2019年经济学人 橙剂:印度大选(3)

 

This is not just despicable, it is dangerous. India is too combustible¹ a place to be put into the hands of politicians who campaign with flamethrowers. As it is, vigilantes often beat up or lynch Muslims they suspect of harming cows, a holy animal for Hindus. Kashmiris studying in other parts of India have been set upon by angry nationalist mobs. And even if the BJP’s Muslimbaiting does not ignite any more full-scale pogroms, it still leaves 175m Indians feeling like second-class citizens.

这不仅卑鄙，而且危险。印度是一个非常易燃的地方，不应该被那些持喷火器竞选的政客们所控制。事实上，义务警员经常殴打或私刑他们怀疑伤害牛的穆斯林，而牛是印度教徒的神圣动物。在印度其他地区学习的克什米尔人遭到了愤怒的民族主义暴徒的袭击。即使人民党对穆斯林的煽动没有引发更大规模的大屠杀，它仍然让1.75亿印度人感觉自己是二等公民。

Congress, the BJP’s only national rival, may be hidebound and corrupt², but at least it does not set Indians at one another’s throats. It has come up with an impressive manifesto³, with thoughtful ideas about how to help the poorest Indians. Its leader, Rahul Gandhi, although a much-derided dynast, has helped modernise⁴ the party a little, raising its profile on social media, for example. It is a worthier⁵ recipient⁶ of Indians’ votes than the BJP.

印度人民党唯一的全国对手国大党，可能墨守成规和腐败，但至少不会让印度人自相残杀。人民党提出了一个令人印象深刻的宣言，提出了如何帮助最贫穷的印度人的深思熟虑的想法。该党领袖拉胡尔•甘地虽然饱受嘲笑，但他在一定程度上推动了该党的现代化，比如提高了该党在社交媒体上的知名度。它比人民党更有资格获得印度人的选票。

With less than a tenth of the seats in parliament, Congress will not improve its showing enough to form a government on its own. If it and its regional allies do better than expected, they may just be able to cobble together a majority. But even if, as is more likely, the BJP remains⁷ in charge, it would be preferable if it were forced to govern in coalition⁸. (The current government is technically⁹ a coalition, but since the BJP has the numbers to rule without its partners, they have little influence.) The risk is that reforms get delayed yet again—but they were not progressing quickly anyway. A degree of bickering¹⁰ and stasis would be a price worth paying to curb¹¹ the BJP’s excesses. At the very least, coalition partners might be able to bring down a truly wayward BJP government by leaving it.

由于在议会中只有不到十分之一的席位，国会的表现将不足以独自组建政府。如果美国及其地区盟友的表现好于预期，他们或许就能勉强获得多数席位。但即使人民党继续掌权(可能性更大)，若被迫联合执政将会更好。（从技术上讲，目前的政府是一个联合政府，但由于人民党拥有独立执政所需的人数，他们几乎没有影响力。）风险在于改革又一次被推迟了——但无论如何，改革进展并不快。一定程度的争吵和停滞将是遏制人民党过度行为值得付出的代价。至少，联合政府的伙伴们可以通过离开印度人民党来推翻一个真正任性的政府。

1 combustible   

a. 易燃的,可燃的; n. 易燃物,可燃物

参考例句：

• Don't smoke near combustible materials. 别在易燃的材料附近吸烟。
• We mustn't take combustible goods aboard. 我们不可带易燃品上车。

2 corrupt   

v.贿赂，收买；adj.腐败的，贪污的

参考例句：

• The newspaper alleged the mayor's corrupt practices.那家报纸断言市长有舞弊行为。
• This judge is corrupt.这个法官贪污。

3 manifesto   

n.宣言，声明

参考例句：

• I was involved in the preparation of Labour's manifesto.我参与了工党宣言的起草工作。
• His manifesto promised measures to protect them.他在宣言里保证要为他们采取保护措施。

4 modernise   

vt.使现代化

参考例句：

• If it works,it would help to modernise the entire economy.这项（改革）一旦实施起效，将有助于整体经济的现代化进程。
• They attempted in vain to modernise these antiquated industries.他们企图使这些陈旧的工业现代化，结果劳而无功。

5 worthier   

应得某事物( worthy的比较级 )； 值得做某事； 可尊敬的； 有（某人或事物）的典型特征

参考例句：

• I am sure that you might be much, much worthier of yourself.' 我可以肯定你能非常非常值得自己骄傲。” 来自英汉文学 - 双城记
• I should like the chance to fence with a worthier opponent. 我希望有机会跟实力相当的对手击剑。

6 recipient   

a.接受的,感受性强的 n.接受者,感受者,容器

参考例句：

• Please check that you have a valid email certificate for each recipient. 请检查是否对每个接收者都有有效的电子邮件证书。
• Colombia is the biggest U . S aid recipient in Latin America. 哥伦比亚是美国在拉丁美洲最大的援助对象。

7 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

8 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

9 technically   

adv.专门地，技术上地

参考例句：

• Technically it is the most advanced equipment ever.从技术上说，这是最先进的设备。
• The tomato is technically a fruit,although it is eaten as a vegetable.严格地说，西红柿是一种水果，尽管它是当作蔬菜吃的。

10 bickering   

v.争吵( bicker的现在分词 )；口角；（水等）作潺潺声；闪烁

参考例句：

• The children are always bickering about something or other. 孩子们有事没事总是在争吵。
• The two children were always bickering with each other over small matters. 这两个孩子总是为些小事斗嘴。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

11 curb   

n.场外证券市场，场外交易；vt.制止，抑制

参考例句：

• I could not curb my anger.我按捺不住我的愤怒。
• You must curb your daughter when you are in church.你在教堂时必须管住你的女儿。