Essay: December 2022 UPSC Current Affairs | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly PDF Download

History is the Series of Victories Won by the Scientific Man Over the Romantic Man

• Romantic man is an individual who is a dreamer. He has a lot of feelings, idealism, and imagination. A romantic man is filled with hope, faith, and feelings. A romantic man goes through with his faith. He trusts in divine foresight. When it comes to scientific man, the quality outcomes are logic, reality, concentrated approach, being driven by a purpose, having a strategy and plan, and a clear-cut procedure. A scientific man tackles challenges of life with a clinical mindset. A scientific man lives his life objectively. He is reliant on careful foresight and planning.
• History always remembers winners not losers and the right strategy always wins. Strategy is the fundamental characteristic of a scientific man rather than a romantic man. This is the reason why history is a series of victories won by the scientific man. However, there are several individuals within one person.
• Different circumstances of life reveal the different characteristics of the same person or in other words we can say that the same individual has several faces. It is time or circumstances which reveal these secrets in front of society. Scientific man and romantic man are the two faces of the same individual which reflect in society as per the requirement of different circumstances. When an individual is doing something with a clinical approach or with a scientific mindset the probability of being successful will be very high as compared to a romantic approach. When it comes to the purpose of life rationality, strategy and planning are the most fundamental and vital requirements for success.
• A romantic guy is a man with happiness, which is also extremely important to live a pleasant life. Aristotle was one of the greatest philosophers and scientists the world has ever seen. While Aristotle understood ultimate truth as physical objects that could only be known via the five senses, Plato thought that reality lived in ideas and could only be known through contemplation and inspiration.
• Raja Ram Mohan Roy emphasized rationalism and a contemporary scientific approach and was heavily inspired by western modern philosophy. The period of enlightenment and liberal reformist modernization in India was ushered in by Raja Ram Mohan Roy, the relentless social reformer known as the "Father of Modern India's Renaissance." According to him, sati violates all social and human emotions and is a sign that a race's moral standards have fallen. He considered that rather than working to improve societal conditions, religious orthodoxies were then causing harm to society, harming social interactions, and causing individuals problems and confusion.
• During the post-Vedic period, the caste system was romanticized too much. It is too widespread in today's society as well. In the post Vedic period, the caste system was based on birth. This is a highly irrational system. The persons who raised the voice against the caste system are considered to have done an act based on human rationality and history remembers them. Such as B.R Ambedkar, Jyotiba Phule and Kabir etc. They believed in the social equality of all human beings and thus were a strong opposer of the caste system.
• Krishna’s philosophy of Karma in Bhagwat Geeta is a highly rational kind of approach in which Krishna says karma is the act which is devoid of worldly attachment. He advised that struggle is the fundamental element of life, and a Warrier must fight against all hurdles that come in life. In the purpose of life, the biggest hurdle is the human emotion. Because decision making is the most important aspect of life and if decision making is done under the influence of any kind of emotions, then the probability of making a wrong decision remains very high. Such kind of great knowledge enshrined in Bhagwat Geeta by Krishna. This is the reason why Krishna is the shining sun of Indian religious history.
• One of India's most well-known social reformers and a highly regarded disciple of Mahatma Gandhi was Vinoba Bhave. He was a staunch supporter of egalitarian society. To establish equality in society and to eradicate inequality and poverty he started the Bhoodan Yojana i.e., Land-Gift Movement. A rational mind or scientific man can only think about bringing equality in society irrespective of their caste and a romantic man feels proud about his casteist superiority over others or he may suffer from casteist inferiority if belong to a depressed class.
• Religion and associated sentiments basically fall in the category of belief and faith which is basically a romanticization of human feeling. But in census 2011 it has been reflected that the number of persons who identified themselves as having "no religion" has increased by more than 300% since the previous census, which was conducted in 2001. People are following religion and its customs blindly but census 2011 reveals that people are moving away from any kind of concept which forces them to follow something blindly. Thus, rationality is growing in the conscience of society.
• Rationalism and scientific temperament have been part of the Indian tradition since at least 6^th century BC. Ajita Kesakambalin, contemporary of the Buddha, was the earliest known teacher of complete materialism who stripped any spiritual pursuit in life.
