On June 3, almost all the major Indian newspapers carried the news report that Fr Alexis Prem Kumar from Tamil Nadu had been abducted by some gunmen near Herat in Afghanistan. It came as a big shock to me as I have known Alexis for almost three decades. The news item has prompted a reader to send in this query: “What is the difference between abduction and kidnapping? Was Fr Kumar abducted or kidnapped?” (Sylvia, Coimbatore).
There is a difference in meaning between ‘abduction’ and ‘kidnapping’. To abduct someone is to carry the person away against their will by force or deceitful means. The motive or the intent of the abductor(s) is known only after the victim is released or set free. A divorced parent might abduct his/herchild, or a boy might abduct a girl whom he is in love with though the girl is not interested in him, or a sex offender might abduct someone to satisfy their own desires. There are many interesting stories of aliens supposedly abducting people. The 1961 Betty and Barney Hill case is one such example.
To ‘kidnap’ someone is to take them against their will and hold them as “hostage” to use them as a negotiating or bargaining tool. Though the word ‘kidnap’ literally means seizing a kid, not all kidnappings involve kids. Kidnappers have multiple reasons for kidnapping someone. It may be motivated by financial or political reasons. A person might kidnap a child and demand that the child’s parents or relatives pay a ransom if they want the child back. A group of militants might kidnap a celebrity and demand that the government release their associates from jail. The intent behind a kidnap is usually revealed immediately after the victim has been held hostage so that negotiations may begin.
Was Fr Kumar abducted or kidnapped? At the time of writing this column, it was not clear who took Fr Kumar captive and why they did so. It is a clear case of abduction. As there are no ransom calls from any group, it cannot be termed as kidnapping. It doesn’t matter whether it is a case of abduction or kidnapping. What matters the most is his safe return to India so that he can continue his good work.
Here are two more queries from a reader:
• What is the meaning of the idiom “to stand a chance”? Please explain it with some examples.
• I came across the term “jaw-dropping” in a news report. What does the term mean? (Venkat, Nellore).
The idiomatic expression ‘to stand a chance’ of doing something means, the probability of completing a given task. Here are examples of how the idiom can be used:
• Book an ACT Broadband connection before June 20 and stand a chance to win a prize.
• Do you think KKR team stands a chance of entering the IPL final?
• Your immunity is so low that you stand a chance of catching the disease.
The phrase jaw-dropping refers to something that causes a strong emotional reaction because of the unexpectedness. If something is extremely surprising, impressive or shocking, it is called jaw-dropping. Here are some synonyms of the term: amazing, astounding, dumbfounding, eye-opening, flabbergasting and stunning. Here are examples of sentences using “jaw-dropping”:
• Suresh Raina’s jaw-dropping 87 off 25 balls in the recent IPL was a delightful treat for his fans.
• Courts in the country have a jaw-dropping two crore cases awaiting trial.
— rayanal@yahoo.co.uk