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NOTE: Please remember that following ‘answers’ are NOT ‘model answers’. They are NOT synopsis too if we go by definition of the term. What we are providing is content that both meets demand of the question and at the same time gives you extra points in the form of background information.
General Studies – 1
Topic: Indian Culture will cover the salient aspects of Art forms, Literature, and Architecture from ancient to modern times.
Difficulty Level: Easy
Reference: The Hindu
Why this question:
The question seeks to examine the significance and the uniqueness of Chola art and architecture.
Key demand of the question:
The answer must discuss the significance of the Chola art and architecture.
Directive:
Comment– here we have to express our knowledge and understanding of the issue and form an overall opinion thereupon.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Introduce the distinctness of Chola art and architecture that is the Dravida style of architecture.
Body:
The body has to address two parts. The first part as to why the Chola art was distinct. In this using salient and important features of Chola art tell the marked changes which started during the Chola art. The emphasis here should be on why these were distinct.
The next part of the body should be the significance of the Chola art and its uniqueness. Quoting examples from the Chola architecture and art should be elaborately explained.
Conclusion:
The conclusion should say how Chola Art and architecture changed the scenario of Indian architecture and influenced future architecture, especially in southern India.
Introduction
The Cholas belonged to one of the three mighty dynasties that ruled the Tamil country in the early historical period. Described as the Muvendhar in the Sangam literature, they were known for the valour and for their patronage of the Tamil language. One of the best illustrations of Dravida type of temples are by Cholas.
Body
Background: Chola Art and Architecture
- Puranic Hinduism, represented by the worship of Siva, Vishnu and associated deities, had become popular by the time of the Cholas.
- A large number of temples dedicated to these deities were built.
- The temples were provided vast areas of land and a considerable section of population came under their influence
- Temple architecture: The Cholas built and patronised innumerable temples. The royal temples in Thanjavur, Gangaikonda Cholapuram and Darasuram are the repositories of architecture, sculpture, paintings and iconography of the Chola arts.
- The Cholas built their temples in the traditional way of the Pallava dynasty, who were themselves influenced by the
- Besides all these temples of the Chola period, the greatest landmark in the history of south Indian architecture is Brihadisvara temple at Tanjore. It was built by Rajaraja I. This is the largest and tallest temple in Tamil Nadu.
- Rajendra Chola built a temple at GangaiKonda Cholapuram which is also equally famous.
- Sculptures: The Chola period is also remarkable for its sculptures and bronzes. The sculptures and bronzes show classic grace, grandeur and taste. The best example of this can be seen in the form of Nataraja, the Divine Dancer.
- After Nataraja, the next most popular image is Somaskanda where Shiva is depicted sitting with his consort Uma and his son Skanda dancing between them on a platform.
- Kalyanasundara Murti is a 9th century art where marriage is represented by 2 separate statuettes; Shiva and Parvati’s marriage or panigrahana.
- Ardhanarishwar with half Shiva and half Shakti is another popular image
- Portraits: The best specimens of portraits are found on the walls of koranganatha temple and nageswarasamy The portraits of cholamadevi and kulothunga-iii are there in kalahasti temple.
- Paintings: The art of paintings flourished; figures were painted with realism. Rajaraja-I and Rajendra contributed more for the development of the art of painting during the chola period.
- In 1931, Chola frescoes were discovered within the circumambulatory corridor of the Brihadisvara Temple, by S.K. Govindasamy, a professor at Annamalai University.
- These are the first Chola paintings discovered. The passage of the corridor is dark and the walls on either side are covered with two layers of paintings from floor to ceiling
Conclusion
The Chola period in south India was golden area of art and architecture. they promoted all these arts and also changes timely. The Dravida style of architecture reached its zenith during the Chola empire. It is a hallmark of the Chola dynasty.
Value Addition
Temple architecture features
- This architecture developed under the chola regime
- Temples surrounded by boundary walls
- High entrance gateway gopuram
- This follows panchayatan style for principal shine and four subsidiary shrines
- The stepped pyramid that rises up is called vimana
- Crowning form in octagon its similar to the kalash in nagara style but not spherical
- On the main temple the vimana on subsidiary shrine temple there is no vimana
- The assembly hall connected with garbagriha using the tunnel that tunnel is called antarala.
- The entrance of garbagriha sculpture of Dwarpalaka, Mithun, and yakshas.
- Presence of water tank inside the temple enclosure was a unique style of Dravidian temple architecture.
