
HERITAGE AT STAKE
The governmentтАЩs decision to involve the Dalmia Bharat group in the maintenance of the Red Fort has (1) spawned a much- needed debate on the conversation of historical sites. The move to involve the corporate group in the maintenance one of the countryтАЩs most iconic monuments is given the scale of the problem heritage conservation presents. The business house will spend Rs 25 crore over the next 5 years on the fortтАЩs (2) upkeep. The money will be used to fund a light and sound show at the fort, and for providing (3) amenities like clean toilets and street furniture.
The ASI, a more than 150-years old agency, is officially- responsible for the upkeep of IndiaтАЩs 3,600-odd protected monuments. But only in the rare instance does the agency shed its colonial (4) mooring. The deficiency of the ASIтАЩs scientific branch have been laid bare in the agencyтАЩs (5) floundering attempts to (6) stave off the imprints of pollution from the Taj Mahal.
Since 1994, workers have been assiduously applying FullerтАЩs Earth to the tombs and minarets of the mausoleum of ShahjahanтАЩs favourite queen in an attempt to provide what can -most charitably-be called cosmetic relief against the (7) grime (8) gnawing away the worldтАЩs grandest monument to love. The trouble is that, for the most part, the ASI sees its role as policing entry to monuments and warding of (9) encroachers It has failed miserably, even at that. In 2013, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India reported that more than 90 monuments under the ASIтАЩs charge were missing. The questions then are: Has the agency learnt lessons? Or does heritage conservation require an even more radical (10) paradigm shift?
1. SPAWN (verb)=рдЖрд╣реНрд╡рд╛рди рдХрд░рдирд╛
Meaning: to be the cause of (a situation, action, or state of mind)
Synonym: invoke, instigate, contribute, catalyze, actuate, beget, blaze, fulfill, engender, inject, prompt.
Antonyms: crush, dampen, put down, quash, quell, repress, smother, squash, squelch, stifle, subdue, suppress, curb, restrain, retard.
2. UPKEEP (noun)=рдЕрдиреБрд░рдХреНрд╖рдг
Meaning: the act or activity of keeping something in an existing and usually satisfactory condition.
Synonyms: maintenance, repair, protection, servicing, care, preservation, conservation, running.
Antonyms: dereliction, disregard, ignoring, neglect, negligence, damage, demolition, destruction.
3. AMENITY (noun)=рд╕реБрд╡рд┐рдзрд╛
Meaning: a desirable or useful feature or facility of a building or place.
Synonyms: facility, service, convenience, resource, utility, appliance, aid, arrangement, equipment, frill, indulgence, luxury, superfluity.
Antonyms: basic, essential, fundamental, necessity, requirement, burden, millstone.
4. MOORING (noun)=рд╕реНрдерд┐рд░рддрд╛
Meaning: a source of stability or security.
Synonyms: tying, securing, anchoring, case, encampment, embankment, bunk.
Antonym: takeoff
5. FLOUNDER (verb)=рдмреБрд░рд╛ рдкреНрд░рдмрдВрдз рдХрд░рдирд╛
Meaning: to proceed or act clumsily or ineffectually.
Synonyms: struggle, thrash, flail, twist and turn, pitch, splash, stagger, stumble, falter, lurch, fumble, grope, squirm, writhe.
Antonyms: drift, float, hover, poise, waft, breeze, coast, glide, slide, waltz, whisk.
6. STAVE OFF (phrasal verb) =рдмрдЪрд╛рдирд╛
Meaning: to stop something bad from happening, or to keep an unwanted situation away, usually temporarily.
7. GRIME (noun)=рд╕рддрд╣ рдкрд░ рдЬрдорд╛ рд╣реБрдЖ
Meaning: dirt ingrained on the surface of something or embedded in a surface.
Synonyms: smut, soot, dust, mud, filth, mire, sludge, dross, gunge, crud, stain, muck.
Antonyms: cleanliness, fresh, sanitary, pure, neat, bright.
8. GNAW (verb)=рдХрд╖реНрдЯ рджреЗрдирд╛
Meaning: cause persistent distress or anxiety.
Synonyms: nag, torment, torture, trouble, haunt, oppress, burden, bother, fret, rankle with, fester.
Antonyms: mitigate, comfort, pacify, assist, ameliorate, conserve, revitalize, revive.
9. ENCROACHER (noun) =рдЕрдирд╛рд╣реВрдд рдкреНрд░рд╡реЗрд╖реНрдЯрд╛
Meaning: someone who enters by force in order to conquer.
Synonyms: intruder, trespasser, invader, usurper, aggressor, offender, meddler, pillager, interrupter.
Antonyms: ignorer.
10. PARADIGM (noun)=рд░реВрдк-рдирд┐рджрд░реНрд╢рди
Meaning: a theory or a group of ideas about how something should be done, made, or thought about.
Synonyms: epitome, ideal, prototype, archetype, exemplar, ensample, standard, pattern, template.
Antonyms: follower, descendant, imperfect.