Topic: Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.
Q1. Guru Nanak envisioned spirituality as a means to harmonise the spiritual and the temporal. Bring out this vision as reflected in his teachings. Explain its implications for social responsibility. Assess its relevance for contemporary society. (15 M)
Difficulty Level: Medium
Reference: PIB
Why the question
Guru Nanak’s teachings form a foundational strand of India’s socio-religious history and remain relevant in debates on ethical living, social responsibility, and harmony between material progress and moral values in contemporary society.Key Demand of the question
The question requires bringing out how Guru Nanak integrated spirituality with worldly life, explaining how this integration translated into social responsibility, and assessing why such a vision continues to matter in present-day social and ethical contexts.Structure of the Answer
Introduction
Briefly situate Guru Nanak in the late-medieval socio-religious context and highlight his departure from ascetic or ritual-centric spirituality towards an ethically engaged spiritual life.Body
- Reflect Guru Nanak’s vision of harmonising the spiritual and temporal through his core teachings and practices.
- Explain how this integrated vision shaped ideas of social responsibility, equality, labour, and community life.
- Assess the continuing relevance of this vision in addressing contemporary issues such as social inequality, ethical governance, and religious polarisation.
Conclusion
Offer a forward-looking closing remark on the enduring value of Guru Nanak’s integrated ethical–spiritual framework for building a humane and inclusive society.
