a fresh source of optimism. The Nizamabad-born Nikhat’s story of struggle is vastly different from those emerging from Haryana or the North East. The widespread celebration of her success in India should further amplify the spread of boxing within the country. As the fifth World champion Indian woman boxer, who is the only one after Mary to win a gold in the last 16 years, Nikhat has joined an exclusive club of Mary, Sarita Devi, R.L. Jenny and K.C. Lekha. Her gold was the first by an Indian woman after Mary’s sixth World title in 2018. For boxing fans, who were disheartened after India’s below-par showing in the Tokyo Olympics, where Lovlina landed a lone bronze, Nikhat has provided cheer. Nikhat’s journey was packed with challenges and she was determined to break barriers. When, as a teenager, she got to know that girls were not encouraged to take up boxing in her area as the combat sport was considered tailor-made for boys, Nikhat switched from sprinting to boxing to prove a point. Hailing from a Muslim family, she overcame hurdles posed by conservatives in society.
When Nikhat, a 2011 World junior champion, tried to graduate to the elite level, a career-threatening shoulder injury in 2017 stole a year away from her. Two years later, she was embroiled in a controversy, when she got on to the wrong side of her idol Mary in the run-up to the trials for the Olympics qualifier. She lost the trials and it stirred a debate and left a trail of bad blood. But nothing could dent Nikhat’s steely resolve. Her parents remained her pillars of strength through thick and thin. The 25-year-old, who personifies the rise of women’s power in sport, worked hard with different coaches and imbibed the best lessons from them to emerge as a polished boxer. Nikhat’s new status will boost her confidence and make her a force to reckon with in events such as the upcoming Commonwealth Games, the Asian Games and the 2024 Paris Olympics. An ample supply of talented boxers will only benefit the country in its quest for a better performance in Paris. As a World champion, Nikhat could inspire many Indian girls who suppress their desire to take up boxing, wary as they are about an orthodox society. Nikhat’s tale may strike a chord with talented boxers and motivate them to follow in the footsteps of the new poster girl of Indian sport.
CREDIT SOURCE - THE HINDU
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1. Amplify (V)- increase in size, volume or significance.
2. Embroil (V)- involve (someone) deeply in an argument, conflict, or difficult situation.
3. Run-Up To (Phrase)- the period of time just before an important event.
4. Steely (Adj)- coldly determined; hard.
5. Ample (Adj)- enough or more than enough; plentiful. पर्याप्त
6. Quest (N)- a long or arduous search for something. खोज
7. Orthodox (Adj)- (of beliefs, ideas, or activities) considered traditional, normal, and acceptable by most people. रूढ़िवादी
8. Strike A Chord (Phrase)- cause someone to feel sympathy, emotion, or enthusiasm.
Boxing days: On Nikhat Zareen
For a country that sought boxing inspiration from six-time World boxing champion M.C. Mary Kom and Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Lovlina Borgohain, Nikhat Zareen’s World title in the women’s 52 kg class in Istanbul is a fresh source of optimism. The Nizamabad-born Nikhat’s story of struggle is vastly different from those emerging from Haryana or the North East. The widespread celebration of her success in India should further amplify the spread of boxing within the country. As the fifth World champion Indian woman boxer, who is the only one after Mary to win a gold in the last 16 years, Nikhat has joined an exclusive club of Mary, Sarita Devi, R.L. Jenny and K.C. Lekha. Her gold was the first by an Indian woman after Mary’s sixth World title in 2018. For boxing fans, who were disheartened after India’s below-par showing in the Tokyo Olympics, where Lovlina landed a lone bronze, Nikhat has provided cheer. Nikhat’s journey was packed with challenges and she was determined to break barriers. When, as a teenager, she got to know that girls were not encouraged to take up boxing in her area as the combat sport was considered tailor-made for boys, Nikhat switched from sprinting to boxing to prove a point. Hailing from a Muslim family, she overcame hurdles posed by conservatives in society.
When Nikhat, a 2011 World junior champion, tried to graduate to the elite level, a career-threatening shoulder injury in 2017 stole a year away from her. Two years later, she was embroiled in a controversy, when she got on to the wrong side of her idol Mary in the run-up to the trials for the Olympics qualifier. She lost the trials and it stirred a debate and left a trail of bad blood. But nothing could dent Nikhat’s steely resolve. Her parents remained her pillars of strength through thick and thin. The 25-year-old, who personifies the rise of women’s power in sport, worked hard with different coaches and imbibed the best lessons from them to emerge as a polished boxer. Nikhat’s new status will boost her confidence and make her a force to reckon with in events such as the upcoming Commonwealth Games, the Asian Games and the 2024 Paris Olympics. An ample supply of talented boxers will only benefit the country in its quest for a better performance in Paris. As a World champion, Nikhat could inspire many Indian girls who suppress their desire to take up boxing, wary as they are about an orthodox society. Nikhat’s tale may strike a chord with talented boxers and motivate them to follow in the footsteps of the new poster girl of Indian sport.
CREDIT SOURCE - THE HINDU
-------------------------------------------
1. Amplify (V)- increase in size, volume or significance.
2. Embroil (V)- involve (someone) deeply in an argument, conflict, or difficult situation.
3. Run-Up To (Phrase)- the period of time just before an important event.
4. Steely (Adj)- coldly determined; hard.
5. Ample (Adj)- enough or more than enough; plentiful. पर्याप्त
6. Quest (N)- a long or arduous search for something. खोज
7. Orthodox (Adj)- (of beliefs, ideas, or activities) considered traditional, normal, and acceptable by most people. रूढ़िवादी
8. Strike A Chord (Phrase)- cause someone to feel sympathy, emotion, or enthusiasm.
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EK DUM BASIC
5_6082139415914743577.pdf
💢💢The Hindu Editorial with Vocab - 25th MAY
Serving those who serve: On WHO honour for ASHA workers
Recognition very often goes to those at the top of the pecking order, and stays there. Credit seldom trickles down to the worker at the bottom. The World Health Organization’s act of recognising India’s ASHA (accredited social health activists) and the polio workers of Afghanistan is an attempt to right that wrong. It is a rare, and commendable doffing of the hat for workers at the very bottom of the rung, and gives credit where it is due. When WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced the names of six Global Health Leader awardees at the opening session of the World Health Assembly, over one million ASHAs and eight volunteer polio workers found themselves being counted amidst people leading from the front. The other awardees are Paul Farmer, co-founder of the NGO Partners in Health, Ahmed Hankir, a British-Lebanese psychiatrist, Ludmila Sofia Oliveira Varela, a youth sports advocate, and Yōhei Sasakawa, WHO’s Goodwill Ambassador for Leprosy Elimination. Dr. Tedros who picks the awardees himself, said that the award recognises those who have made an outstanding contribution to protecting and promoting health around the world, at a time when the world is facing an unprecedented convergence of inequity, conflict, food insecurity, climate crisis and a pandemic.
The ASHAs were honoured for their “crucial role in linking the community with the health system, to ensure those living in rural poverty can access primary health care services....” These workers, all women, faced harassment and violence for their work during the pandemic, well documented in the media. While the pandemic rewrote the rules, creating danger where mere routine existed, it must be stressed that in general, their job, which takes them into difficult-to-reach places and hostile communities, confers a measure of privations. Even as they contribute to better health outcomes, this workforce continues to protest across the country, for better remuneration, health benefits and permanent posts. The eight volunteer polio workers of Afghanistan (four of them women) were shot and killed by gunmen in Takhar and Kunduz provinces in February 2022. Their work was crucial in a country where wild polio virus type 1 is still circulating, WHO recorded. Clearly, certain kinds of basic public health work are fraught with perils in several continents across the world. It is the duty of the governmental agencies that employ them to ensure their welfare, safety and security. While cheerleading about the award is rightfully reaching a crescendo, what matters is how the Indian government serves its last mile health workers who are its feet on the ground, once the dust raised by their unexpected recognition has settled down.
CREDIT SOURCE - THE HINDU
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1. Trickle Down (Phrasal Verb)- to have an effect gradually or after a long time.
2. Doff Of The Hat (Phrase)- to show respect to someone or something.
3. Unprecedented (Adj)- never having happened or existed before. अभूतपूर्व
4. Hostile (Adj)- showing or feeling opposition or dislike; unfriendly. विरोधी
5. Remuneration (N)- money paid for work or a service. पारिश्रमिक
6. Peril (N)- serious and immediate danger. खतरों
7. Crescendo (N)- a gradual increase in something.
Serving those who serve: On WHO honour for ASHA workers
Recognition very often goes to those at the top of the pecking order, and stays there. Credit seldom trickles down to the worker at the bottom. The World Health Organization’s act of recognising India’s ASHA (accredited social health activists) and the polio workers of Afghanistan is an attempt to right that wrong. It is a rare, and commendable doffing of the hat for workers at the very bottom of the rung, and gives credit where it is due. When WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced the names of six Global Health Leader awardees at the opening session of the World Health Assembly, over one million ASHAs and eight volunteer polio workers found themselves being counted amidst people leading from the front. The other awardees are Paul Farmer, co-founder of the NGO Partners in Health, Ahmed Hankir, a British-Lebanese psychiatrist, Ludmila Sofia Oliveira Varela, a youth sports advocate, and Yōhei Sasakawa, WHO’s Goodwill Ambassador for Leprosy Elimination. Dr. Tedros who picks the awardees himself, said that the award recognises those who have made an outstanding contribution to protecting and promoting health around the world, at a time when the world is facing an unprecedented convergence of inequity, conflict, food insecurity, climate crisis and a pandemic.
The ASHAs were honoured for their “crucial role in linking the community with the health system, to ensure those living in rural poverty can access primary health care services....” These workers, all women, faced harassment and violence for their work during the pandemic, well documented in the media. While the pandemic rewrote the rules, creating danger where mere routine existed, it must be stressed that in general, their job, which takes them into difficult-to-reach places and hostile communities, confers a measure of privations. Even as they contribute to better health outcomes, this workforce continues to protest across the country, for better remuneration, health benefits and permanent posts. The eight volunteer polio workers of Afghanistan (four of them women) were shot and killed by gunmen in Takhar and Kunduz provinces in February 2022. Their work was crucial in a country where wild polio virus type 1 is still circulating, WHO recorded. Clearly, certain kinds of basic public health work are fraught with perils in several continents across the world. It is the duty of the governmental agencies that employ them to ensure their welfare, safety and security. While cheerleading about the award is rightfully reaching a crescendo, what matters is how the Indian government serves its last mile health workers who are its feet on the ground, once the dust raised by their unexpected recognition has settled down.
CREDIT SOURCE - THE HINDU
-------------------------------------------
1. Trickle Down (Phrasal Verb)- to have an effect gradually or after a long time.
2. Doff Of The Hat (Phrase)- to show respect to someone or something.
3. Unprecedented (Adj)- never having happened or existed before. अभूतपूर्व
4. Hostile (Adj)- showing or feeling opposition or dislike; unfriendly. विरोधी
5. Remuneration (N)- money paid for work or a service. पारिश्रमिक
6. Peril (N)- serious and immediate danger. खतरों
7. Crescendo (N)- a gradual increase in something.
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