• The Constitution of India is a rational document which imposes on the government to govern the nation with rational approach. The Indian constitution is enshrined with Article 51A (H) which encourages citizens to "develop the scientific temper, humanism, and the spirit of inquiry and change." Hence the Constitution is also promoting rationalism and scientism. Scientism is the belief that science and the scientific method are the best means of determining the truth about the universe and reality.
• Romanticism is a literary and artistic movement that began in the late 18^th century and emphasized inspiration, subjectivity, and the primacy of the person. Romanticism was both a response to rationality and a product of societal developments. Rationality gained popularity, and more individuals began to challenge the belief that human nature was based on rationalism. Rationalism is a certain perspective on how the world works, what we can learn from it, and what people are really like. The underlying principle is that only your intellect can be trusted; your senses cannot. Thus, Romanticism is essentially a thing of the heart and has to do with thinking out of emotion, whereas rationalism is what is actually happening intellectually or the actuality of anything.

The Time to Repair a Roof is when The Sun is Shining

• The right way to live life is to prepare yourself for the odds before it knocks on your door. The time to repair a roof is when the sun is shining revealing these secrets. If we have the savings for our health, education and other expenditures then the impact of circumstances like the Covid-19 will be managed more precisely. India could handle well the covid -19 pandemic due to its early investments in the health infrastructure. 
• India had to reflect on its plight on a number of instances when times were tough. The Indian economy and its many sectors such as manufacturing, services, and agriculture, as well as other areas such as defense have all suffered significant setbacks in the past. Learning from prior failures improves experiences and leads to multidimensional progress. Globalization brings itself more progressive ideas and ways of life. Society and the economy are both impacted by this progressive way of life. 
• It changes society from inside and outside both. This change reflected in the empowerment of the women. As the women getting empowered, they are being aware of their rights and duties. More women are now enjoying the equitable opportunities they truly deserve as a result of the globalization of the market. They now have a number of alternatives and opportunities to enhance their working conditions. 
• The Indian Constitution's Preamble, Fundamental Rights, Fundamental Duties, and Directive Principles all explicitly state the importance of gender equality. In addition to guaranteeing women's equality, the Constitution gives the State the authority to implement policies that positively discriminate in favor of women. 
• Great social reformers in the past, such as Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Swami Vivekananda, Acharya Vinobha Bhave, and Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, among others, outlawed repugnant customs like sati and child marriage and tirelessly fought for the advancement of women in India. Article 14 guarantees the right to equality for women, whereas Articles 15(1) and 15(3) provide the state the authority to take affirmative action for women's empowerment.
• The economic history of India demonstrates that there have been several situations where tough circumstances have prompted India to weigh its alternatives. Independence sparked ideas of social, political, and economic freedom. The Indian government made the choice to build India's future on the strength of its heavy industry. 
• In 1950, India formed the Planning Commission to supervise all facets of planning, including resource allocation, implementation of the five-year plan, and plan review. The Indian economy has experienced numerous ups and downs during the past seven decades. The years of economic crisis in 1966, 1981, and 1991, as well as India's recovery from the crisis as the world's fastest-growing major economy, are among the significant turning points in India's economic history. The only way to prevent the recurrence of similar crises, India has to work diligently to restore its roof when the sun is shining.
• Following independence, India's economy remained mostly agrarian for a long time. Any robust economy is built on its foundation of the industrial sector. The productivity and production were incredibly poor. Technology was not advanced and lagged behind. Only the cotton and jute industries were well-established at that point of time. 
• The country's infrastructure has to be improved as one of the first conditions for economic growth. Today, it is close to Rs 150 lakh crore. India, formerly referred to as a "third world country," today ranks among the world's largest economies. This journey of India from Rs 2.7 lakh crore to 150 lakh crore GDP reflects that India has tried a lot to repair its roof when the sun is shining by utilizing appropriate opportunity at right and right time.
• When India became independent in 1947, the colonial military of British India became the armed forces of independent India. The Indian Military was split equally between India and Pakistan as a result of the division of India. After World War II, a substantial demobilization campaign resulted in the discharge of the vast majority of the 1.25 million wartime troops and the dissolution of their regiments. 
• Three wars between India and Pakistan 1947–1948, 1965, and 1971 were huge setbacks for India's security. During these set back India fought very precisely and when the war was over the introspection revealed that the army should be modernized and enlarged. India appears to be modernizing its nuclear and military capabilities. Nuclear deterrence and no first attack are India's publicly stated policies. 
