Essay: Test Series

IAS 2019
ESSAY
TEST SERIES
By: MANOJ K. JHA
TEST: 4
www.iasscore.in
ESSAY Test - 4
ESSAY TEST SERIES 2019

Roll No.___________________________
Time Allowed: 1½ hrs. Max. Marks: 125
Instructions to Candidate Remarks
• Attempt one essay
• The test carries 125 marks.
• Write the essay in about 1000-1200 words.
• Any page left blank in the answer-book must

be crossed out clearly.
(Examiner will pay special attention to the

candidate's grasp of his/her material, its
relevance to the subject chosen, and to his/
her ability to think constructively and to
present his/her ideas concisely, logically and
effectively).
Name ___________________________________
Mobile No._______________________________
Date ____________________________________
Signature ________________________________
1. Invigilator Signature ___________________
2. Invigilator Signature ___________________

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1. When one has to think, why not think big

2. Prayers come in variety of ways--- Help me! Enlighten me! Emancipate me!
Thank you.
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Hints: Essay Test - 4

1. When one has to think, why not think big
• Think little goals and expect little achievements. Think big goals and win big success.
- David Joseph Schwartz
• It takes the same effort to think small than to think big. But to think big frees you from the
insignificant details. - Jorge Paulo Lemann
• For me, the winning strategy in any start-up business is, 'Think big but start small.'
- Carmen Busquets
• I think big business is a terrible thing for the spirit of the country, as our spirit is the best thing
about us. - Kurt Vonnegut
• "Think big or die small!!!" - Stephen Richards
Approach
The essay is open ended as thinking of a human being can fly to any height and can take any shape.
Although "thinking big" may go into negative direction, generally when we say "think big" we mean
thinking creatively, positively and meaningfully. The key themes which should be analyzed in the
essay is importance of thinking and also understanding how "thinking" should not be limited by
"givens" of our lives such as "means", "resources", "support systems available" and present constraints
such as poverty, penury, or other adverse conditions. Thinking decides our action, action determines
our destination. If we think big and think positively, so do we plan and make strategy to act-and as
we move forward our constraints become dwarf and new means and possibilities emerge. Thinking
big also makes our resolve strong and means to our ends pure.
Thinking big is a very subjective issue and for each of us it has different connotation. The "starting
points" for all individuals have their own advantages and constraints and "thinking" or "thinking big"
is determined to a great extent by given situations from where we want to emerge. For a starving man,
hoping and managing bread is "thinking big". For a student, thinking beyond "marks" may be "thinking
big." For a political leader, thinking big may be thinking beyond winning elections.
Nevertheless, "thinking" is common to all those who want to outgrow their constraints and achieve
seemingly "impossible things". Thinking helps in discovering variety of approaches and strategies we
might not have thought of before, because we tend to come up with one or two good ideas and think
"that's it! I'm ready!", but giving fair amount of time to "thinking", helpsus go places our brain
wouldn't ordinarily go. Thinking gives chance to our imagination. And while imagining our dreams,
our possibilities in life and things which make us happy, we should not set limits to our thinking in
the beginning, because this shrinks the space of imagining "what is possible"? Synchronously our
hope, confidence, determination, will power and endurance are also crippled when we start limiting
our imagination.
Hints: Essay Test - 4 [1]

