Strategy for History as an Optional in UPSC IAS Mains Exam.. History has caught the imagination of a good number of candidates preparing for the Civil Service Examination over the years. The subject is plain, involves no typical theories, doctrines, principles and ideas and on the balance is devoid of technicalities. A vast majority of candidates choose history as their optional paper. The reason for the high popularity of history is due to the lucidity in the syllabus and the myth about its score-friendliness. However, the aspiring candidates must know that not a general score in between 270 and 300 but only a specific score of 330 plus in any subjects including history can guarantee them success. Scholars must internalize the latest approach to the study of history, which demands a correlation between the past and the present.The same phenomenon of a correlation between the past and the present applies to the context of Indian history as well. The foreign policy of Ashoka one can get the reflection of the doctrine of Punchsheel which worked as the cornerstone of India’s foreign policy in the post-independence era. In fact, the foreign policy of India has been guided by two different lines: Buddhist approach and Kautilyan opportunism. But when we observe minutely we find that the first appears more decisive than the second one. Furthermore, a scrutiny of the origin of Hinduism reveals that temple cult and idol-worship have marked the quintessence of Hinduism. In one sense the fundamental nature of Hinduism was crystallized during the Guptan Age, which had seen the assimilation between Aryan and non-Aryan elements that led to a valorization of culture over religion. As a result, Hinduism became a way of life: culture rather than a rigid set of orthodox beliefs. A similar consideration merits attention in the assessment of the role of English in the emergence of modern India. The introduction of English education was guided solely by colonial interest but it inadvertently produced some positive impact as well: inculcated liberalism and nationalism in the minds of the educated Indians. The current, spectacular successes in computer software could not have been possible without the positive impact of English education introduced by Macaulay in the nineteenth century. The nineteenth century is supposed to have ushered India in the modern age, primarily because of the movement for socio-religious reforms which, however, suffered from some such weaknesses which still have a bearing on the contemporary Indian society. In order to secure good marks in history one needs to develop a comparative approach in analyzing things by keeping an eye over the subtle relationship between the past and the present. While answering a question, students are generally much particular about vomiting the information—facts and figures—which they have so assiduously collected, but they must remember that they are not supposed to behave like news reporters. Instead, they need to cultivate an analytical approach to prove their point of view, for facts and figures merely help in validating the ideas. The real thing that clinches the issue for them in an examination situation is the comparatist-analytical line of writing that draws on the correlation between the past and the present. This approach contributes significantly towards bringing the answer up to the desired standard. A very simple looking but indispensably essential thing, that is to say, catching the right spirit of the questions asked is also highly important. Whenever we go through the question paper(s) of the Main Exam, we underline the difference in the nature of the questions. The examples make the point crystal clear: 1. Personality-based questions: “Evaluate the achievements of Ashoka.” 2. Question based on state boundary and political structure: “Throw light on the expansion of the Mauryan Empire.” 3. Administration-related question: “Clarify the important aspects of Mansabdari system. Why did weaknesses appear in this system in course of time?” 4. Question based on socio-economic system: “Comment on economic and social life during the Guptan period.” 5. Questions based on cultural artifacts such as religion, art and literature: (i) “Throw light on the development of literature during the Mughal period.” (ii) “Focus on the features of architecture during the period of Akbar. What sorts of changes can one underline in the architecture under Shahjahan? Now on the basis of one or two examples we need to be also clear about the difference between general (non-comparatist) and specific (comparatist) writing. 1. We will evaluate the achievements of Ashoka in different spheres. While stating the achievements of Ashoka in each sphere, we should clarify the ways in which the achievements are specific in comparison to his predecessors and the subsequent rulers. For example, he gave up the policy of military conquest adopted by his predecessors even as he maintained the largest Empire in the Indian sub-continent during his life time without the use of force. Likewise, in foreign affairs he started an innovative policy. Before him the decisive factor in foreign policy was military power as well as martial alliance based on the policy of opportunism professed by Kautilya. Ashoka replaced it with a policy of “live and let live” which emphasized on peaceful co-existence. 2. More specifically, we can underline the significance of his policy and work in the context of our own contemporary time. For example, Ashoka’s sensitivity to man, beast and environment must be evaluated with a gloss of our own concerns for human rights and ecological balance. Similarly, his foreign policy calls for an assessment in light of the doctrine of Punchsheel adopted in the Nehruvian era. 3. Since there is the use of the term “evaluation,” so we should remember that we have to be critical in our appraisal, especially if some of the policies had backfired. For example, we can mention that Ashoka’s policy of peaceful co-existence does not appear much successful as within the fifty years of his death the Empire he had raised shattered to pieces. But still the success of Ashoka lies in the fact that at both the domestic and foreign fronts he had adopted innovative policies. For the last two thousand and four hundred years the world has immensely progressed materially but morally it has failed to traverse the path paved by Ashoka.
Posted on: Sat, 29 Jun 2013 10:19:48 +0000
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