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  • Indian Political Thought: Dharmashastra, Arthashastra, and Buddhist Traditions; Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, Sri Aurobindo, M.K. Gandhi, B.R. Ambedkar, M.N. Roy

    • Explain the sources of ancient Indian political thought.
    • Dharmashastra
      • Dharmashastra presents a duty-centric worldview for individuals and communities. Comment.
      • Examine the significance of Dharma in ancient Indian political thought.
      • Compare and contrast Dharmashastra and Arthashastra with reference to State power.
      • Comment: Four Purusharthas in Indian tradition.
      • Comment: The main political ideas contained in the Manusmriti.
    • Arthashastra
      • Discuss Kautilya’s views on the elements of the State.
      • What do you understand by the notion of Statecraft? Discuss the theory of statecraft as given by Kautilya.
      • Compare and contrast the views of Kautilya and Machiavelli on Statecraft.
      • Analyse, as per Kautilya, the Saptanga theory of the state.
      • Compare and contrast Kautilya and Machiavelli on statecraft.
      • Comment: “In the happiness of his subjects lies the king’s happiness; in their welfare his welfare.” (Kautilya)
      • Critically examine the ‘Sapta Prakriti’, of state as envisaged by Kautilya.
      • Comment: “Of those (officers) the ways of embezzlement are forty.”
      • Comment: Mandal theory.
      • Comment: “Rulership can be successfully carried out (only) with the help of associates: one wheel alone does not turn." (Kautilya)
      • Comment: “Material well-being alone is supreme. For, spiritual good and sensual pleasures depend upon material well-being.” (Kautilya)
    • Buddhist Tradition
      • Buddhist thought on Dhamma facilitates the emancipation of political action. Explain.
      • Do you think that the Buddhist traditions have lent greater ethical foundation to the ancient Indian political thought? Give your arguments.
      • Evaluate the contributions of Buddhist tradition to Indian political thought.
      • Write a note on the Buddhist tradition in Indian political thought.
    • Thinkers of Indian Political Thought
    • M.N. Roy
      • Manabendra Nath Roy's political thought highlighted the humanistic aspects of Marxism. Discuss.
      • Comment on the Marxist and Radical Humanist phases of M. N. Roy’s thought.
      • Comment on Radical Humanism.
      • Analyse M.N. Roy’s ideational journey from Marxism to Radical Humanism.
      • What are the major components of Modern Indian Political Thought? Examine them with reference to Gandhi and M.N. Roy.
    • M.K.Gandhi
      • Comment: M.K. Gandhi's concept of Swaraj.
      • Examine Gandhi’s critique of ‘Modernisation’.
      • Comment in 150 words: Gandhi’s Views on state.
      • Examine the Gandhian idea of village community as an ideal unit of self-governance.
      • Comment: “Real rights are a result of performance of duty”. (Mahatma Gandhi)
      • Explain Gandhi’s ideas regarding State and highlight their relationship with modern democracy and principles of anarchism.
      • Comment: Gandhi’s concept of Truth and Non-violence. Why was he opposed to modern civilisation?
      • Comment: "The true source of right is duty. If we all discharge our duties, rights will not be far to seek.” (M. K. Gandhi)
      • Comment: Validity of the statement that most prominent among Gandhian principles are non-violence, adherence to truth and dignity of labour.
    • Ambedkar अम्बेडकर
      • Dr. Ambedkar's clarion call, “Educate, Agitate and Organize", strategizes the Dalit movement towards achieving civil liberty. Discuss.
      • Dr. Ambedkar’s idea of social justice leads to ‘egalitarian justice’ as compared to Rawls’ justice as fairness’ which aims at the notion of ‘pure procedural justice’. Comment.
      • Ambedkar's ideas on constitutionalism.
      • Discuss Ambedkar’s ideas on ‘annihilation of caste’.
      • Political democracy could not last unless social democracy lay at its base – B. R. Ambedkar. Comment.
      • Comment: Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s idea of state socialism.
      • Comment on views of Gandhi and Ambedkar on ‘social justice’.
      • Comment: Ambedkar’s Concept of Social justice.
    • Aurobindo Ghosh
      • Sri Aurobindo's idea of Swaraj has deep significance in the Indian social, political and cultural history. Analyze.
      • According to Sri Aurobindo, Swaraj is a necessary condition for India to accomplish its destined goal. Comment. (150 words)
      • Discuss Shri Aurobindo’s views on Culture Nationalism.
      • “Nationalism is not a mere political programme but a way of life like religion.” (Aurobindo Ghose)
      • Sri Aurobindo’s “idea of freedom”
      • Comment: Spiritual nationalism of Aurobindo Ghosh.
    • Sir Syed Ahmed Khan
      • "When a nation becomes devoid of arts and learning, it invites poverty." (Sir Syed Ahmad Khan). In the light of this statement, assess the role of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan as a reformer in modern India.
      • Syed Ahmed Khan as a modernizer
    • “India has thrown up a form of judicial democracy that has no parallel anywhere else, and has nurtured a kind of civil society that is uniquely its own.” (Bhikhu Parekh)
  1. PYQs and Practice Questions
  2. UPSC Optionals
  3. PSIR Optional
  4. Indian Political Thought: Dharmashastra, Arthashastra, and Buddhist Traditions; Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, Sri Aurobindo, M.K. Gandhi, B.R. Ambedkar, M.N. Roy
  5. M.N. Roy

Manabendra Nath Roy's political thought highlighted the humanistic aspects of Marxism. Discuss. (UPSC 2024, 15 Marks, )

मानवेन्द्रनाथ रॉय ने अपने राजनीतिक विचारों में मार्क्सवाद के मानवतावादी पहलुओं को विशिष्ट रूप से दर्शाया है। विवेचना कीजिए।
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Comment on the Marxist and Radical Humanist phases of M. N. Roy’s thought. (UPSC 2012, 15 Marks, )

एम.एन. रॉय के विचार के मार्क्सवादी और कट्टरपंथी मानवतावादी चरणों पर टिप्पणी करें।
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Comment on Radical Humanism. (UPSC 2009, 20 Marks, )

कट्टरपंथी मानवतावाद पर टिप्पणी करें।
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Analyse M.N. Roy’s ideational journey from Marxism to Radical Humanism. (UPSC 2002, 60 Marks, )

एम.एन. रॉय की मार्क्सवाद से कट्टरपंथी मानवतावाद तक की वैचारिक यात्रा का विश्लेषण करें।
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What are the major components of Modern Indian Political Thought? Examine them with reference to Gandhi and M.N. Roy. (UPSC 2001, 60 Marks, )

आधुनिक भारतीय राजनीतिक चिंतन के प्रमुख घटक क्या हैं? गांधी और एम.एन. रॉय के संदर्भ में उनका परीक्षण कीजिए।
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Introduction
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