Introduction
Briefly describe what is meaning of big thinking and why one should think big.
What is meant by thinking big?
Does it mean entertaining the impossible and being unrealistic about the "means" and "goals" and our
"dreams" and "capabilities"? Yes, to some extent this means so. Being "realistic" and thinking first
about the "possible" is a right strategy, but those who have to excel in life have to challenge themselves
continuously by "raising the bar" with higher standards and benchmarks. But this should be a part of
a "vision card" which we make with the help of "thinking" beyond our constraints, i.e., "thinking big."
Thinking big is primarily thinking about things seemingly impossible from our starting points. Thus,
in the first instance, "thinking big" is thinking beyond our constraints and endowments at a particular
juncture of life.
The second connotation of thinking big is thinking beyond our own self. Self interest is the propelling
force for all the human beings to act in their life. But power and prosperity earned for self has limited
relevance for others-our neighborhood, countrymen or even world and sometimes pursuing our self
interest blindly may have adverse effects. We have to often become ruthless in the process. The
people, who think big, think beyond self. They think for humanity, maximum happiness for maximum
people and they think not about just winning their goals and dreams but making life better than what
they inherited, not just 'getting' their due or more than fair share from society, but about 'giving back'.
At psychological plain, "thinking big" is relentless pursuit of our dreams and goals, come what may,
not yielding to constraints and pressures, a "never say die approach", preparing our mind to endure
all difficulties for the noble goals and causes we set for ourselves and for society, for leading a
principled, ethical and moral life and for setting precedents for the present and future generations.
Mahatma Buddha rightly said "you become, what you think". Nevertheless thinking may be just a
starting or ignition point. Thinking big may turn to be day dreaming, if it is not followed by determined
action, unrelenting confidence, commitment, motivation and inspiration. In APJ Abdul Kalam's
words, "Dreams are not what we see when we sleep, but those which don't let us sleep". Mahatma
Gandhi said: "My life is my mission." There should be no gap in what we thing and what we do. The
gap between thinking and practice often leads to duality that is called hypocrisy.
Main Body
The following issues need to be explored to explain and analyse issues related to the central theme
in this essay:
• What is thinking big? What is its meaning and importance?
• Does everyone think big, if not why? What are the hindrances- poverty, penury, lack of support
systems, structural inequality and discrimination, existence of social and political barriers like
caste system, patriarchy, parochialism, nepotism etc which prevents an individual to think big
and explore her or his potential to the fullest?
• How thinking big can help society, nation and the world?
• How thinking big transformsones attitude towards life and world, its problems and possibilities,
self goals and betterment of life in general?
Conflict between romance and reality of big thinking

Thinking big is romantic at one level, but at the other level it has to confront realities.
[ 2 ] Hints: Essay Test - 4

Some believes that 'thinking big' means setting wild ambitious, stretching goals to inspire oneself to
greater heights. But, it is wrong notion, practically and feasibility of the goals set should be kept in
mind as efforts at right time and right direction is equally important to achieve the goal. Is there any
difference between thinking big and being utopian?
Thinking big is not an one up event-first, we chart a vision card for us by stretching our imagination
beyond all constraints by introspection, cool and calm thinking, setting goals and strategies etc. Later
on we divide our "big thinking" in small practical steps and phases (like mountaineers do by setting
base camp- 1,2,3… and finally conquering Mt. Everest) what Peter Drucker says "management by
objectives". When we move forward, there are many setbacks and impediments, "thinking big" keep
our motivation and inspiration tall amid adversities.
How thinking beyond constraints is thinking big?
• A leader can think beyond winning elections.
• Poor parents with modest means thinking to give quality education to their children.
• A businessman can think of making his company an innovating company or a Fortune 500
company.
• A sports personfrom a small place and limited means can think of winning Olympic medal.
• A social worker thinking to change regressive attitudes and mobilizing people for sustainable
development, justice and equality.
Self development and social causes

Thinking big is not just self development, but betterment of society at large. Certain questions can
arise due to this such as:
• Is it thinking for one's own; Can thinking of increasing material things, prosperity, name etc be
considered big?
• Isn't thinking of 'SarveBhavantuSukhinah, SarveSantuNiramaya' (happiness of all), thinking of
welfare of others through one's action thoughts of higher order?
Here a dialetic method of showing conflicts within thinking big and the real world can be shown.
Important questions like those of 'frog of well' who always thinks that whatever he thinks is big; how
the materialistic world and intense competition prevents an individual from thinking big can be raised.
What are the constraints in thinking and acting big?
There are socio-economic-political factors that impede thinking big. There are attitudinal issues. For
example, lack of self-belief and self-esteem, social barriers like caste system, patriarchy, economic
inabilities arising due to poverty, inequality, illiteracy and malnutrition etc.
Immediate needs and existentialist or survival instincts stop us to have a great vision and work for
noble goals. We are bound to take care of our self interest first; but there are ways we can come out
of the limitations of self interest. We can emancipate ourselves with the help of education, spiritualism
and positive mindset.
How to be righteous and ethical while pursuing our goals?
An important aspect of thinking big is to think how to set the right goals, right path and right actions.
Sometimes people get so much engaged in achieving big that they fail to monitor the sanctity of their
means or path to their goals, impact of their rat race on the common man and damages they do to

