UPSC Essentials | Mains answer practice — GS 1 : Questions on Indian freedom struggle and waterspouts (Week 65)

QUESTION 2

Discuss the phenomenon of waterspouts, including their formation, characteristics, and potential impacts.

General points on the structure of the answers

Introduction

— The introduction of the answer is essential and should be restricted to 3-5 lines. Remember, a one-liner is not a standard introduction.

— It may consist of basic information by giving some definitions from the trusted source and authentic facts.

Body

— It is the central part of the answer and one should understand the demand of the question to provide rich content.

— The answer must be preferably written as a mix of points and short paragraphs rather than using long paragraphs or just points.

— Using facts from authentic government sources makes your answer more comprehensive. Analysis is important based on the demand of the question, but do not over analyse.

QUESTION 1: Discuss the factors that contributed to Calcutta (now Kolkata) becoming a significant centre for revolutionary activities during the Indian freedom struggle.

Note: This is not a model answer. It only provides you with thought process which you may incorporate into the answers.

Introduction:

— In 1690, Job Charnock arrived at the Hooghly River, which is a branch of the Ganges. He leased three sizable settlements along the river’s east bank: Sutanuti, Govindapur, and Kolikata (Calcutta), serving as a trading post for the British East India Company.

— By the end of the 1800s, India’s political climate was changing quickly. A section of the Indian National Congress turned radical after becoming disenchanted with the moderates’ slow progress and with Lord Curzon’s increasingly dictatorial authority.

— The 1905 Partition of Bengal, which aimed to weaken Bengali nationalism, fuelled the emergence of radical tactics headed by figures such as Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Bipin Chandra Pal. Secret organisations such as the Atmonnati Samiti and Anushilan Samiti paved the way for more radical resistance to colonial control.

Body:

You may incorporate some of the following points in the body of your answer:

Factors that contributed to Calcutta (now Kolkata) becoming a significant centre for revolutionary activities

Eden Hindu Hostel, Lower Circular Road

— Presidency College, located in the centre of Kolkata, was founded in 1817 as Hindoo College and rapidly became a centre of student agitation, with students extending their screams for independence from the campus to Eden Hindu Hostel on Lower Circular Road. The hostel served as a fortress of resistance, with students storing stolen British weapons and ammunition in a steel trunk.

Laboratory of Acharya Ray, Upper Circular Road

— Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray, a prominent chemist and industrialist, had a particularly impressive laboratory. Its humble appearance belied the reality that it was a hub of revolutionary activity. Sister Nivedita, an Irishwoman who rose to prominence in the Indian independence struggle, frequently helped young revolutionaries gain entry to this den.

Saraswati Press, 32 Upper Circular Road

— The location, with its wrought iron gate and garage tucked away in the courtyard, is depicted by Bhattacharyya. Prominent individuals such as Jayaprakash Narayan, Subhas Chandra Bose, and Ram Manohar Lohia were frequent attendees at this press, producing publications and top-secret secrets. The Saraswati Library was located next door, and although it appeared to be a typical bookshop, it was actually a secret meeting place for rebels.

Paramount Sherbet, College Square

— It was founded in 1918 by Nihar Ranjan Majumder of Barisal (now Bangladesh). Inside the shop, there are black-and-white pictures of Bengal’s luminaries, including Rabindranath Tagore and Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray, who were previously regulars.

Parks

— Among them were Greer Park on Upper Circular Road, St. James Square at the intersection of Upper and Lower Circular Roads, and Sradhananda Park on Hedua Road. The parks, which once resonated with the passionate speeches of revolutionaries such as Barin Ghosh, have now become historical phantoms, barely discernible in Kolkata’s shifting tangle of street names and numbers since independence.

Conclusion:

— Calcutta became the epicentre of all cultural and political movements throughout India. This metropolis paved the way for India’s 19th-century Renaissance and Reformation. Raja Rammohan Roy, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa, Swami Vivekananda, Rabindra Nath Tagore, Jagadish Chandra Bose, Satyendra Nath Bose (co-author of the Bose-Einstein Theory), and many more prominent figures contributed to Calcutta’s cultural history.

