UPSC Essentials | Mains answer practice — GS 1 : Questions on women revolutionaries of Bengal and increasing frequency of cloudbursts (Week 116)

QUESTION 1

The stories of women revolutionaries of Bengal during India’s freedom struggle reveal how the fight for national independence was inherently linked with the struggle against entrenched gender norms in colonial society. Discuss.

QUESTION 2

The increasing frequency of cloudbursts, flash floods, and landslides across India demands robust early warning systems, climate-resilient infrastructure, and coordinated policy action. Discuss.

General points on the structure of the answers for UPSC Mains

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: The stories of women revolutionaries of Bengal during India’s freedom struggle reveal how the fight for national independence was inherently linked with the struggle against entrenched gender norms in colonial society. Discuss.

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

Introduction:

— As India commemorates its 79th Independence Day, the national atmosphere is filled with pride and nostalgia. The women revolutionaries of Bengal, who not only faced the British Empire with incredible fortitude, but also defied their own society’s firmly established patriarchy.

— These women waged a battle on two fronts: Against foreign colonial domination and social constraints that sought to limit their agency.

Body:

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

— In early twentieth-century Bengal, women were expected to conform to restrictive societal roles – girls’ education was discouraged, early marriage and widowhood were widespread, and purdah kept upper-caste women confined to the home realm.

— They arose as opposition forces, and their commitment was more than just symbolic. Their tactics varied from armed and overt to intellectual and subtle. Some spearheaded attacks, some smuggled guns, while others quietly schooled the next generation of females in their courtyards. Every act was a calculated opposition.

— Pritilata Waddedar, for instance, led a daring armed assault on the European Club at Chittagong in 1932 — a site infamous for its racial segregation policies. Refusing capture, she consumed cyanide and embraced martyrdom, leaving behind leaflets and letters urging Indian women to “not remain in the background.” Her courage was matched by Kalpana Datta, who participated in the Chittagong armoury raid and later chronicled her experience, documenting how women were not mere auxiliaries but “equal tacticians and partners.” These were not rhetorical declarations; they were statements of fact drawn from lived resistance.

— Bina Das, another powerful figure in Bengal’s revolutionary history, attempted to assassinate the Governor of Bengal, Stanley Jackson, at a university convocation in 1932. Her action was not one of desperation, but of planned resistance to an empire that relied on murder and control. Even before that, she had taken small but decisive moves, wearing khadi in her conservative institution, writing about prohibited books in her exam papers, and disseminating revolutionary materials via student networks. These were multifaceted protests, not only against the empire but also against societal norms that suppressed women in public and academic settings.

— Begum Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain, whose achievements precede many of the armed revolutionaries, is still revered by feminists and intellectuals alike. Her novella Sultana’s Dream envisioned a women-led world controlled by reason and peace, free of patriarchy and colonialism. Her work wasn’t a utopian vision; it was a radical blueprint. She not only founded schools for Muslim girls in Kolkata, but also went door to door asking families to educate their daughters, transforming peaceful conversation into a revolutionary gesture.

— In rural Bengal, Labanya Prabha Ghosh organised local reading groups, wrote regularly for nationalist publications like Mukti, and opened her home as a site for underground meetings. Literacy, for her, became a weapon. Her impact on local consciousness, especially among women, remains a quiet but indelible part of the broader movement.

Conclusion:

— As India stands tall this Independence Day, it is time to remember these women — not as footnotes to a masculine history, but as foundational architects of freedom.

(Source: The untold stories of Bengali women revolutionaries who got us freedom)

Points to Ponder

Read about other revolutionaries from Bengal

Read about India’s Independence Struggle

Related Previous Year Questions

The women’s questions arose in modern India as a part of the 19th century social reform movement. What were the major issues and debates concerning women in that period? (2017)

Discuss the role of women in the freedom struggle especially during the Gandhian phase. (2016)

QUESTION 2: The increasing frequency of cloudbursts, flash floods, and landslides across India demands robust early warning systems, climate-resilient infrastructure, and coordinated policy action. Discuss.

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

Introduction:

— It is becoming increasingly clear that politicians in the country must do more to protect people from the effects of the monsoon, whether in the plains, mountains, or coastal areas. This year, cloudbursts, flash floods, and landslides wreaked devastation in Northeast India, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and, most recently, Jammu and Kashmir.

— Waterlogging and failing infrastructure have not only interrupted life and caused traffic congestion in major areas such as Delhi, Bengaluru, and Mumbai, but they have also claimed a large number of lives.

Body:

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

— The complicated processes involved in the formation of cloudbursts have increased the issues. The mix of monsoon and cold winds, combined with the unique geography of the Himalayas, produces massive clouds. In a region known for cloudbursts, the consequences of global warming appear to have been dangerous. When the clouds can no longer retain the water, they drop rain bombs over limited areas.

— Meteorologists define a cloudburst as rain falling at a rate of 100 mm or more per hour over an area of around 30 square kilometres. Such small areas frequently lack rainfall measurement equipment.

— However, the downpour has far-reaching consequences, causing landslides, flash floods, and damage downstream.

— The burden of protecting people from the impacts of heavy rain is, however, too large to be left to the IMD. Saving lives in fragile ecosystems will necessitate collaboration between the Met Office, scientists, planners, and local, state, and national governments. For starters, accurate maps of cloudburst-prone zones based on historical data and satellite photography could inform land-use decisions. They might ensure that construction and development operations are rigorously regulated and climate-proofed in high-risk locations.

(Source: Recent cloud bursts show — India needs early warning systems)

Points to Ponder

Read more about recent cloudbursts

Read about other disasters like landslides, floods, and earthquake

Related Previous Year Questions

What is the phenomenon of ‘Cloudbursts’? Explain. (2024)

Differentiate the causes of landslides in the Himalayan region and Western Ghats. (2021)

Previous Mains Answer Practice

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 116)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 115)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 116)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 115)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 114)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 115)

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