social institutions and belief patterns.There are many instances and examples- conflict between
means and goals, sustainable development vs. environmental degradation, corruption, nepotism versus
good governance and good citizenship etc. Thinking big is our natural right, but indifference or looking
down on others is not. We must care about institutions and people around us. Without this thinking
big is about individual's wild aspirations which has no relevance for others and society.
Conclusion
Here it must be shown that why big thinking is very much important for individual, nation, world
and how it should be promoted. Why it is a very good idea that energy must be invested in it? How
it can help in global peace, prosperity of all, humanism etc must be shown with examples. Examples
of Lord Buddha who gave new religion while thinking of all humanity, Mahatama Gandhi expanded
the scope of 'swarajya' by showing it as a means of controlling oneself can be used. But ultimately
thinking beyond constraints and untiring efforts to achieve our goals shows the determination and
courage. When a leader thinks for long term rather than for short term or elections, when a religious
leader thinks of whole humanity, when a commoner takes a value based stand (when a newspaper
distributer while distributing newspaper thinks that he is helping in spreading knowledge, removing
ignorance) he thinks big and all these are going to bring vigour in efforts.
2. Prayers come in variety of ways--- Help me! Enlighten me! Emancipate
me! Thank you.
Approach
This kind of essay comes under the domain of philosophical essays. The meaning and purpose
of prayer is broad and diverse. It can be tricky while writing. So, a caution should be followed
while selecting these kinds of essays.
Introduction
In common parlance, prayer is asking "something", or a favour, from a superior authority. The
purpose of prayer may be to find solace from adversity and pain, to seek support, to seek wisdom
and knowledge, to seek spiritual uplift or just to express gratitude to living and inanimate
surrounding around us. Generally, prayer is addressed to God, the supreme power, the creator
and the operator of the universe. There are people who believe in the grand design of the
Universe led by God. There are others who do not believe in heaven and hell, they just believe
in present life and karmas, present socialorder and in humanity. But prayer is practice by all for
different reasons.
In this essay, we should be able to interlink various aspects like meaning of prayer, variety of
reasons for prayer, its importance, its emancipator and transforming experience, its good vibes
for self and society and generating a symphony and harmony in life rather than conflict and
contradictions. How does a theist take a prayer; how does an atheist take a prayer; and how the
Sufi tradition sees prayer? Is prayer possible without religion and rituals? It also needs to be
analysed whether prayer is done out of fear of death and adversity or it is a spiritual act for
transforming and emancipator experience? Is it worth doing prayer? Why? What is its importance?
Main Body
• What is the meaning of the topic and the central theme?
• Here the understanding of these verbs is necessary to write a good essay. 'To help' means to
make it easier or possible to do something by offering them resources. 'To enlighten' means to
give greater knowledge or understanding about a subject or situation. 'To emancipate' means to
set free from restrictions. 'Thank you' simply means gratitude.

• All religion teaches us to pray to God. Irrespective of our race, religion, caste and creed, we all
offer prayers to the ultimate reality on Earth i.e. God. We pray at different times, different
situations and different places. We pray for various reasons. Sometimes we pray Him to forgive
our sins or to bestow His blessings on us or simply to say thanks at times.
• Prayer connects us to the ubiquitous God. This acts as a meditating mechanism for us. It cleanses
our mind. It also acts as a ventilation mechanism wherein we are able to vent out our angst and
anxiety. It purifies our thinking process. By reflecting on our actions, we are able to rectify them
in future or take corrective course if required.
Different kinds of prayers
Is prayer an application or request to a superior authority or persons who have power and
wealth for help? Is prayer is done by a slave or inferior being to a master or superior being? Is
prayer always fro getting material or tangible benefits or it is a spiritual and emancipator
experience?
Help me!
Prayers do come in a variety of ways. Some people ask Him to help him to overcome the
challenge. They ask Him to give him desired resources to tide through the difficult times. E.g. a
student preparing for civil services praying to God to help him learn the whole syllabus while
he is busy wasting his time on unnecessary things.
This kind of prayer shows unwillingness on the part of devotee to take the desired steps to
achieve the goal. He believes in magic and thinks that some magic will lead him to success.
Usually they don't succeed in life and later blame luck or circumstances for their failures. Ex a
nation suffers from flood every year. Even then, instead of having flood mitigation and preparation
mechanisms, it relies on hawansetc to pray to God. This approach will certainly lead to disaster
every year.
Enlighten me!
Some people ask Him to give greater knowledge about the situation or process in hand. This
happens when he is unable to judge a situation or to find the causes for it. It also happens when
he thinks that he has been trapped in that situation and can escape it if he has desired knowledge.
Ex- a civil service aspirant praying to God for showing him the simplest and quickest strategy
to finish syllabus.
This kind of prayer shows that the person is either ignorant or he is unable to think clearly. In
both the cases, he is in trouble but instead of finding solutions to the problem, he is relying on
supreme God for His favours. Usually these kinds of persons are always justifying each action
and inaction of theirs. The Indian bureaucracy can be put in this category. In spite of all the
resources required, they still lack the willpower to tackle the problem. This lack of willpower
leads to bigger problem which usually goes out of hand.
Emancipate me!
Some people ask Him to set him free from the trying situation. They pray to Him to rectify the
problem Himself or show him some magic path where he will get rid of the problem. Ex- A civil
service aspirant relying on entire luck to succeed in exam or waiting for something to happen
wherein he gets selected without any labour.
This kind of prayer underlines a kind of escapism in the devotee. He wants the God to emancipate
him from the problem. Instead of taking steps to come out of the problem, all he thinks is to quit
the problem itself. This shows a lack of courage and confidence in the devotee. It is usually a sign
of weak character.

Thank you!
Some people pray to thank Him to put him in the trying situations. They treat this not as a
stumbling block but as a stepping stone. They take willful measures to deal with the problem and
usually come out with flying colours. Example- a UPSC aspirant burning the midnight fuel and
toiling hard for preparing for exams.
This kind of prayer shows that the person is confident, courageous, objective and empowered.
He takes the life in a head-on way. He is very positive person and is not fearful. He views the
problem as a tool to hone his skills. This sets him apart from the rest. He trusts the God in the
actual sense that He will never do anything wrong with him. This unfailing trust leads him to
achieve success and reach the sky. He usually emerges as the winner in the end. History is replete
with examples wherein a crisis has led to a solution, thanks to visionary people like these.
Since, the prayer can also be made to elders or guardians, and leaders. Here the focus will be
on gratitude in case of elders and participation in case of government.
How prayers reflect individual's traits?
Different kinds of prayers show different kinds of individual traits. They show the characteristics
of different persons. Some pray for wealth and power; some pray out of fear; some pray for
strength and wisdom; some pray for spiritual uplift or well-being of the whole living and non-
living beings. Prayers, therefore, define a person.
Is prayer possible beyond religious bounds?
What kinds of prayer exist beyond religious bonds and religious contexts? Is prayer paying
reverence and respect to all the creations of nature? Is it being grateful to all inanimate and living
objects that give and sustain our lives? Is it saying thanks? Is loving the creation of nature,
helping the weak, respecting the elders, guardians and leaders, and role-models and speaking in
favour of truth a kind of prayer? Is work worship and devotion to it is also prayer?
Why showing gratitude is prayer?
Is showing gratitude a form of prayer? What is the importance of expressing gratitude towards
those who contributed to our lives and society in any form?
What is the highest form of prayer?
Total surrender and blind faith? Requests for self development- material and non -material both
or social well being? Seeking strength, Knowledge and wisdom? Seeking well being of all?
Difference among Bhakti Marg, Raj Yoga and Gynan Yoga paths of prayer.
Conclusion
We should conclude by giving the importance of the last kind of prayer and how we can achieve
this.
We must always be thankful to God for the beautiful life he has given to us. Instead of becoming
a nagger, we must always be able to see the positive in a given problem. Beauty lies in the eyes
of the beholder. The never say no attitude and a positive mindset is able to conquer anything in
the world. The given problem not only increases our abilities but also makes us to explore the
hidden qualities. Gandhiji was ignorant of his leadership qualities until he faced racism in Africa.
So instead of getting troubled, we must try to tackle the problem with full might. As Vivekananda
puts it that God only helps those who help themselves. We must help ourselves first to become
a better human being so as to evolve a better society.
Independent of which country people live or which religion they belong to or which God they
pray, Prayers are dependent on the stages of human development. As the man evolve, so does
the prayers. In the lower level of existence, full of insecurities like poverty and hunger "help" is
the prayer. While we seek knowledge Enlighten Me is the key, when freedom is the need then
emancipation is the mantra. But if we are happy, nothing is left to ask for therefore Thank you!

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IAS 2019

ESSAY TEST SERIES 2019

Time Allowed: 1½ hrs. Max. Marks: 125

Instructions to Candidate Remarks

• Attempt one essay

• The test carries 125 marks.

• Write the essay in about 1000-1200 words.

• Any page left blank in the answer-book must

(Examiner will pay special attention to the

1. Invigilator Signature ___________________

2. Invigilator Signature ___________________

1. When one has to think, why not think big

Hints: Essay Test - 4

Hints: Essay Test - 4 [1]

Conflict between romance and reality of big thinking

[ 2 ] Hints: Essay Test - 4

Self development and social causes

Hints: Essay Test - 4 [3]

[ 4 ] Hints: Essay Test - 4

Hints: Essay Test - 4 [5]

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