Mains Practice Questions

Ans.1.Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall. (1200 words)

Introduction:

In 1969, after years of effort, ISRO’s first experimental rocket launch from Thumba failed within seconds. For a newly independent nation struggling with poverty, this was a moment of despair. Yet, under the leadership of visionaries like Dr. Vikram Sarabhai and later Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, these failures became stepping stones to success, culminating in India’s reputation today as a global space power.

This journey illustrates a profound truth: setbacks are not the end of the road; they are catalysts for resilience and eventual glory. The essence of life and progress lies not in an illusion of perfection but in the courage to rise stronger after every fall.

Body:

• Philosophical Dimension
  • Aristotle: Defined virtue as the ability to act rightly amid adversity—greatness comes from habituated resilience, not error-free living.
  • John Stuart Mill: In his defense of liberty, argued that confronting errors strengthens truth; thus, failure sharpens moral and intellectual growth.
  • Sri Aurobindo: Spoke of evolution as a journey of ascent through trials, where each fall is part of a larger spiritual progress.
• Psychological & Individual Dimension
  • Albert Bandura’s self-efficacy theory: Confidence is built through overcoming challenges rather than avoiding them.
  • Victor Frankl (Holocaust survivor): Emphasised that meaning arises not from comfort but from how we endure suffering and rise beyond it.
    Example: Aspirants preparing for competitive exams often face repeated failures; yet resilience transforms setbacks into stepping stones.
• Social & Ethical Dimension
  • Jyotiba Phule and Savitribai Phule: Faced humiliation while advocating women’s education, but their persistence laid the foundation for modern social justice.
  • Martin Luther King Jr.: Jailed and vilified, yet his resilience fueled the American civil rights movement.
  • Ethical progress in society emerges when individuals and groups endure short-term defeats but rise with stronger conviction.
• Political Dimension
  • Nelson Mandela: Spent 27 years in prison; his rise thereafter unified South Africa and dismantled apartheid.
  • Indian democracy: Faced the “fall” of Emergency (1975–77), but rebounded with people’s mandate restoring constitutional freedoms.
  • Post-partition India: Amidst refugee crises and economic collapse, India rose to establish democratic institutions and a stable polity.
• Scientific & Technological Dimension
  • Marie Curie: Faced repeated experimental failures, gender bias, and poverty, yet her perseverance won two Nobel Prizes.
  • Wright Brothers: Dozens of failed attempts preceded the invention of powered flight, revolutionizing transport.
• Contemporary & Global Dimension
  • Covid-19 pandemic: Nations failed initially, but resilience through collaboration produced vaccines in record time.
  • Climate change: Humanity faltered in stewardship of nature, but renewable technologies and international agreements represent attempts to rise.
• Counter-Perspective
  • Mahatma Buddha: Taught the Middle Path—unnecessary suffering should be avoided; glory is not in falling recklessly but in mindful perseverance.
  • Certain failures (nuclear accidents, genocides, financial crashes) cause irreversible harm; foresight and prudence are essential.
  • Hence, while rising after falls is noble, responsible action to minimize avoidable falls is equally important.

Conclusion:

Resilience is the defining mark of greatness—whether of an individual confronting personal struggles, a society advancing reforms, or a nation rising from crises. To stumble is human, but to rise again is transformative. India’s history itself reflects this: from colonial subjugation to freedom, from poverty to progress, from failures in science to global recognition. As A.P.J. Abdul Kalam reminded the youth, “"If you fail, never give up because F.A.I.L. means 'First Attempt In Learning'".” True glory, therefore, lies not in being untouched by defeat, but in having the courage to transform every fall into a higher ascent.

Ans.2.Satisfaction lies in the effort, not in the attainment. Full effort is full victory. (1200 words)

Introduction:

In 1931, while addressing students in London, Mahatma Gandhi remarked that “Satisfaction lies in the effort, not in the attainment. Full effort is full victory.” For him, the journey of Satyagraha was not measured by immediate results but by the purity of means and tireless effort toward truth. History proved him right—India’s independence was not achieved in a single campaign but through decades of sustained effort, sacrifice, and resilience. The statement highlights that true success is not merely about outcomes, which may or may not be in our control, but about the integrity, consistency, and wholeheartedness of our efforts.

• Philosophical Dimension
  • Immanuel Kant: Moral worth lies in the intention and duty, not in the consequence—aligns with effort over attainment.
  • Bhagavad Gita: “Karmanye vadhikaraste ma phaleshu kadachana” — one is entitled to action, not to the fruits.
  • Swami Vivekananda: Emphasized relentless effort and service as victory itself, regardless of outcomes.
• Psychological & Individual Dimension
  • Self-Determination Theory (Deci & Ryan): Motivation and satisfaction come from intrinsic effort, not extrinsic rewards.
  • Abraham Maslow: Self-actualization arises from pursuing growth and effortful striving, not merely external attainment.
  • Other Examples: A student preparing for exams may fail initially, but the discipline and effort bring self-confidence and inner satisfaction.
• Social & Ethical Dimension
  • Jyotiba Phule and Savitribai Phule: They faced hostility but found fulfillment in their untiring efforts for education.
  • Mother Teresa: She did not “end” poverty, but found victory in her ceaseless service.
  • Ethics of Effort: Society progresses when people focus on duty-driven effort rather than immediate reward.
• Political Dimension
  • Mahatma Gandhi: His struggles often led to setbacks (e.g., suspension of Non-Cooperation), yet the moral victory lay in the purity of effort.
  • Democracy in India: Elections may bring alternating winners and losers, but the collective effort to uphold democratic institutions is the real triumph.
• Scientific & Technological Dimension
  • Marie Curie: Her painstaking experiments often failed, but the effort itself advanced science.
  • Research Culture: Scientific pursuit values rigorous effort and experimentation more than immediate discovery.
• Contemporary & Global Dimension
  • Climate change action: Immediate results are slow, but every effort—tree planting, renewable energy, global negotiations—counts as progress.
  • Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): May not all be attained by 2030, but the effort itself strengthens global cooperation.
• Counter-Perspective
  • Outcomes cannot be ignored: Soldiers’ effort is noble, but without strategic results, nations may suffer.
  • In governance, efficiency demands measurable results—effort alone cannot justify resource use.
  • Hence, while effort is a moral and personal victory, attainment is still necessary in certain pragmatic contexts.

Conclusion:

True satisfaction flows not from fleeting achievements but from the integrity of effort. Attainments are often beyond our control, shaped by circumstances, chance, and time. But effort—honest, full, and wholehearted—remains in our hands, shaping both our character and our destiny. As A.P.J. Abdul Kalam reminded the youth: “Dreams transform into thoughts, and thoughts into action.” Even if dreams are not fully attained, the striving itself is transformative. Thus, full effort is indeed full victory, for it dignifies both success and failure and ensures that the journey itself is as meaningful as the destination.