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Daily Vocab Capsule 27th March 2020

Netas In Corona Land

Epidemic demands a new contract, stripped of double standards, between state and citizen.

Parliament has finally adjourned more than a week after the coronavirus alarm was sounded. It’s

been an unconscionable delay. Last week, as the Covid-19 outbreak gathered pace and orders

were issued barring more than 50 people from gathering, Parliament functioned as normal. MPs

crowded around the two Houses comprising together almost 700 people, far in excess of the 50

prescribed for citizens.

The opposition alleged the government’s refusal to defer Parliament earlier was because it had its

eye on political developments in Madhya Pradesh. Had Parliament been deferred, the Supreme

Court may have deferred the state assembly too, and the Kamal Nath government could not have

been pushed towards collapse as rapidly as it was.

Apart from MPs, chief ministers like BS Yediyurappa were spotted at crowded weddings, other

politicians attended VVIP bashes in Lucknow. In Bhopal MLAs busily staged road shows,

hugged each other, held hands aloft and paraded group numbers.

Citizens have invariably imbibed the politicians’ foolhardy moves. Londonreturned singer

Kanika Kapoor allegedly disregarded suggestions of home quarantine and attended a crowded

party. On Janata Curfew day some people took out processions, congregated in markets beating

thalis. In an Ahmedabad locality people even performed garba on the streets. Images from some

cities like Patna and Chennai suggest it’s business as usual, there are no signs of a lockdown.

Yet our frail and only defences against the swiftly moving virus are social distancing, quarantines

and isolation. Governments around the world are encouraging responsible behaviour – such as

not gathering in large numbers, not sneezing or coughing in public, regular washing of hands and

maintaining public hygiene. These require not only obedience to rules and regulations but a new

civic movement generally unknown in India: social discipline.

But if politicians themselves embody indiscipline and irresponsibly flout rules, how can they

hope to encourage social discipline in the public, particularly among gregarious and sociable

Indians?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said fighting coronavirus depends on the citizen. But citizens

will not act responsibly if “leaders” are going on their merry way attending Parliament and

toppling governments. India’s politicians are seemingly inhabiting a disconnected world of

privilege and refusing to get real about the looming crisis.

Politicians who encourage irresponsible and lawless behaviour such as encouraging chants of

“shoot the traitors”, politicians playing unscrupulous means to obtain the kursi, politicians who

patronise unrestrained religious gatherings are hardly examples of social discipline and restraint.

When you empower and draw support from faith-driven religious congregations, religious groups

are unlikely to meekly call off their rituals and festivities because of a government order. It’s only

after much procrastination that CM Yogi Adityanath finally cancelled the Ram Navmi Mela.

Trust deficits play their part. When you demonise protesters at Shaheen Bagh and then suddenly,

when coronavirus hits, order them to get off the streets, will they immediately obey you?

The political class is doing nothing to suggest that it’s focussed squarely on fighting Covid-19.

In the Rajya Sabha last week, a bizarrely disconnected discussion was held on whether

“socialism” should remain in the Preamble. Why didn’t Parliament instead dedicate the session

to evolving a common strategy on coronavirus? The PM did not speak on coronavirus in

Parliament, nor has an all party meeting been called. The PM’s video conference with chief

ministers frankly should have taken place weeks ago.

Totalitarian China has clamped down on citizens’ freedoms in an all-out offensive against

coronavirus. But democratic and diverse India cannot do that because it is democracy which holds

up our society and also enables our free, mutually interdependent, informal sector dominated

economy to function.

An excess of policing and forcibly shutting down all free trade and exchange will destroy the

economy, already teetering, as experts tell us, on the brink of catastrophe. The intelligent option

is thus not coercive state power or forcibly stamping out personal liberties, but persuasion and

promoting awareness and self-help. Two progressive CMs, Pinarayi Vijayan and Arvind

Kejriwal, have done this by holding dozens of press meets in the last weeks.

