IAS (UPSC) Mains 2021 Solved Precis

• Heathens (noun): A person who does not belong to a widely held religion
  • Contextual Explanation: The colonial view derogatively refers to Indians as heathens, portraying them as irreligious or primitive.
• Tenaciously (adverb): In a determined way
  • Contextual Explanation: The colonial perspective claims Indians clung painstakingly to their culture, meaning they held on to it with determination.
• Plunder (verb): To steal goods from a place or person, typically using force
  • Contextual Explanation: The nationalist view counters that Indians did not plunder the countries they went to, meaning they did not loot them.
• Indolent (adjective): Wanting to avoid activity or exertion; lazy
  • Contextual Explanation: The nationalist view claims Indians were not indolent but enterprising, directly opposing the colonial stereotype of them being lazy.
• Thrifty (adjective): Using money and other resources carefully and not wastefully
  • Contextual Explanation: The nationalist view describes Indians as thrifty, as opposed to cunning, highlighting their careful use of resources.
• Functionalist (adjective): An approach focusing on the functions of cultural practices and social institutions in a society
  • Contextual Explanation: The passage states that a functionalist orientation, which focuses on social functions, predominates in the existing literature.
• Preponderance (noun): The quality or fact of being greater in number
  • Contextual Explanation: The passage notes a majority of South Indians in certain regions, indicating a majority or greater number.

The passage discusses how literature on Indians settled abroad has evolved, categorizing it into three main types: historical, diplomatic, and anthropological, each with its own focus and limitations. It analyzes the shared biases within these writings, their interpretative tendencies, colonial and nationalist, and the dominance of functionalist approaches that overlook deeper social structures like class and power. Additionally, the author also provides a statistical view of diaspora settlement patterns to highlight research gaps in understanding the Indian diaspora's lived realities. Moreover, the author's purpose in the passage is to evaluate the evolution and shortcomings of existing literature on Indians abroad, highlighting how most of it remains descriptive, colonial, or functionalist, and fails to critically explore issues of class, power, and integration in diaspora studies. It aims to encourage a more analytical and inclusive approach in future research.

Main Idea of the Passage

• The literature on Indians settled abroad has mainly remained descriptive, colonial, and functionalist, neglecting deeper analyses of class, power, and integration within diaspora communities.

Supporting Ideas Helping the Main Idea

• The literature on Indians settled abroad has generally been classified into three broad categories: historical, diplomatic, and anthropological writings.
• Historical studies primarily describe migration patterns, early settlements, and community formations among Indian emigrants.
• Diplomatic writings focus on state relations, foreign policies, and political concerns linking India with other nations where its people have migrated.
• Anthropological works examine cultural identity, adjustment, and preservation among Indian communities abroad.
• Despite these differences in subject matter, all three categories of literature share certain traits.
• They are largely descriptive and country-specific rather than analytical or comparative.
• Many writings reflect colonial attitudes, portraying Indians through imperial perspectives that emphasized subservience or exoticism.
• Later, nationalist interpretations reversed this image but still remained narrow, idealizing Indian migrants as symbols of patriotism and cultural pride.
• Both colonial and nationalist approaches failed to explore the real socio-economic complexities of diaspora life.
• A functionalist orientation dominates most of this literature, limiting inquiry to issues of identity, adaptation, and integration.
• Such approaches overlook deeper structures of inequality, class, and power within Indian communities abroad.
• Although statistical and factual data exist regarding diaspora populations, little effort has been made to interpret their lived realities or internal dynamics.
• The author suggests that future studies must adopt critical, interdisciplinary, and comparative approaches to understand the diverse experiences of Indians settled abroad beyond mere description or ideology.

Confused About Main and Supporting Ideas?

Kindly make sure to revise all five lectures on Precis Writing that I have already delivered. In these sessions, we discussed in detail:

• What a precis is and its purpose.
• What the main idea means and how to extract it effectively.
• What supporting ideas are and how to identify them.
• How to coordinate the main and supporting ideas while writing a concise, coherent precis.