— Despite the growing popularity and passionate engagement of women in revolutionary activities, mobilising the masses proved difficult. With growing police crackdowns and the capital moving to Delhi, Bengali influence in national politics began to dwindle.

(Source: How Calcutta became a hotbed for revolutionary activities during the freedom movement by Nikita Mohta)

Points to Ponder

When was the capital shifted to Delhi?

Role of important leaders in freedom struggle

Important historical events related to Calcutta

Related Previous Year Questions

To what extent did the role of the moderates prepare a base for the wider freedom movement? Comment. (2021)

Examine critically the various facets of economic policies of the British in India from mid-eighteenth century till independence. (2014)

QUESTION 2: Discuss the phenomenon of waterspouts, including their formation, characteristics, and potential impacts.

Note: This is not a model answer. It only provides you with thought process which you may incorporate into the answers.

Introduction:

— A waterspout is a massive column of air and mist that rotates above a body of water. It is a smaller cousin of tornadoes and normally lasts about five minutes, though it can sometimes last up to ten.

— The average waterspout has a diameter of about 165 feet and winds of 100 miles per hour.

— Although waterspouts are more common in tropical environments, they can occur worldwide. They form when there is a high level of humidity and relatively warm water temperatures compared to the surrounding air.

Body:

You may incorporate some of the following points in the body of your answer:

Waterspout formation

— According to the National Weather Service, Dr. Joseph Golden distinguishes five stages of waterspout formation:

— Dark spot: A distinct round, light-coloured disc forms on the water’s surface, surrounded by a bigger dark region with unclear shape and diffused borders.

— Spiral pattern: A pattern of light and dark-coloured surface bands spiralling out from a black spot that forms on the water surface.

— Spray ring: A dense spinning annulus (ring) of sea spray, known as a cascade, forms around the black area, which resembles a hurricane’s eye.

— Mature vortex: The waterspout, which is now visible from the water’s surface to the cloud mass above, reaches peak organisation and intensity. Its funnel frequently seems hollow, surrounded by a swirling condensate shell. The spray vortex can reach a height of several hundred feet or more and frequently generates a visible wake and associated wave train as it advances.

— Decay: The funnel and spray vortex begin to disappear as the intake of warm air into the vortex decreases.

Impact of waterspout

— According to experts, the frequency of waterspouts is increasing as ocean temperatures rise.

— They are capable of overturning boats, damaging huge ships, and endangering workers at offshore wind farms.

— Waterspouts can cause strong winds, hail, and deadly lightning.

— Waterspouts can be life-threatening if they catch individuals off guard, such as employees at offshore wind turbines or passengers on a yacht.

Conclusion:

— Dr. Peter Inness, a meteorologist at the University of Reading, stated in an interview, “A research by scientists from the University of Barcelona, looking at waterspouts in the Balearic Islands, discovered that they are more common when the sea surface is quite warm. Currently, the sea surface in Sicily is 2.5 to 3 degrees Celsius warmer than the 1990-2020 average.

— However, waterspouts that make landfall are often weaker than tornadoes and dissipate fast, causing little to no harm. In these circumstances, they rarely travel far inland and pose little risk to life or property.

(Source: What is a waterspout, which may have sunk the luxury yacht off Sicily?, oceanservice.noaa.gov)

Points to Ponder

What is the difference between Tornadic waterspouts and Fair-weather waterspouts

What is the link between waterspouts and rise in ocean temperatures?

Related Previous Year Questions

How are the fjords formed? Why do they constitute some of the most picturesque areas of the world? (2023)

Discuss the meaning of colour-coded weather warnings for cyclone prone areas given by India Meteorological Department. (2022)

Previous Mains Answer Practice

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 63)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 64)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 64)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 65)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 65)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 64)

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