General Studies – 2
Topic: Indian Constitution– historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions, and basic structure
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Reference: Polity by M. Laxmikanth
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 2 and mentioned as part of Mission-2022 Secure timetable
Key Demand of the question:
The importance of Fundamental Duties in the Indian Constitution
Directive word:
Examine – When asked to ‘Examine’, we must investigate the topic (content words) in detail, inspect it, investigate it and establish the key facts and issues related to the topic in question. While doing so we should explain why these facts and issues are important and their implications
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Brief on Fundamental Duties, Articles related and Schedule
Body:
First, mention the significance of Fundamental Duties in the Indian Constitution
Then, examine the existence of legal provisions for the implementation of Fundamental Duties
Conclusion:
A relevant closing statement
Introduction
In 1976, the Congress Party set up the Sardar Swaran Singh Committee to make recommendations about fundamental duties, the need and necessity of which was felt during the operation of the internal emergency (1975–1977). The committee recommended the inclusion of a separate chapter on fundamental duties in the Constitution.
Government enacted the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act in 1976. This amendment added a new part, namely, Part IVA to the Constitution. This new part consists of only one Article, that is, Article 51A which for the first time specified a code of ten fundamental duties of the citizens. T
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Significance of Fundamental Duties in India
In spite of criticisms and opposition, the fundamental duties are considered significant from the following viewpoints:
- They serve as a reminder to the citizens that while enjoying their rights, they should also be conscious of duties they owe to their country, their society and to their fellow citizens.
- They serve as a warning against the antinational and antisocial activities like burning the national flag, destroying public property and so on.
- They serve as a source of inspiration for the citizens and promote a sense of discipline and commitment among them. They create a feeling that the citizens are not mere spectators but active participants in the realisation of national goals.
- They help the courts in examining and determining the constitutional validity of a law.
- In 1992, the Supreme Court ruled that in determining the constitutionality of any law, if a court finds that the law in question seeks to give effect to a fundamental duty, it may consider such law to be ‘reasonable’ in relation to Article 14 (equality before law) or Article 19 (six freedoms) and thus save such law from unconstitutionality.
- They are enforceable by law. Hence, the Parliament can provide for the imposition of appropriate penalty or punishment for failure to fulfil any of them.
Existence of legal provisions for the implementation of Fundamental Duties
The Verma Committee on Fundamental Duties of the Citizens (1999) identified the existence of legal provisions for the implementation of some of the Fundamental Duties. They are mentioned below:
- The Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act (1971) prevents disrespect to the Constitution of India, the National Flag and the National Anthem.
- The various criminal laws in force provide for punishments for encouraging enmity between different sections of people on grounds of language, race, place of birth, religion and so on.
- The Protection of Civil Rights Act 4 (1955) provides for punishments for offences related to caste and religion.
- The Indian Penal Code (IPC) declares the imputations and assertions prejudicial to national integration as punishable offences.
- The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act of 1967 provides for the declaration of a communal organisation as an unlawful association.
- The Representation of People Act (1951) provides for the disqualification of members of the Parliament or a state legislature for indulging in corrupt practice, that is, soliciting votes on the ground of religion or promoting enmity between different sections of people on grounds of caste, race, language, religion and so on.
- The Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972 prohibits trade in rare and endangered species.
- The Forest (Conservation) Act of 1980 checks indiscriminate deforestation and diversion of forest land for non-forest purposes.
Conclusion
The inclusion of fundamental duties has helped to strengthen democracy. The moral value of fundamental duties would be not to smother rights but to establish a democratic balance by making the people conscious of their duties equally as they are conscious of their rights’. There was an eventual consensus on the necessity and desirability of including the Fundamental Duties in the Constitution. This is clearer with the addition of one more Fundamental Duty in 2002 by the 86th Amendment Act.
Topic: Indian Constitution– historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions, and basic structure
Difficulty Level: Easy
Reference: Polity by M. Laxmikanth
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 2 and mentioned as part of Mission-2022 Secure timetable
Key Demand of the question:
The evolution of Basic Structure Doctrine in India
Directive word:
Examine – When asked to ‘Examine’, we must investigate the topic (content words) in detail, inspect it, investigate it and establish the key facts and issues related to the topic in question. While doing so we should explain why these facts and issues are important and their implications.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Brief on the Doctrine of Basic structure, in relevance to Indian Constitution
Body:
The answer could be written in a chronological order
First, mention the issue that led to such doctrine
Then, the interpretation/Judgements by the Judiciary in relevance to this
Then, mention the final stance and what all aspects does the doctrine include
Conclusion:
A relevant closing statement
Introduction
The Doctrine of Basic structure, one of the most important examples of judicial activism is the result of the creative interpretation of the constitution by the judiciary. It was given by the 13-judges bench of the Supreme Court in the Keshavananda Bharti case (1973), and was aimed at defining the scope of the amending power of the Parliament. It is a doctrine to examine the constitutional validity of constitutional amendment.
