English Vocab

After The Spring: The Seventh Anniversary of The Jasmine Revolution

Tunisians have seized on commemorations (remembrance, typically expressed in a ceremony or a service, celebration, etc., in memory of some person or event) of the Jasmine Revolution’s seventh anniversary to oppose the government’s austerity (difficult economic conditions created by government measures to reduce public expenditure) measures. In a way, the continuing clamour (make a vehement protest or demand) in the North African state is for a consolidation (the action or process of combining a number of things into a single more effective or coherent

whole) of the fragile gains from the 2011 revolution that set off the Arab Spring. In the weeks-long demonstrations, at least one person has been killed and a few hundred activists detained. The trigger for the unrest is the stringent (marked by rigor, strictness, or severity especially with regard to rule or standard) terms attached to the government’s recent budget — a precondition for the $2.9 billion loan from the IMF. Lower petrol subsidies and higher taxes on cars and utilities are among the measures proposed to reduce the fiscal deficit, currently at 6% of GDP, to 4.9% by the year-end. Further fuelling the anger are the 25% youth unemployment rate, twice the national average, and persisting (continue firmly or obstinately in an opinion or a course of action in spite of difficulty, opposition, or failure) disparities among regions. Tourism has been one of the sectors worst-hit by the political unrest of recent years and the 2015 terrorist attacks. The government has promised $70 million in aid to support the poorer communities in a bid to quell (put an end to (a rebellion or other disorder), typically by the use of force) the protests. But as the opposition Popular Front has set its sights on the withdrawal of the budget, there are few signs of the turmoil (a state of great disturbance, confusion, or uncertainty) subsiding anytime soon.

The country-wide opposition and police action have, understandably, led to comparisons with Tunisia’s 2011 popular uprising that spread across the Arab world. The relatively stable transition witnessed in Tunis, in contrast with the authoritarian backlash in other countries, saw Tunisia being hailed as a global model. Perhaps conscious of this, Prime Minister Youssef Chahed has been cautious, confining his criticism to the violence behind the opposition rather than the expression of dissent (the expression or holding of opinions at variance with those previously, commonly, or officially held) per se against the fiscal reforms. But he would have to show demonstrable progress in implementing democratic reforms to restore confidence in the government’s ability to deal with the discontentment. Of particular concern is a 2015 security law that has been revived following the recent death of a police official. Civil society groups are apprehensive that the measure is intended to grant immunity to the police and the military, as well as to penalise critics. Another controversial law passed in September to grant amnesty (to pardon (someone) officially often before a trial or conviction) to officials charged with corruption allegedly committed during the nearly 25-year rule of Tunisia’s ousted dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali is being challenged by some parliamentarians. In recent years, the IMF has seemed more alive to the macroeconomic issues confronting developing countries, even as it has administered the usual recipe of structural reforms. Tunis could do with international support to prevent the country from slipping into the kind of chaos and uncertainty that has gripped the rest of the region. European Union nations in particular have an interest in promoting political and economic stability, in the light of migrant outflows from North Africa to the continent. Above all, the leadership in Tunisia could do more to reclaim popular trust.

Courtesy-The Hindu (International)

1. Commemorations (noun): (Remembrance, typically expressed in a ceremony or a service, celebration, etc., in memory of some person or event) (स्मरणोत्सव, उत्सव)

Synonyms: Memorial, Ovation, Souvenir, Remembrance,

Antonyms: Oblivion, Lamentation, Contravention

Example: Protests and commemorations took place in several cities on the anniversary of the uprising.

Verb forms: Commemorate; Commemorated; Commemorated

Related words: Commemorational, (adjective)

2. Austerity (noun): (Difficult economic conditions created by government measures to reduce public expenditure.) (मितव्ययिता)

Synonyms: Prudence, Stringency, Frugality, Parsimony

Antonyms: Leniency, Extravagance, Opulence, Generosity

Example: Russians have faced years of austerity after communism's fall.

