Mains Practice Questions

1. The pursuit of equality often starts with the acknowledgment of difference.

Quotes to Enrich Your Essay:

• Dr. B.R. Ambedkar: "Equality may be a fiction but nonetheless one must accept it as a governing principle."
• Mahatma Gandhi: "The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others." (on addressing inequality through empathy and service).
• Nelson Mandela: "I am not truly free if I am taking away someone else's freedom”

Theoretical and Philosophical Dimensions:

• Rawls’ Theory of Justice: Advocates for fairness by considering inequalities and distributing resources to benefit the least advantaged.
• Intersectionality (Kimberlé Crenshaw): Highlights how overlapping social categorizations like race, gender, and class contribute to systemic oppression and inequality.
• Philosophical Linkages: The Indian concept of Sarvodaya (welfare of all) begins with Antyodaya (uplifting the weakest).
• Policy Examples: Constitution of India, Article 15: Prohibition of discrimination on the grounds of religion, race, caste, sex, or place of birth.
  • Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 10): Reduce inequality within and among countries by addressing systemic disparities.

Contemporary Examples:

• LGBTQ+ Rights Movement: Recognition of sexual and gender diversity has led to legal reforms, such as the decriminalization of homosexuality in India (Section 377 judgment).
• Reservation Policies in India: Caste and socioeconomic disparities acknowledged through affirmative action programs.
• Differently-Abled Inclusion: The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities emphasizes acknowledging physical and cognitive differences for achieving equality.
• Global Black Lives Matter Movement: Acknowledging systemic racism in police practices and social structures.

2. In the desert of apathy, even a drop of compassion is an oasis.

Quotes to Enrich Your Essay:

• Dalai Lama: "Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible."
• Mother Teresa: "Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love."
• Mahatma Gandhi: "The simplest acts of kindness are by far more powerful than a thousand heads bowing in prayer."

Theoretical and Philosophical Dimensions:

• Ubuntu Philosophy: “I am because we are” emphasizes interconnectedness and collective compassion in countering apathy.
• Buddhism: The concept of Karuna (compassion) is central to alleviating human suffering and promoting harmony.
• Kantian Ethics: Encourages treating every individual as an end, rather than a means, rooted in empathy and compassion.

Contemporary Examples:

• Malala Yousafzai’s Advocacy for Girls’ Education: Compassion for marginalized girls in conflict zones has inspired global change.
• Sonu Sood's COVID-19 Work: Helped stranded migrant workers, showing how small compassionate acts can alleviate apathy.
• Greta Thunberg and Environmental Advocacy: Compassion for future generations drives her relentless activism against climate inaction.