• However, as seen by its modernization efforts, particularly its ballistic missile program, India is eager to bring all of China within striking range. India's nuclear arsenal is the seventh largest in the world. These are the few steps India is doing to fix its roof so it can protect itself from any external aggression or war.
• The share of agriculture in employment declined from about 82% in 1950/51 to about 72 percent by 2001. During the same duration, the share of agriculture in total GDP also declined from approximately 54% in 1950/51 to 24% by 2001. This shift is basically indicating that dependability on agriculture for employment is reducing because the industrial sector is providing employment to the agricultural laborer as an industrial worker. 
• India transformed from a country with a food scarcity to one of the top agricultural producers in the world. This was made possible by the Green Revolution. The green revolution was launched during the second Five Year Plan to address India's food deficit problem.
• Due to its geoclimatic characteristics, India is one of the countries that is most susceptible to natural disasters. Therefore, international cooperation in this field is necessary for the effective management of disasters both within and outside of India's boundaries. At the Glasgow climate summit, the Indian government unveiled the Infrastructure for Resilient Island States (IRIS) program. 
• IRIS uses satellite-based modeling and information systems to help Small Island Developing States to strengthen their technological and institutional capability in order to anticipate, avoid, and reduce the loss and damage brought on by catastrophes. This is a result of the rising understanding that institutional preparedness is essential for successfully managing disasters as a result of prior disaster experiences. 
• Disaster management is increasingly viewed as a process that includes analyzing threats, strengthening community ability, and lowering identified risks through disaster-resistant infrastructure and preparation at all levels.
• Remote sensing technology is playing a key role in disaster management. Satellite imaginary imbanded with huge geological, meteorological and climatic and information which is being used in scientific work and other research and developments. ISRO is the organization which took the initiative to launch the satellite to propagate the new dimension for research and development. 
• Satellite imaginary and data are prominently being used by researchers to estimate the change in land use land cover, Loss of biodiversity air pollution, ground water table etc., The Indian space program was started by Dr. Vikram Sarabhai. India's first satellite, Aryabhata, was launched on April 19, 1975.
• Just three years after India's independence, the Indian Institute of Technology was established in 1950. The effects of globalization are being felt in the Indian society as changes are being accumulated in it. Both the economy as a whole and every sphere of society were affected by globalization. Despite the fact that science has long been a part of a worldwide community, the science and technology (S&T) sector of the twenty-first century is more geographically dispersed, more networked, and more dynamic than ever. 
• In its first five-year plan following independence, India placed a high priority on scientific research. Preeminent scientific institutions like the IITs and IISC were made possible by it. These organizations supported research in India by working with overseas organizations.
• Since India's independence, both the installed power generating capacity and the transmission and distribution infrastructure have expanded significantly. The nation's total power-producing capacity has increased, rising from a meagre 1362 MW in 1947 to 448.11 GW by the end of March 2020. Coal based fire plants are the primary source for energy production. Issues with pollution and the disposal of the sizeable amount of ash from coal-based power plants, which form the backbone of India's electricity generation, are being resolved by using strategies to encourage environmentally friendly power development. 
• In order to address concerns with pollution and the disposal of the sizeable amount of ash from coal-based power plants, which are India's main source of energy generation, efforts are being enhanced to encourage environmentally friendly power generation. To lessen the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, the NTPC and other Central Power Sector Undertakings are creating a Special Purpose Vehicle.
• Long term objectives of India include an overall development of industrial, agricultural and services sectors. Modernization based on rural development, industrial development, Infrastructure, raw material supply etc. will sustain the overall economic development for a long time. Thus, in this way we can say that the government has repaired the roof for the development of the entire economy. It will be helpful in resolving all types of existential financial concerns.

A Ship in Harbor is Safe, But That is Not What Ship is For

• Every person's life is like a vessel that carries them through the ups and downs of life with a few hopes or a sense of hopelessness. Because salvation is the ultimate goal of human existence, much as how a ship sinks to reach its shoreline, salvation is the objective of life.
• The undiscovered existence is comparable to a ship that is berthed on the shore and never exposed to the sea's waves. The docking station may represent a desk at a job you've had for a while but haven't advanced in, or it may resemble someone who prevents your advancement. One of the most incredible journeys that a person must go through in all aspects of life is their work, adulthood, and lifestyle. Even while certain things are known only to humans, others may be known or unknown to anybody, we nonetheless manage to get comfortable and transform our Maybe’s into Later’s into Never’s. 
