The Hindu Editorial Vocabulary– May 17, 2021; Day 62

Today we have collated the 10 tricky words/phrases/terms from the editorial on the central vista project. Go through these words and see how many did you know already. Check their usage as well. This will surely help you to understand the sense the tricky words have conveyed in the editorial.

Difficult Word/ Phrase	Contextual Meaning
Midst	In the middle of
Imperious	arrogant and domineering
Grandeur	splendor and impressiveness, especially of appearance or style
Irony	the expression of one’s meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, typically for humorous or emphatic effect
Colossus	a statue that is much bigger than life size
Befallen	(of something bad) happen to someone
Razing	completely destroy (a building, town, or other site)
Manuscript	a book, document, or piece of music written by hand rather than typed or printed
Artefact	an object made by a human being, typically an item of cultural or historical interest
Ripple effect	the continuing and spreading results of an event or action

Artless and heartless: On Central Vista project

The govt. must respond to concerns about demolitions in Central Vista redevelopment

The Government of India’s Central Vista redevelopment project is highly questionable as a national priority at any time, and more so in the midst (In the middle of) of a pandemic. The project includes the construction of a new Parliament building, and new residences for the Prime Minister and the Vice President. A new Parliament building is indeed required; and there is a strong case for reorganising the existing offices of the central government. However, the architecture and timelines of the redevelopment as it is happening now are less about the need and more about an imperious (arrogant and domineering) obsession with grandeur (splendor and impressiveness, especially of appearance or style). The irony (the expression of one’s meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, typically for humorous or emphatic effect) is that a colossus (a statue that is much bigger than life size) built amid the ruins of a pandemic could turn out to be a monument to the government’s disregard for public good. The misplaced determination of the Centre to complete the project before the next Lok Sabha election in 2024 is characteristic of the showmanship that has befallen ((of something bad) happen to someone) governance in India, but there is no justifiable urgency in razing (completely destroy (a building, town, or other site)) to the ground a row of buildings and then rebuilding. Last week, 76 scholars, artists, writers, curators and museum professionals put the spotlight on a particularly concerning aspect of the project. The National Museum of India, the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), and the National Archives Annexe are set to be demolished to make way for new buildings.

These experts have called for an immediate suspension of the project, and wide public consultations on the path ahead. There are valid concerns about the conservation of the collections housed at these centres. Relocation of the treasures at the National Museum, archival records at the National Archives and manuscript (a book, document, or piece of music written by hand rather than typed or printed) holdings at the IGNCA can be an extremely challenging task even during ordinary times. It is a complex operation that requires detailed planning and expertise. Such changes around premier institutions take place only after wide consultations in any part of the world; and certainly not in the opaque and cavalier manner as is being planned here. Artefacts (an object made by a human being, typically an item of cultural or historical interest) at the National Museum still lack a complete inventory, the experts have pointed out, flagging the risk of loss or mishandling. The Central Vista redevelopment project is clearly being implemented in a hurry. The government’s intolerance towards any public scrutiny of the project is such that even photography of the construction is now banned. The country is facing an unprecedented health crisis, the ripple effects (the continuing and spreading results of an event or action) of which are being felt in the economic, social and political spheres too. The government will lose nothing if it were to suspend the project, and take the Opposition and the public into confidence on the future course, in calmer times.

Hope you got to know some new words/phrases which will definitely be useful in the English section of upcoming competitive exams. Wishing you all the best for your preparation!

Want to improve your vocabulary further? Download the Lists of Word-Meanings of Previous Months here.