Body
Evolution
- Origin of debate: The question whether Fundamental Rights can be amended by the Parliament under Article 368 came for consideration of the Supreme Court within a year of the Constitution coming into force.
- Shankari Prasad case (1951): The constitutional validity of the First Amendment Act (1951), which curtailed the right to property, was challenged. The Supreme Court ruled that the power of the Parliament to amend the Constitution under Article 368 also includes the power to amend Fundamental Rights. The word ‘law’ in Article 13 includes only ordinary laws and not the constitutional amendment acts (constituent laws).
- Therefore, the Parliament can abridge or take away any of the Fundamental Rights by enacting a constitutional amendment act and such a law will not be void under Article 13.
- Golak Nath case (1967): The Supreme Court reversed its earlier stand. In that case, the constitutional validity of the Seventeenth Amendment Act (1964), which inserted certain state acts in the Ninth Schedule, was challenged.
- The Supreme Court ruled that the Fundamental Rights are given a ‘transcendental and immutable’ position and hence, the Parliament cannot abridge or take away any of these rights.
- A constitutional amendment act is also a law within the meaning of Article 13 and hence, would be void for violating any of the Fundamental Rights.
- 24th Amendment Act 1971: The Parliament reacted to the Supreme Court’s judgement in the Golak Nath case (1967) by enacting the 24 th Amendment Act (1971). This Act amended Articles 13 and 368.
- It declared that the Parliament has the power to abridge or take away any of the Fundamental Rights under Article 368 and such an act will not be a law under the meaning of Article 13.
- Kesavananda Bharati case: However, in the Kesavananda Bharati case (1973), the Supreme Court overruled its judgement in the Golak Nath case (1967). It upheld the validity of the 24th Amendment Act (1971) and stated that Parliament is empowered to abridge or take away any of the Fundamental Rights.
- At the same time, it laid down a new doctrine of the ‘basic structure’ (or ‘basic features’) of the Constitution.
- It ruled that the constituent power of Parliament under Article 368 does not enable it to alter the ‘basic structure’ of the Constitution.
- This means that the Parliament cannot abridge or take away a Fundamental Right that forms a part of the ‘basic structure’ of the Constitution.
Interpretation and relevance of the judgement
- The emergence of doctrine of ‘Basic structure’ marked a significant shift in the role of judiciary from practice of constitutional interpretation to a creative role where judiciary go beyond the written provisions of the constitution.
- As per the Indian constitution, Parliament has been given the constituent power to amend the constitution according to the changing needs & aspirations.
- Being a dynamic or organic constitution, aimed at achieving a certain goal of social revolution the Indian constitution mentions special procedure for its amendment.
- It means that there is no explicit limitation on the amending power of the Parliament; expect procedural limitations as given in Art 360.
- However, in the Keshvananda Bharti Case (1973), on the question whether the amending power of the Parliament is unlimited and absolute, the Supreme Court held that the amending power is limited to the extent that it doesn’t alter the ‘Basic Structure’ of the constitution.
- The court held that the word ‘amend’ under Art 368 means only changes other than altering the basic features of the constitution, which would amount to making or writing a new constitution.
- In this way, the Supreme Court, while giving primacy to the unwritten feature of the constitution introduced a ‘substantive limitation’ on the amending power of the Parliament.
- However, the judgment of the Supreme Court inventing a new doctrine of the ‘basic structure’ has been subjected to intense academic debate.
- The opponents of the judgement claims that the judiciary has gone for the metaphysical approach rather than the legal approach of what is written.
- They argue that if the government was destroying the constitution, the judiciary has gone to the extent of creating the constitution.
- On the other hand, the proponents of the decision argue that judiciary has protected the sanctity of the constitution.
Conclusion
Zia Modi, in her book ‘The Ten Judgments that changed India’, has given following arguments- (i) Although the judiciary was wrong from the academic point of view, but from the practical point of view, it was the need of the time in the Indian context. (ii) It has proved to be a blessing in disguise as it has checked authoritarianism of the government. This has stopped India from going on the path of the other Third World countries.
