UPSC Mains 2023 · GS IV · Q3(c) · 10 marks · 150 words

Given below are three quotations of great thinkers. What do each of these quotations convey to you in the present context ? “Do not hate anybody, because that hatred that comes out from you must, in the long run, come back to you. If you love, that love will come back to you, completing the circle.” — Swami Vivekananda

हिन्दी में

महान विचारकों के तीन उद्धरण नीचे दिए गए हैं । वर्तमान संदर्भ में प्रत्येक उद्धरण आपको क्या संप्रेषित करता है ? “किसी से घृणा मत कीजिए, क्योंकि जो घृणा आपसे उत्पन्न होगी वह निश्चित ही एक अंतराल के बाद आप तक लौट आएगी । यदि आप प्रेम करेंगे, तो वह प्रेम चक्र को पूरा करता हुआ आप तक वापस आएगा ।” — स्वामी विवेकानंद

Empathy and Compassion Indian Thinkers

How a topper answered the closest question

Toppers wrote this one in a test series: “Given below are the three quotations of great thinkers. What do each of these quotations convey to you in the present context? a) "This life is short, the vanities of the world are transient, but they alone live who live for others, the rest are more dead than alive."-Swami Vivekanand”

A R RajahAIR 7 · CSE 2025 · 124 wordsTheir whole copy

Opening

Swami Vivekananda was a youth icon known for his discipline and 'Seva Bhav' principles of serving others. Holds [great] importance in the present context.

Body · points and prose

s that we live are short and thus need to be spent wisely.

(2) Worldly pleasures are non-important as nothing is taken to the grave.
(3) those who [serve] and [help] others are those that are truly [living life].
(4) Others are merely [Zombies] going after worldly pleasure. Holds [great] importance in the present context.

Present Context Relevance :-

(1) [Social Problems] - need to be countered with 'servitude' and helping attitude. Eg:- [NGOs] like Agaram foundation 'live' for others -> education of underprivileged.

(2) [Civil Services] - needs to weed out corruption culture. Eg :- [IAS Sagayam] -> serving others and living his life.

(3) [World Politics] - wars need to be stopped and humanitarianism to be upheld. Eg :- [UN-AID] helping Palestine.

(4) [Environment] - needs to be protected and served.

Eg :- Kattunayaka tribes - serving elephants. Thus, Gandhi's maxim of "lose yourself" in the service of others has to be followed.

5 more toppers’ answers to this question, part by part, and how they all approached it: open the question.

Toppers’ answers to other close questions

Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Main) Examination 2023, General Studies Paper IV, Q3(c). The paper on upsc.gov.in. Themes and links to toppers’ answers are by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.