Related words: Austerities Plural (noun)

3. Clamour (noun): (Make a vehement protest or demand.) (कोलाहल, चिल्लाना)

Synonyms: Commotion, Outcry, Tumult, Pandemonium

Antonyms: Rumble, Silence, Stillness, Serenity

Example: He suggested the basic reason for the public clamour over strikes reflects their political repercussions rather than any direct economic impact.

Verb forms: Clamour, Clamoured, Clamoured

4. Consolidation (noun): (The action or process of combining a number of things into a single more effective or coherent whole.) (एकत्रीकरण, समेकन)

Synonyms: Incorporation, Association, Coalescence, Confederation, Unification

Antonyms: Division, Parting, Partition, Schism, Scission, Split, Severance

Example: To save money on airline fees, my husband and I will consolidate our clothes so they fit in one suitcase.

Verb forms: Consolidate; Consolidated; Consolidated;

Related words: Consolidative, (adjective)

5. Stringent (adjective): (Marked by rigor, strictness, or severity especially with regard to rule or standard) (सख़्त, कठोर)

Synonyms: Inflexible, Rigorous, Strict, Rigid, Uncompromising

Antonyms: Acquiescent, Compromising, Pliable, Remiss, Slipshod, Sloppy, Slovenly, Unfussy

Example: The most stringent laws in the world are useless unless there is the will to enforce them.

Related words: Stringently, (adverb) Stringency (noun)

6. Persisting (verb): (Continue firmly or obstinately in an opinion or a course of action in spite of difficulty, opposition, or failure.) (क़ायम रहना, दृढ़ रहना)

Synonyms: Unrelenting, Carry on, Persevere

Antonyms: Lapse, Leave Off, Pass, Quit, Stop, Terminate, Cease,

Example: China will continue to inforce its positive economic relationship with the developing countries, and especially surrounding countries, persisting a good-neighborly and friendly policy.

Verb forms: Persist, Persisted, Persisted

Related words: Persister (noun) Persistingly (adverb) Persistive (adjective)

7. Quell (verb): (Put an end to (a rebellion or other disorder), typically by the use of force.) (दमन करना, शान्त करना)

Synonyms: Clamp Down, Crush, Put Down, Quash, Repress, Squash, Squelch, Subdue,

Antonyms: Foment, Incite, Instigate, Provoke, Foster,

Example: During the riots, over five hundred policemen worked to quell the uproar.

Verb forms: Quell; Quelled; Quelled;

Related words: Quellable (adjective) Queller (noun)

8. Turmoil (noun): (A state of great disturbance, confusion, or uncertainty.) (उथल-पुथल, घबराहट)

Synonyms: Disquiet, Ferment, Fermentation, Restiveness, Restlessness,

Antonyms: Calm, Ease, Peace, Peacefulness, Quiet, Tranquillity

Example: The mayor was not reelected to his office because of his inability to bring the city out of financial turmoil.

9. Dissent (noun): (The expression or holding of opinions at variance with those previously, commonly, or officially held.) (मतभेद, असहमति)

Synonyms: Differ, Disagree, Nonconcur, Conflict, Contention

Antonyms: Agree, Assent, Concur, Approval, Compliance

Example: The union is going to dissent with management’s offer of a small pay increase.

Verb forms: Dissent; Dissented; Dissented;

Related words: Dissentingly, (adverb) Undissenting (adjective)

10. Amnesty (verb): (To pardon (someone) officially often before a trial or conviction) (राजक्षमा, क्षमाधान)

Synonyms: Absolution, Pardon, Forgiveness, Remission, Remittal

Antonyms: Penalty, Punishment, Retribution

Example: Although Smith was sentenced to life in prison in 2000, he was later released after receiving amnesty from the president.

Verb forms: Amnesty; Amnestied; Amnestied;

Related words: Amnesty (noun)