The Ruckus at DU

Everyone seems to be having an opinion on what happened at the Delhi University. And almost everyone has some insight, some hearsay, some prognosis to offer on the ruckus at a college under the Delhi University. 

'Ruckus' is our word this week. A heated controversy, a disturbance often leading to an uproar is referred to as ruckus. 

Lead with Gusto

Virat Kohli was handed over the reins of the Indian cricket team across all formats and he led the team with aplomb. Typicial of Virat, he leads the side with gusto. Now that has a rub off affect on the rest of the team and lifts everyone's morale leading to superb performances. 

Our word of this week is 'gusto'. Zest or vigourous enjoyment while performing an action is gusto. Someone who relishes his or her job or task that's either assigned to or opted for is likely to do with gusto.

The Patriarch is Fading

Most political parties in India lean on one or two notable figures who have heralded these parties for long. And more often and not - the notable figures find it difficult to let go the reins of the political outfits they have so painstakingly built. In the most populated state in India, where elections are soon due, we are witnessing a power tussle between the old and the young. There is a belief that the patriarch perhaps has outlived his utility.

 

Patriarch is our first word of 2017. Patriarch is the male head of a family or a tribe or a person considered the head or founder of an order or class or, as in this case, a political outfit. 

DISPATCH it, now!

Our Double-clue variety reflects the versatility of the English language as well as the fun in dealing with words that have diverse meanings depending on their usage. Here is one of the Triple-clue variety - DISPATCH. The popular usage points to sending away of some object hurriedly either as a mail or courier. One can use it even to mean sending off a group of soldiers. Dispatch's use in commerce pertains to a method of effecting a fast delivery of goods or money. 

Dispatch also refers to a piece of news that's come in as in 'Our war correspondent has sent this interesting dispatch from the war zone'. 

DISPATCH is our word of the week.

Strife - Reflection of times we live in

The newspapers and the electronic media was agog with news of the internal strife in a leading political party. Strife smuggles its way to the headlines often and is commonly used in the body copy - its repeated usage reflecting the times we live in.

Strife refers to a discord but the range of this discord can be wide. From a quarrel to even the other extreme of having a bitter conflict or even a clash. In the corporate world strife refers to competition or rivalry. Strife is our word of this week. Those fond of gaming would be using this word often.

Triumphant indeed!

Indian cricket team achieved a remarkable victory over the

Kiwis at Kanpur and the newspaper headlines toasted this victory with some really smart headlines. The one that attracted our attention was: Ashwin star of India's triumphant march in Tests.  

Triumphant is our word of the week. It fits in our Double-play list of words. Not only does it mean victorious or successful or having achieved victory - triumphant also denotes rejoicing over success. 

Marquee players make a killing!

Transfer of players in soccer leagues are making front page news with Paul Pogba's transfer from Juventus to MU pegged at 89 million pounds. This is much ahead the much publicized transfer of Gareth Bale in 2013 as the marquee player for Real Madrid. Each sport club or franchise has a few marquee players on whom rests the popularity and fortunes of the club. Back home even Indian Soccer League allows import of a few marquee players for every franchise as it happens in cricket's IPL. 

Marquee is our word of the week. And it is our Double-Clue word as well for it has two distinct meanings. Marquee in the illustration here means a 'celebrated or pre-eminent' player. Marquee also means a large tent for entertainment or exhibition or even a large canopy at the entrance.