Additionally, go through the 20 examples I shared in the WhatsApp groups. These examples highlight the Dos and Don’ts of Precis Writing, and revising them will help you avoid common mistakes and refine your technique.

Precis 1

Recent decades have seen increased literature on Indians settled abroad, categorized as historical, diplomatic, and anthropological. Specifically, historical works outline phases of emigration and early life abroad; diplomatic works report on their status and problems; and anthropological works focus on cultural continuity and change. Moreover, most literature shares three features: country-specific profiles, descriptive nature with limited analysis, and a colonial perspective. In particular, colonial interpretations portray Indians as self-interested and responsible for their difficulties. In contrast, nationalist perspectives argue that they were taken abroad under colonial designs, were industrious, and that neo-colonial powers imposed hardships. Overall, the literature predominantly adopts a functionalist orientation, emphasizing cultural identity and integration while neglecting class and power. Although smaller than other diasporas, Indians abroad form significant populations across Asia, Africa, Europe, North America, and the Caribbean. Furthermore, regional origins influence settlement patterns, with South Indians, East Indians, Punjabis, and Gujaratis concentrated in specific areas. Thus, the literature calls for broader perspectives and comparative research to understand diaspora dynamics comprehensively.

• Original Words in the Passage: 745
• Precis Word Count: 165
• Title: Literature on Indians Abroad: Patterns and Perspectives

Precis 2

Literature on Indians abroad has grown in recent decades and can be classified as historical, diplomatic, and anthropological. Notably, historical accounts trace emigration phases and early life abroad; diplomatic accounts focus on status and problems; and anthropological accounts examine cultural change and continuity. Moreover, much of this literature is country-specific, descriptive, and colonial in perspective. In particular, the colonial view depicts Indians as self-interested and responsible for their difficulties whereas nationalist interpretations emphasize colonial coercion, industriousness, and imposed hardships. Furthermore, functionalist analysis dominates, focusing on cultural identity and integration while ignoring class and power. However, despite smaller numbers compared to other diasporas, Indians form notable populations across Asia, Africa, Europe, North America, and the Caribbean, with regional origin affecting settlement patterns. Thus, greater comparative and analytical research is needed to understand diaspora issues comprehensively.

• Original Words in the Passage: 745
• Precis Word Count: 134
• Title: Indians Abroad: Literature and Perspectives

Precis 3

Literature on Indians abroad has expanded and includes historical, diplomatic, and anthropological accounts. Particularly, historical works detail migration phases; diplomatic accounts examine status and challenges, and anthropological works explore cultural change. However, much of this literature is country-focused, descriptive, and reflects colonial perspectives, depicting Indians as self-interested. In contrast, nationalist perspectives counter this, showing that Indians were taken abroad under colonial plans, industrious, and suffered hardships due to external powers. Moreover, the literature mainly emphasizes cultural identity and integration, often neglecting class and power dynamics. However, Indians abroad, although fewer than other diasporas, have a significant presence across Asia, Africa, Europe, North America, and the Caribbean, with regional origins shaping settlement patterns. Therefore, greater comparative research is recommended.

• Original Words in the Passage: 745
• Precis Word Count: 118
• Title: Patterns and Perspectives of Indians Abroad

Precis 4

Literature on Indians abroad includes historical, diplomatic, and anthropological annals, describing their migration, status, and culture. However, most studies are country-specific, explicative, and often colonial in perspective. In particular, colonial views see Indians as self-serving while nationalist views show that they were taken abroad under colonial plans, industrious, and faced externally imposed hardships. Moreover, functionalist approaches overpower, emphasizing Indians' cultural identity and integration while neglecting class and power. Nonetheless, Indians abroad, though smaller than other diasporas, are significant across Asia, Africa, Europe, North America, and the Caribbean, with regional origins shaping settlement patterns. Hence, comprehensive comparative research is needed to fully understand their experiences.

Original Words in the Passage: 745

Precis Word Count: 104

Title: Indians Abroad: Literature and Patterns