Topic: Social empowerment
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: The Hindu
Why the question:
As disabled people, many of us are familiar with the ordeal we must face in getting our additional needs met for giving regular or competitive exams.
The Central Public Works Department (CPWD) released the Harmonised Guidelines and Standards for Universal Accessibility in India 2021 through its website in December 2021. It shifts focus from creating a barrier-free environment to the more holistic approach
Key Demand of the question:
Key objectives of Accessible India Campaign and how can we move towards universal accessibility
Directive word:
Discuss – This is an all-encompassing directive – you must debate on paper by going through the details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You must give reasons for both for and against arguments.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by writing about the status of Disability in India and the need for more holistic support.
Body:
First, mention the major provisions of the Accessible India Campaign and their impact. Also, mention Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, and mention how it was a landmark step to boost inclusivity and accessibility.
Next, write about the new guidelines and how it aims to achieve universal accessibility
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward to achieve inclusivity.
Introduction
Accessible India Campaign (AIC) is the nationwide flagship campaign of the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. The aim of the Campaign is to make a barrier free and conducive environment for Divyangjans all over the country. The campaign has the vision to build an inclusive society in which equal opportunities are provided for the growth and development of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) so that they can lead productive, safe and dignified lives.
Recently, the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) released the new Harmonised Guidelines and Standards for Universal Accessibility in India 2021.
Body
Components of AIC
- Built Environment Accessibility
- Transportation System Accessibility
- Information and Communication Eco-System Accessibility
Objectives of Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan
- Making 50% of all the government buildings of National Capital and all the State capitals fully accessible by December 2018.
- Completing accessibility audit of 50% of government buildings and making them fully accessible in 10 most important cities/towns of States by December 2019.
- Ensuring that 50% of railway stations in the country are converted into fully accessible railway stations by March 2018.
- Ensuring that 25% of Government owned public transport carriers in the country are converted into fully accessible carriers by March 2018.
- Conducting accessibility audit of 50% of all government (both Central and State Governments) websites and converting them into fully accessible websites by March 2017.
About the new guidelines and Steps to move towards universal accessibility
- Earlier, the guidelines were for creating a barrier-free environment, but now we are focusing on universal accessibility.
- Universal Accessibility refers to the degree to which the environment, products, and services are accessible to people with disabilities.
- The term barrier-free design used to describe the effort of removing physical barriers from the “built environment” for people with disabilities.
- As per new guidelines, ramps are significant for providing an accessible mobility option. But ramps should adhere to given guidelines.
- It provides the gradient and length of ramps. For instance, for a length of six metres, it recommends the gradient of 1:12. It recommends to keep minimum clear width of the ramp as 1,200 mm.
- Guidelines have been provided for persons with disabilities (PwD) as well as for those involved in planning projects, starting from construction of government buildings to master-planning cities.
- It covers making public buildings and transport fully accessible for wheelchair users. It has also covered users including parent pushing a child’s pram while carrying groceries or other bags or women wearing saris, who are likely to experience temporary problems.
- It calls to incorporate accessibility symbols for PwD, family-friendly facilities and transgender, among the symbols for other user groups.
Conclusion
Accessibility is the key to inclusion and equal access for people with disabilities is the mantra for Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan. An accessible barrier-free environment is the first step towards fulfilling the right of people with disabilities to participate in all areas of community life and achieving the goal of Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas.
Value addition
Constitutional and legal backing for PwD’s
- Article 14: The State shall not deny to any person equality before the law or the equal protection of the laws within the territory of India.
- In this context, Persons with Disabilities should have similar and equal rights in the eyes of the Constitution.
- UN Convention the Right of Persons with Disabilities: India is a signatory to the United Nations Convention the Right of Persons with Disabilities, which came into force in 2007.
- The Convention recognizes accessibility as a human right and requires signatories to adopt appropriate measures to ensure access by persons with disabilities.
- Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016: The Government of lndia enacted The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, which is the principal and comprehensive legislation concerning persons with disabilities.
- The Act defines the responsibilities of the Central and State governments with regard to the services for persons with disabilities.
General Studies – 3
Topic: Indian Economy
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Indian Express
Why the question:
The question was asked just a day ago in UPSC Mains GS3.
Key Demand of the question:
Highlight the reasons for the argument that India has recovered from the economic slowdown.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by defining what is V-shaped recovery
Body:
Give data and draw a graph to show that India has had a V-shaped recovery after the Impact of COVID19 in the years 2020 and 2021.
