What is a ‘Good’ Essay for UPSC Civil Services Exams? This is one of the most popular questions among aspirants. In UPSC required ‘special series’UPSC Essay Simplified’We take you through sample essays written by our experts Pranay Agarwal Incorporating previous year questions. The following topics were asked in the essay paper of UPSC Mains Exam 2022.
About our experts: Pranay Aggarwal is an educationist and mentor for aspirants preparing for UPSC Civil Services Exams. With more than 10 years of experience in guiding civil services aspirants, he is recognized as an expert in civil services exam preparation especially in subjects like social issues and sociology. He is the Indian representative on the Research Committee on Education, Religion and Political Sociology for the International Sociological Association of UNESCO and a member of its Committee on Indian Sociological Society and Social Movements. He is also the convenor of the Civil Services Association of India, a think tank of senior bureaucrats.
‘Poets are the unknown legislators of the world’
“Where the mind is free from fear and the head is held high
Where knowledge is free
Where the world is not torn to pieces…”
These words of Tagore, that i Met as an eighth grader, continue to fascinate, inspire and awaken me today. They changed me from a carefree child to a somewhat concerned and involved citizen. Most likely, many of us have come across a similar inspirational poem, pithi doha, or beautiful shloka that we still ‘flow’ with us. Expand from the individual to the societal level, and you can understand how poets and their works influence our world.
While poets may not draft laws and rule states, they do exercise one Invisible but undeniable influence – Shaping society’s values, ethics, and collective consciousness. In more ‘stable’ times, poets serve as society’s moral guides, guardians of its traditions and social commentators. in time time of Noise, they can be its worst critics, activists, and dissidents.
Poets may not create formal authority, yet, through their words, they shape our understanding of the world. In this sense, they ‘make laws’ in the hearts and minds of the people, not in parliament! To understand its full import, we need to find out how Poetry, like law, Helps preserve culture, influences society’s values, and serves as a unifying force; while shaping young minds and offering social criticism. This essay tries to find out how the works of poets influence human thoughts and actions.
Preserving culture
Poets who understand their temporal position well engage in dialogue with the past and the future. Through this engagement, they provide continuity in an ever-evolving world. poetry broadcasts cultural valuesConnecting generations through shared stories.
Adi Kavya Ramayana Not only the life story of Sri Ram, but also the treasure of Ram Worth a billion people. in his work, Valmiki Immortalized Sri Rama and transcended storytelling to teach lessons of duty and dharma. His verses have inspired generations to consider the nature of honor, loyalty and duty. The shape of social values For millennia. Veda VyasIn the Mahabharata, we are sent Divine song Bhagavad Gita; which has served as a moral guide for generations.
Although these poets did not hold power and are long gone, their influence remains. Shapes our collective morals and ethics.
Cultivating Young minds!
Poetry often conveys simple yet profound ideas, beautifully expressed. Children’s Poems Carry moral messages that shape young minds. Nursery Rhymes often Teach the values of honesty, loyalty, and sharing. These poems are thus ‘laws’ that guide future generations, inculcating morality in them through rhyme and rhythm.
Increasing unity
The constitution unites all who govern. Poetry can work too A powerful tool for unity. Consider the unifying force of National Anthem. Population mind a Poetry Festival Diversity and Unity of India. Tagore’s work is not only a poem but also a reminder of our common heritage and common identity, inspiring patriotism in all Indians.
Mirror of society
The power of poetry lies in its ability to reflect, criticize and inspire. Poetry and literature have been given priority for a long time Introspection and Social criticism. Poetry often holds up a mirror to society, capturing both its light and shadows. Poets use art for social commentary, encouraging people to examine oppressive political systems, economic inequalities, and systemic injustices. By exposing social flaws, poets encourage people to imagine a better world.
The Kabir’s coupletsFor example, address Issues like caste discrimination, customs and religious conservatism. Kabir’s couplet, without formal authority, shaped morals of society, Challenged Prevailing Structures and Advocated Improvements. Like legislators, poets like Kabir influence social values.
today, Poets online Continue this tradition. Websites, social networks, and literary blogs feature countless poets addressing contemporary issues ranging from climate change and racial injustice to sexual freedom and mental health. Without recognition, these modern poets promote collective consciousness. by Capturing the concerns, hopes and dreams of our timeThey influence social narratives and public opinion andIndirectly, policies.
emotional connection
Poetry has a distinctive quality Ability to connect with people On an emotional levelBypassing intellectual defenses and appealing directly to the heart. Through metaphor and symbolism, Poets communicate a truth that resonates profoundly. This emotional connection is powerful because it appeals to common human experiences, Fostering empathy, a key ingredient for social cohesion.
Poems by Rumi and Gibran Explore themes of love and loss, invoking a sense of shared humanity. Although they did not rule states, their words promoted worldviews that influenced individuals and, by extension, societies. The Unknown Poets Provides similar guidance on the Internet in our time Through their unfiltered reflection, they It affects the inner life of a person.
Poetry and protest
In times of socio-political upheaval, poetry often comes in handy. During the independence movement, poetry was a powerful medium for national pride and resistance against colonial oppression. Bankim Chandra’s Vande Mataram It became the slogan of the freedom struggle. The 20th century African-American poet Maya Angelou He used his words to reveal the injustice of racial discrimination, spurring the movement for civil rights. United States of America. Bob Dylan’s The song became an anthem for Americans Anti-war protesters. Even today, verses from Faiz’s “Hum Dekhenge” The protest echoed across India, reminding us The power of poetry to inspire hope and flexibility!
Slogans, chants and verses unite voices and communicate ideals. Through rhythm and symbolism, poetry captures the essence of human struggle, encouraging individuals to strive for a better future.
Unknown MLAs
Although poets have a profound influence on society, their role is rarely acknowledged. Society honors legislators, administrators and industrialists, who are directly credited for social progress. The The contribution of poets is very subtleSymbolic, and something abstract.
Not only countless poets, too We had a lot to celebrate today Not recognized in yourself own times. Ghalib died unpunished. Only 10 Emily Dickinsonwho 1,800 odd Poems were published during his lifetime. littlealso died in relative obscurity. Examples abound.
Today, the Internet is enabled Countless unknown poets To share your work widely. Although their poetry resonates with a global audience, Most of the time Be spontaneous.
Paradoxically, that is what being ‘unfamiliar’ means Gives poets the freedom to explore, criticize and provoke without the constraint of corporate liability. In doing so, they provide society with an ambiguous vision.
In conclusionBy capturing the beauty, pain, aspirations and complexities of human life; Poets hold up a mirror to society and a window into what it can become. They instill values, challenge injustice, and connect people across divides, fostering a consciousness that transcends the limitations of formal institutions.
In an era dominated by scientific and technological progress, the contribution of poets may seem less important, but their influence is inescapable. Because, while laws and policies govern behavior; It is poetry and literature that nurtures the conscience. Perhaps, law not only governs actions, but also guides the heart and mind. It is through this invisible but lasting influence that poets ‘legislate’ the world in their humble manner.
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