• Although change is unavoidable, our purpose cannot be denied, and when we allow that purpose to develop, even if it means altering our habits, we can only fully appreciate who we truly are. It's time, in my opinion, to make a shift, to let go of all moorings and explore the area beyond the horizon, or at the very least farther away from the water.
• Fear is among the most fundamental human emotions. This emotion is attached with each and every aspect of life. Fear of losing someone is a very special kind of fear which always running in our mind. Fear functions like an instinct since it is wired into the neural system. We have innate survival instincts that allow us to scream in horror at the first sign of danger or unease. Fear and danger both live together. Fear is proliferating in companion with danger. Fear of failure several times stopped us from making decisions. A ship cannot be docked at harbor just because of the fear of sinking.
  “The secret for harvesting from existence the greatest fruitfulness and the greatest enjoyment is to live dangerously”
  Friedrich Nietzsche
• Taking risks in life is a form of success in itself, because you might either succeed or have a more rewarding experience. Experience always comes through the path of self-explanation i.e., getting experience is pretty self-explanatory in itself. First you try to explain all kinds of expected consequences of taking danger. Facing danger is just like the ship trying to tackle and manage itself in the ups and downs of the ocean. A ship may be secure in a port, but if you needed security, you should construct a castle rather than a ship.
• Ships at port are almost worthless. They run into danger after they leave the port. A ship is designed to navigate the oceans, break through waves, endure bad weather, and go to far-off locations to achieve its purpose. Ships are designed to travel, whether it's to trade products, win over the locals, or unleash a nation's wrath.
• Taking a calculated risk is a fundamental requirement of human existence. If you want to survive It is necessary to take risks in life. Sometimes the circumstances go out of our control. In such circumstances maintaining peace of mind is the biggest challenge in front of us. Strategy always wins. A full proof strategy can only be made with a calm mind. Risk and danger always teach us how to manage our mental peace and calm and perform in our best way in the circumstances of hardship.
  If You're Going Through Hell, Keep Going
  Winston Churchill
• Adversity can sometimes seem like hell and get worse, but we should not lose hope and keep exploring. Everybody encounters adversity at some time in their lives. You experience it in an unusual and unanticipated way. Adversity is how we develop and learn, even if it is unpleasant and chaotic. Adversity makes man stronger and mature. It might be hard to see how a crisis can finally result in development when it is happening in the heat of the moment. Adversity can help you persist in the face of present stress.
• Adversity is the ability to recover from hardship and learn from the experience. It did not come to bow down on us, but it tries to raise us at newer heights. While difficulties are painful, they may also bring out the best in us. Light always comes through intense darkness so whenever life goes through darkness, we should intensify our efforts and be self-motivated. Investors must educate themselves and comprehend the fundamental causes of miseries if we are willing to put an end to the suffering in the world. They may suffer losses and be unhappy as a result of any ignorance on their part.
• Our nation got freedom from the rule of the British empire in 1947. This tremendous achievement is the result of struggle and hardship faced by our freedom fighters. Bhagat Singh, Chandra Shekhar Azad and several others have sacrificed their lives. Struggle culminates in big success and struggle in itself is a big success.
• Struggle of Prince Siddhartha with himself makes them Bhagavan Buddha. Risk, Danger and Struggle are the indispensable part of life. Facing and struggling in life is not a danger or risk but avoiding or running away from struggle is risky and dangerous. It destroys the entire life of the people because this kind of mental tendency makes the individual feel comfortable but in actuality it acts like a sweet poison and destroys the individual gradually and the individual is not able to recognize his process of destruction.
• In 1991 the Indian economy was going through a severe Balance of Payment crisis because of the very fast decline of India's forex reserves. This decline in forex reserve was basically due to high current account deficit. The economy at that point of time was struggling and the government of India came with LPG (Liberalization, Privatization and Globalization). The implementation of this reform changed the scenario of the entire Indian economy and now the Indian economy became the world's fastest and 5th largest economy.
“Ignorance is the mother of all the evil and all the misery we see. Let men have light, let them be pure and spiritually strong and educated, then alone will misery cease in the world, not before. We may convert every house in the country into a charity asylum, we may fill the land with hospitals, but the misery of man will still continue to exist until man's character changes.”
Swami Vivekananda