However, also point out that the recovery may be temporary, in the absence of government policy support and rising consumer demand. Also, the impact of resurging COVID may dampen the growth further.
Suggest a few steps that India can take to mitigate the impact of COVID and ensure growth in the economy.
For further reference: Business Standard, IndiaToday
Conclusion:
Conclude with a relevant way forward
Introduction
The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation released the GDP (gross domestic product) and GVA (gross value added) data for the first quarter of the current financial year. The government used the Year-on-Year (Y-o-Y) comparison method — which showed that the GDP grew by 20% in Q1 this year as against the Q1 last year — to claim that India was witnessing a V-shaped recovery.
Body
V-shaped recovery in India
- V-shaped recovery is underway, as demonstrated by a sustained resurgence in high frequency indicators such as power demand, e-way bills, GST collection, steel consumption, etc.
- India became the fastest country to roll-out 10 lakh vaccines in 6 days and also emerged as a leading supplier of the vaccine to neighbouring countries and Brazil.
- Total expenditure of the government surged 48.3 per cent on year-on-year (y-o-y) basis in the month of November. While, capital expenditure shrugged off a three-month contraction and expanded 248.5 per cent. This was mainly due to the introduction of the Atmanirbhar Bharat package.
- After contracting for 9 consecutive months, merchandise imports finally experienced a growth of 7.6 per cent (y-o-y) in December 2020. The revival was led by gold, electronic goods and vegetable oils.
- Rising imports of pearls and precious stones, machinery, electronic goods and textiles reflect the revival of domestic activity as they are of the nature of intermediate goods in supply chains.
- This also augurs well for exports going forward. This suggests that moribund absorptive capacity of the economy is coming back to life, backed by domestic demand
- The Covid-19 pandemic dragged the sensex to record low in late March 2020. But, it staged a strong recovery from the lows. Both the BSE and NSE indices finally wrapped up 2020 on a bullish note, with sensex gaining nearly 16 per cent.
Recovery has not been V-shaped
- MGNREGA employment highest: Around 64 million are families employed under MGNREGA. It is more than ten times the total number of people employed by all the companies listed on India’s stock exchanges combined. We should remember that citizens utilize MGNREGA only when the situation is extremely dire and there are no other alternative sources of income.
- Currently, 18 million families are dependent on MGNREGA, roughly the same number in August last year.
- Clearly, there is no economic recovery, ‘V’ or otherwise, for these millions of families.
- So, while stock markets are booming to all-time highs, a record number of Indians are seeking employment from MGNREGA for a bare minimum income.
- Manufacturing, construction and services are low: Manufacturing, services and construction are the real economic activities that generate good quality jobs and incomes for the vast majority of people.
- However, these are not in good state. Latest CSO data shows that manufacturing activity in June 2021 is at the same level as four years ago in 2017, construction activity is at the level of five years ago in 2016, and trade/transport services activity is at the level of six years ago in 2015 (at constant prices).
- Lack of consumption: When people do not have sufficient incomes, it affects their consumption too. This is evidenced in the fact that private consumption in the June 2021 quarter is at the same level as in 2017.
- Fixed Capital formation is lagging: When private consumption is weak, businesses refrain from undertaking new projects and investment falls. This is seen in fixed capital formation being stuck at 2017 levels.
- Finally, it is argued that easy money from the United States is finding its way to other countries, pushing up asset prices and financial market valuations. Neither does this help improve livelihoods for the vast majority of people, nor will this last long. It is thus futile to showcase foreign flows or stock market indicators as a sign of the robustness of India’s economy.
Way forward
- Rebound to be led by low base and continued normalization in economic activities as the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines gathers traction.
- A favourable monetary policy ensuring abundant liquidity and immediate relief to debtors while unclogging monetary policy transmission.
General Studies – 4
Topic: Lessons from the teaching and lives of great leaders, administrators, and reformers.
Structure of the question
Introduction
Give the gist of utilitarian ethics in your introduction in a brief manner or you can define the term welfare state.
Body
- Highlight the main principle of a welfare state (Ex: Growth for all)
- Debate whether utilitarian ethics gives effect to this objective. Ex: The utilitarian by its very nature neglects a few sections in the society; utilitarian in the domain of economics helped India to usher many welfare programs since 1991 reforms etc.
- Remember to bring both sides of the arguments in your answer
Conclusion
Suggest a way forward on how negative aspects related to this form of ethics could be addressed to realize growth for all in the society.
