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.
World History:
Q1. What are the lessons which can be learned from World War 1 for preventing a wider European conflict? Examine (10M)
Introduction
World War I was an international conflict that from 1914–18 embroiled most of the nations of Europe along with Russia, the United States, the Middle East, and other regions, leading to 40 million causalities.
Body:
One of the major reasons for the start of the Second World War is the humiliation Germany faced after the first war. Thus, First World War has many lessons to stop wider European conflicts
- Peace is fragile: Europe had 99 years of relative peace after the Napoleonic wars of 1815, but it took one assassination of the Austrian Archduke to start a war again. Thus, harmony between nations is important rather than zero military conflicts.
- War is lengthy: Nobody imagined that the war would carry on for 5 years. Thus, nobody is sure how long the Ukraine conflict will last.
- Problems with Ethnocentricism: The objective of the assassination of the arch-duke was to establish a south Slav state. Even today Europe has 44/198 countries, despite having just 6.8% of the landmass. Even today there are calls for an independent Chechnya, Catalonia, etc
- The usefulness of diplomatic effort: Effort to explore all diplomatic options before declaring war. Governments of Europe immediately turned to military options after the assassination of the Austrian Archduke.
- Imaginative, courageous leaders can avoid the worst happening if they’re smart enough, and take to diplomatic means in the current scenario
- Unpredictability of war: Unless needed, when taken to the course of the war, the process might drag on for unexpected years. Hence, the consequences need to be kept in mind before going in for war.
- Maintaining ties with Allies: The single most important conclusion that one can draw from the WWI experience (as it might apply to us today) is the ambiguity that allies present.
- Confronting China in the future, the United States will need all the strong allies it can get, yet supporting those allies (like Japan for instance, which has major territorial disputes with China) can get us involved in conflict just as Russia’s support of Serbia or Germany’s of Austria did in 1914
Conclusion:
In the backdrop of Ukraine, conflict Europe has a lot to decode from the World Wars. European conflicts of the 20th century have had spillover effects on the rest of the world. Hence the need to learn from history, to prevent further conflicts and casualties.
Q2. “The phenomenon of global events impacting India isn’t new”. Analyze the following statement in light of the American Civil war and the French revolution. (15M)
Introduction
India represents one of the oldest strands in the fabric of world civilization. India has never been isolated from the significant happenings of the world. Global events such as the renaissance, enlightenment and American, French, Irish and Russian Revolutions as well as the world wars had a significant impact on India’s history.
Main Body
American civil war
The American Civil War (1861-65) was a result of disputes between the northern and southern states over slavery, westward expansion and rights of the state.
Impact of the American civil war on India
The impact of the American civil war was mostly been on the Ryots and peasants’ exploitation, indebtedness and revolts arising out of that.
- Encouragement of cotton production in India – At that time, Britain was heavily dependent on America for the supply of raw cotton. But when the war broke out the amount of cotton imported from America drastically reduced. They made frantic attempts to increase cotton export to Britain.
- For example – We can see a major increase in the cotton industry of India after 1860. In 1880, there were 58 cotton mills but in 1883, the number of industries rose to 79, which further increased up to 193 in 1900 and then to 251 by 1910.
- Exploitation of the Ryots started
- As raw cotton exports from India increased, the price of raw cotton shot up. Weavers in India were starved of supplies and forced to buy raw cotton at exorbitant prices. In this, situation weaving could not pay.
- Deccan Riots 1875
- After the civil war, the situation changed dramatically and America became the chief supplier again. This became one of the reasons for the Deccan Riot of 1875.
French Revolution
French Revolution (1789-1799) was a period of social and political upheaval in France resulting in the overthrow of the Monarchy and the establishment of the Republic.
Impact of the French Revolution on India
- Impact on Socio–religious reform movement in India – Most of our Indian leaders had education in Europe and they were inspired by the ideas of contemporary happening in the world which gave the impetus to fight for the freedom and liberty of Indians.
- For example, the Young Bengal movements By Henry Vivian Derizio cherished the ideals of the French Revolution (1789 A.D) and the liberal thinking of Britain.