Thousands obeyed PM Modi’s call to applaud health workers on Janata Curfew day. But citizens

must be kept informed about how government is partnering with them to deal with the crisis on a

daily basis. An example of positive political leadership in times of Covid-19 is New York

governor Andrew Cuomo, meticulously spelling out his government’s plans every day.

Covid-19 is a time to reset the relationship between state and citizen. Gandhi lived by his own

example. Millions followed him because he lived – and was seen to live – the life of nonviolence

and personal morality in his everyday life. Millions of Indians now have to be convinced to follow

certain norms and rules which they haven’t before. This won’t happen if netas remain in

demagogue mode, move in a world of VIP privileges and then sermonise or use coercive state

power to force obedience. Citizens will only obey rules when they are made aware at all levels

that it’s in their best interest to do so.

Covid-19 is a gigantic reality check. The behavioural and moral change that is urgently required

among the people at large needs to begin at the top. People will not make behavioural changes if

politicians keep politicking with crowds or keep attending weddings or are seen ensconced in 5-

star resorts. When corona stalks the land, politicians can’t afford to live in la la land.

Courtesy: The Times of India (National)

1. Defer (verb): Meaning- To delay something until a later time. (टाल देना)

Synonyms- Postpone, Put Off, Delay, Adjourn, Shelve

Antonyms- Hurry, Hasten, Accelerate, Expedite

Example- They deferred the decision until February.

2. Aloft (adv.): Meaning- High in the air. (ऊपर)

Synonyms- Above, Overhead, Upward, High

Antonyms- Under, Below, Beneath, Down

Example- I hoisted aloft an imaginary trophy and waved to the fans.

3. Flout (verb): Meaning- To show that you have no respect for a law, etc. by openly not

obeying it. (उलं्लघन करना)

Synonyms- Defy, Refuse yo Obey, Go Against, Disregard.

Antonyms- Obey, Comply, Submit, Conform, Adhere to

Example- Civil disobedience didn't mean flouting all law.

4. Gregarious (adj.): Meaning- Fond of company. (मिलनसार)

Synonyms- Sociable, Convivial, Companionable,

Antonyms- Reserved, Unsocial, Unfriendly, Introverted

Example- Being in the public eye doesn't necessarily mean you're gregarious

5. Topple (verb): Meaning- To make somebody lose their position of power or authority. (पद से

मनकालना)

Synonyms- Overthrow, Dethrone, Oust, Bring down

Example- Disagreement had threatened to topple the government.

6. Procrastination (noun): Meaning- The act of delaying something that you should do, usually

because you do not want to do it. (टाल-िटोल)

Synonyms- Delay, Hesitation, Dilatoriness, Dithering

Antonyms- Hurry, Haste, Hustle

Example- After weeks of procrastination, the president finally resigned.

7. Teeter (verb): Meaning- To stand or move in an unsteady way so that you look as if you are

going to fall. (लड़खड़ाना)

Synonyms- Totter, Wobble, Walk unsteadily, toddle

Antonyms- Stabilize, Balance, Steady

Example- She teetered after him in her high-heeled shoes.

8. Meticulously (adv.): Meaning- In a way that pays careful attention to every detail.

(ध्यानपूर्वक)

Synonyms- Thoroughly, conscientiously, Carefully, Attentively, scrupulously

Antonyms- Carelessly, Partially, Thoughtlessly, superficially

Example- She checked the painting meticulously for any damage.

9. Sermonize (verb): Meaning- To give moral advice, especially when it is boring or not

wanted. (उपदेश देना)

Synonyms- Moralize, Preach

Example-Preachers paid for time to sermonize, listeners could call in, some slots were

reserved for Christian music.

10. Ensconce (verb): Meaning- Establish or settle (someone) in a comfortable, safe place.

(अच्छी तरह बैठ जाना)

Synonyms- Settle, Establish, Install, Place, entrench

Antonyms- Remove, Displace, Take Out

Example- He ensconced himself in my bedroom as if he owned it.