Introduction
Jeremy Bentham was the father of utilitarianism who gave the maxim of “Greater happiness of the greater number”. Utilitarianism would say that an action is right if it results in the happiness of the greatest number of people in a society or a group. Utilitarianism is a theory of morality, which advocates actions that foster happiness or pleasure and opposes actions that cause unhappiness or harm. When directed toward making social, economic, or political decisions, a utilitarian philosophy would aim for the betterment of society as a whole.
Body
Greatest good of the greatest number: Utilitarianism
- The greatest good of the greatest number: This is the most important formula of Bentham Utilitarianism. Each government is obliged to adopt such policies which could give the greatest good of the greatest number.
- A government which works for the good of a few numbers is not at all a good government. It is tyranny and unjustifiable government. Thus, the principle of ‘the greatest good of the greatest number’ is benevolent and universalistic shape.
- What kind of government is best thus becomes a question of what kind of government has the best consequences—an assessment that requires factual premises regarding human nature and behaviour.
- However, this came under criticism as denial of right to one or few to achieve greater good, would-be injustice. And denial of justice anywhere is an injustice everywhere.
Criticism: Against welfare state
- A limitation of utilitarianism is that it tends to create a black-and-white construct of morality. In utilitarian ethics, there are no shades of Gray—either something is wrong or it is right.
- The theory creates a potential for the significant part to rule through Tyranny. As majority happiness may be against the minority interests.
- Utilitarianism ignores the distributional aspects of happiness or welfare.
- Utilitarianism also cannot predict with certainty whether the consequences of our actions will be good or bad—the results of our actions happen in the future.
- Utilitarianism also has trouble accounting for values like justice and individual rights.
- For example, say a hospital has four people whose lives depend upon receiving organ transplants: a heart, lungs, a kidney, and a liver. If a healthy person wanders into the hospital, his organs could be harvested to save four lives at the expense of his one life.
- This would arguably produce the greatest good for the greatest number. But few would consider it an acceptable course of action, let alone an ethical one.
Conclusion
Means are as important as ends as per Gandhiji. Only the right kind of seeds will grow into the right kind of tree, hence purity of means is of utmost importance in all the actions that we do. Happiness of the greatest number may not result in welfare of all, especially welfare of the marginalised. Therefore, the theory of utilitarianism, though useful in formulation of certain policies for welfare of a large number of people but cannot be treated as the end
Topic: Lessons from the teaching and lives of great leaders, administrators, and reformers.
Structure of the question
Introduction
Define the terms love, self-interest, and selflessness in your introduction
Body
- Using examples from the lives of leaders and philosophers such as Gandhi Ji, Buddha, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, Nelson Mandela, Swami Vivekananda, Jane Goodall, Vinoba Bhave, etc. bring out the relationship between love and self-lessness. Ex: The love of Nelson Mandela towards his enemies despite the latter’s atrocities against his race gave him the strength to unite the country transcending the boundaries of race
- Highlight what prevents the development of this form of selfless love in an individual in the present times.
Conclusion
Suggest some ways on how this selfless love could be developed in an individual
Introduction
The ability of human beings to love is one of the strongest source of ethics. The love for family, self, partner or friends makes a person honest, just, sacrificing, loyal and moral. The only source of true ethics is love. Love is the only element that sufficiently transcends self-interest to allow for a truly ethical orientation, a truly giving orientation, a truly self-sacrificing orientation. Love is pure ethics, and immorality is pure selfishness.
Body
The philosophical treatment of love transcends a variety of sub-disciplines including epistemology, metaphysics, religion, human nature, politics and ethics. Often statements or arguments concerning love, its nature and role in human life for example connect to one or all the central theories of ethics and philosophy.
Love makes us first of all think of romantic attraction, affection and desire – a whirlwind of emotions, yes, but that is only one of countless forms in which we experience love. In so many different contexts do we speak of love that one may actually wonder what they have in common, if anything: Love between teacher and pupil, love of parents for children, of children for parents; love of your dog or your cats, your country, your grandparents.
Love and ethics have intricate connection like Gandhiji demonstrated. Evil was to be met not by evil but by good. “It is easy for you to love your friends, but I say unto you, love your enemies”, he admonished. The only way to purge the world of evil was to overcome “anger by love, untruth by truth, and himsa by ahimsa.”
Conclusion
Love is the very basis of the energy of our Ethical Values. If we do not understand the energy of love, know how to live our love, know how to share our love, then we will lie, cheat, and steal as our external image of love. The ethical aspects in love involve the moral appropriateness of loving, and the forms it should or should not take.
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