- Raja Rammohan Roy was inspired by the ideas coming from revolutionary France and wanted to change Indian society on liberal and scientific terms removing orthodoxy.
- Impact on Leaders of freedom struggle – French revolution had a significant impact on the leaders of the freedom struggle.
- For example – the great freedom fighters Like Subhash Chandra Bose wrote in his book that freedom can come only by violence as the French did in France
- Tipu Sultan was inspired by the French revolution; he was a member of the Jacobin Club and the planted Tree of liberty at seringpatnam.
- Impact on the Freedom Struggle – The anti-colonial movements in India were the result of ideas that were innovative and original, but they gained currency from the late eighteenth-century events of history and the French revolution was one of them. Indian Nationalist Freedom Struggle incorporated ideals of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity which were inspired by the French revolution.
- Ideal of Indian constitution inspired by the French Revolution –The very preamble of India consists of the core world of the french revolution liberty, equality and fraternity.
Conclusion
India has not only been impacted by world events but it had also made a significant contribution to world history. Indian religions, philosophies, art, literature, and social systems have played a fundamental role in defining the human heritage and hold a significant place.
Ethics:
Q3. The philosophies of various leaders which played a part in the success of our national freedom struggle are required now, more than ever, not just for the welfare of our nation but the world as such. Comment (10M)
Introduction
Today India and the world are battling inequalities and social issues. Political leadership is riddled with inefficiencies and corruption. Moral values are fast eroding and young people lack a sense of direction.
Body
Why the philosophies of various leaders are required now:
- Peace And Stability in the World: In a world that is moving through the phases of war marred by violence and terrorism, there is a significant requirement for the Gandhian idea of Non- violence and the Nehruvian idea of Soft Power more and more today than in the past days.
- These ideas help to avoid the ‘Ego clash’ and ‘Ideological Clash’ between Russia – Ukraine, India – China, India – Pakistan, and North Korea – USA.
- Transparent and accountability: As the UN Fails to deal with historic issues like the Kashmir dispute, Israel’s ethnic cleansing, Yemen civil war etc. NAM has a role to play here. NAM will act as the Moral responsibility of its people, Thus enabling the promotion of human rights and justice, enabling transparency and accountability of the country in treating its citizens in a fair manner.
- Democracy: Ambedkar emphasized ‘democracy as a way of life’, Nehru conceptualized democracy as participation of all where there can be no difference between the majority and minority, and there will be no discrimination based on race, caste, religion, gender etc.
- Democracy helps in maintaining law and order, enhances the quality of decision-making, and provides equal rights among citizens. It also Promotes Human rights which are violated presently in Afghanistan, North Korea, China etc.
- Environment Ethics: Gandhi and Tagore’s philosophies show how we have to develop a moral and ethical relationship with Environment. As Gandhi said, “The Earth has enough resources for our need but not for our greed.” Even the Environment and its entities have the right to live with dignity, freedom of movement, privacy etc
- A pregnant elephant killed by feeding explosive stuffed pineapple, cullying and abandoning of pet animals highlight disregard for others’ rights, also highlights lack of compassion and empathy of humans towards nature.
- Tolerance: Most Philosophers were tolerant towards all religions, interpreted religion as common to all Humanity and the world today needs more and more religiously and faith-wise tolerant people in societies where violence is committed in the name of religion, caste, ethnicity and region etc
- It prevents Mob lynching instances from happening in various states like Panjab, Jharkhand, Communal violence in Gujarat, and New Delhi.
- Impartiality and Non- partisanship: As the Caste system is still prevalent in Indian society, these philosophies are useful to create a casteless society where everyone is treated equally and impartial irrespective of their caste. This creates a homogeneous society.
- Compassionate towards weaker sections: Unless women were freed from unhuman forms of oppression like illiteracy, child marriage, and purdah, society can’t progress. Thus we need to respect and promote women’s rights.
Conclusion
Today World is facing many socio-economic challenges such as communalism, separatism, gender inequality, etc. We need to find these philosophers’ spirits within us so that we can pull ourselves from these challenges. Every individual, thus, should follow their ideologies in day-to-day life for a happy, prosperous, healthy, harmonious and sustainable future.
Additional Details:
