PYQ Vault · Paper 1 · Indian Political Thought
“State……… does the greatest harm to mankind by destroying individuality, which lies at the root of all progress.’ — Mahatma Gandhi. Elucidate.
How the answer moves
The flow snapshot — the routes in, the body, the counter-view and the routes out.
Flow snapshot — how the answer moves
Intro routes
rR! state = “concentrated, organised violence” / soulless machine → hence fear that its growth destroys individuality R2 the paradox: state “doing good” by curbing exploitation, yet harming most by killing individuality
Body flow
malig rests on coercion + bureaucracy + uniform rules → expansion reduces citizens to subjects → kills conscience, voluntary action, moral responsibility = true roots of progress → individual “the one supreme consideration” → rejects Austinian absolute sovereignty (Austin) → state a means, not final ideal
Counter-view
individuality # unrestrained individualism → “law of the beast of the jungle” → freedom balanced by duty → Green: community by common good, not compulsion
Conclusion routes
Conclusion R1 remedy: limit the state → Satyagraha + Gram Swaraj → routes individual at the centre R2 warning stays relevant wherever welfare / security justify over-centralisation
Model answer
Handwritten, in the form it would be written in the examination hall.
