Decoding UPSC: Dr Jayesh Khaddar

As you go through this post, think about how you can incorporate this anecdote, example into your essay, ethics papers: is this an example of integrity? Is this an example of finding the middle path? Is it an example of dharma or a right way of doing things. As I often argue, try to incorporate your understanding of any topic into as many areas as possible, this will increase the output of your academic input, Regards Jayesh Khaddar

Gandhi was a politician no doubt and that involved raising funds for his political movements and institutions. While establishing Ahemdabad as his base for political operations in India, Gandhi did acknowledge the presence of the affluent Indian business community of the city. But his closeness to a section of the Ahemdabad industrialist class did not mean that he would yield to their pressure if his core ideals were at stake. Gandhi always advocated adoption the middle path, but that did not mean violating his core principles. No doubt, there is much to learn from the practical yet idealistic politics of Gandhi. the politics of compromise, the politics rooted in idealism. Gandhi and the untouchability question: A Question that tested Gandhi’s resolve and commitment: Gandhi’s public position on untouchability was tested in 1915 when an untouchable family sought entry into his ashram. Despite being well aware that the initial funding from Mangaldas Girdharidas may be revoked , Gandhi did not bow down. Gandhi, welcomed the family, Girdharidas revoked the funding but eventually the ashram was saved by the patronage from another, more progressive Ahemdabad mill owner, Ambalal Sarabhai. A couple of years later, as Gandhi supported the Ahemdabad mill strike in 1918 arguing for 33% wage hike for mill workers, the lead negotiator on behalf of the mill owners was Ambalal Sarabhai. When the mill owners did not agree to the proposed hike, Gandhi went on a hunger strike which eventually yielded the desired hike in favour of workers. However, the episode did not sour the relationship between the Sarabhai’s and Gandhi which continued to be a friendly one over the next decades. https://www.instagram.com/p/CyqTXIrNl3M/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

When we think about writing essays: we are often looking for examples and find it difficult to come up with relevant ones, but it would also be worthwhile to explore how one example can be used in essays on different themes: fore example can the above example be used while writing an essay on stereotypes, gender inequality etc.

“Geniuses are not born they are made”: this statement was made by the Hungarian psychologist Laszlo Poligar who argued that there is nothing that prevents an individual from excelling in an area of their choice. The three poligar sisters were a testament to the same. At a time when there were few women in competitive chess at the international level, Laszlo Poligar raised his daughters to play competitive chess from a young age. https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cxx-t73v9Th/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

How art rebels: the Politics of Makeba song: while the song makeba became an instant hit after its release in 2015, it portrayed the struggle of two inspiring figures of the movement against racial discrimination in USA and Africa: Ruby Bridges and Mariam Makeba. Ruby Bridges was a 6yr old girl who became an icon in 1960 for seeking admission in a school in Louisiana, USA which till the 1950’s was exclusively reserved for whites (Segregation of schools, public buses was a norm in USA, deeply divided along racial lines uptill 1950’s). This was not a small deal as many may assume today, as ruby and her family received death threats asking her to withdraw from the school. In fact, the federal government was forced to provide her personal security which escorted the young ruby to school every day for almost a year given the regular threats she faced. Ruby thus became a pioneer whose bravery paved the way for bringing an end to the racial segregation of schools in USA. The other inspiration figure was Miriam Makeba: Originally from South Africa, Makeba had already established herself as a leading singer of international repute by 1960. However, the South African government which practiced apartheid revoked her passport and banned her return to South Africa in 1960 as many of her songs questioned these practices. For 30 years Makeba stayed in exile in USA and could return back to South Africa only in 1990 after the collapse of the apartheid rule. Prominent leaders like Nelson Mandela pointed out later how her songs brought both hope and joy to the millions of suppressed South Africans under the apartheid regime. She was fondly remembered as “Mama Africa” and the songs is essentially a tribute to her life and struggle. 🎵 Makeba by - @jainmusic #makeba ArtRebels #MakebaSong #RubyBridges #MiriamMakeba #RacialJustice #CivilRights #ApartheidStruggle #MusicActivism #InspiringIcons #mariammakeba #singer #equality #rights #education #race #UPSCAspirant #CrackUPSC #UPSCSuccess #UPSCStrategy #CivilServicesDream #StayFocusedUPSC #UPSCMotivation

This should be useful for a philosophical essay based upon: desire, happiness, discontent with materialism etc. We live in a world of ever growing desires where from social media to television we are constantly told that the only way to live a “good life” is to consume more, the whole goal of advertising apparently is to fuel a desire in people to “want” more. However a pursuit of more often leaves us dissatisfied. One should be wary of falling into such traps and perhaps one of the oldest buddhist sayings”desire is the root cause of sorrow” holds true. What can we do to avoid this trap, find out more. https://www.instagram.com/p/CvucXMht8SM/?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==