Art of Writing Essays by Vikas Dhayal

Starting a dedicated Essay program(Essay Kaise-25) soon for Mains-2025!

Will be updating here soon.

Unique ideas for an Essay on AI/ WEB-3.0, Social Media

Charlie Munger, the late deputy of Warren Buffet at Birkshire Hathway once said:

“You show me the incentive behind a technology and I shall show you the outcomes”

In the context of Social Media, which is touted as the large scale adoption of a nascent stage AI, Munger’s quote is proved very relevant.

When Social Media came into our lives, the incentives behind its creators was only to have engagement of users for as long as possible. It was foreseeable that prioritizing engagement would lead to content amplifying xenophobia, fake news, sensationalism, and social division. Indeed, this is what transpired.

With percolation of Social Media at a large scale, we saw elections being influenced, democracies being crippled and communal hatred on rampage. As a nascent AI, social media removed the editorial filter that we had on Print and TV news which had certain level of ethicality in content and news production.

Rabbit holes of social media algorithms shown people only what they were biased towards, making the society more and more fragmented. If you liked a particular political ideology, the more extreme elements of that ideology started surfacing on your social media walls, turning your biases into strong prejudices.

With the large scale adoption on AI on our doorsteps we need to ask ourselves one question

Is the human race ready for another autonomous technology-driven disruption which will take away human involvement in many more spheres other than just news and content creation? As the governments across the world are finding the need about regulations over social media content; can we afford another wave of breakthrough technology bringing irreversible changes in our lives!

If I had to write on the the following topic of Section B:

“Nearly all men can stand adversity, but to test the character, give him power.”

This is how I would begin:

During the 2nd half of 19th century, Japan was going through the process of Meiji Restoration. Japan was faced with adversities from internal instability and threat of western imperialist powers. Its economy was in tatters and society was ruled by feudal lords. It was a spectre of widespread poverty and hopelessness in Japan. Amidst these adversities Japan got transformed into an industrial economy without losing its cultural identity within a span of 50 years. Its men who were motivated by an aggressive nationalism backed by the ideas of opposition to western imperialism and protection of cultural identity were the harbingers of this change. It proved to the word that if the Japanese men could, then any adversity could be overpowered by any man.

However, once Japan gained significant economic power, her core values of anti-imperialism were turned on their head. It started a policy of aggressive imperialism. Blinded by the newly gained military might and economic power it started oppressing the people of neighbouring territories to expand its frontiers. The horrors faced by the Chinese and East Asian population at the hands of the Japanese echoes the famous adage “Nearly all men can stand adversity, but to test the character, give him power.” Japan could have been guided by its cultural values of respect and humility but it chose to exert aggression and violence instead.

~Vikas Dhayal

If I had to do it, this is how I would begin the following topic of section-1:

“The Empires of the Future will be the Empires of the Mind”

In the Netflix documentary The Social Dilemma, Tim Kendall, former President of Pinterest, sheds light on a future where the "empires of the mind" will reign supreme. He explains how social media platforms, controlled by a few tech minds, are now shaping the narrative and controlling the collective psyche of millions. Unlike past empires built through military power, the new rulers are those who command information and technology. Kendall emphasizes that the future will be dominated not by political leaders or armies, but by the minds that create and control cutting-edge technologies.

This perfectly captures the essence of the essay's theme: "the empires of the future will be the empires of the mind." Beyond controlling technology, empires can also be built by those who lead in science, philosophy, and innovation. Thinkers and innovators who create revolutionary ideas can reshape society, culture, and governance. From influencing public opinion to solving global challenges, the ability to command and transform minds, whether through technology or profound intellectual breakthroughs will shape the future's dominant powers.

Let me tell you what will happen in the Essay paper based on trend of last 5 years:

When the paper is delivered to everyone in the morning at 8:55 AM on 15th September, probably more than 90% will feel this way:

1. Firstly, after looking at the paper, the first thought will be that this is the toughest paper in the history of UPSC Mains. No Essay Topic would seem comfortable enough to write.

2. The Paper is delivered to you before the exam starts so and you’ll take 5-10 just to decide what to write. You think that you would decide the Essays to write from both Sections before the bell rings but you won’t be able to do it till then.

3. Then, You’ll decide and start structuring, not because you know these topics well but because you don’t have any other choice.

4. It will feel that the intro of the essay will take forever to structure. Structuring of the first Essay itself will make you feel, that you’re not good enough.

Once you do structuring of the 1st one, you’ll start feeling more comfortable.

The first 20 minutes in the Essay paper have been the most stressful in the entire Mains Exam. The Next 20 minutes will be the most relaxing.

If you want to know what not to do in the Essay paper - Watch this Video

All the very best for tomorrow.