Q27: UKPSC Mains 2023 Essay: Mains Question

Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given at the end: “My first entry into public life was as a speaker in the colleges as the chosen guest of the students of the cities of India. To speak from larger platforms to larger audiences came much later, but it never brought to me the thrill that I still remember of those little audiences in attentively listening to me with avid faces and those burning eyes looking into future and demanding an answer from the time spirit. Today I stand amongst you once more as the representative of the spirit of India. You have come from North and South, East and West and the central heart of India, – you who represent many races today, many creeds today, many sects today, all times of civilization, all kinds of traditions, all kinds of conflicts, and yet united by the one burning desire to serve your country, to serve her from bondage, to enthrone her among the states, you have come together at the call of the nation, – you who have made a response to the voice that have trumpeted forth saying, ‘stand forth, you, young generation, and break the shackles of your mother’. What is the message that I can deliver to you?” Questions: (i) The author of the passage refers to a dream of future. Elaborate. (ii) According to the author, what is ‘the call of the nation’? (iii) What is the antonym of the word ‘thrill’? In what context is it used in the passage? (iv) How does the author advocate the ideal of ‘Unity in Diversity’ in the passage? (v) Provide synonyms for the words ‘desire’ and ‘conflict’.