Advantage of taking humanities as a optional in upsc
Answers
Yes, Considering an subject to be optional depends on one's ease with the subject. So, the pros and cons get distinguish a little bit according to one's own perspective.
Coming to UPSC, all subjects are equal to be considered as an optional, every subject has its own pros and cons.
As my optional is history, so i can talk about it's pros and cons as an optional
Pros:
1. As GS( Prelims and Mains) have portions of history, so for optional student it becomes easy if one masters well in the optional
2.Helpful to use the topics of history in various papers like Essay, Gs-2,4 if one is capable enough to use the knowledge according to topic
3.Reading and knowing history is always fun(as knowing past of our ancestors), as it doesnt have formulaes or big-big principles to understand, simple analysis and logic is enough
4.Also History topics are inter-related as it is chronology oriented one,if one has enough interest, it is fun to learn
Cons:
1. The best myth on history as optional is:
Vast syllabi, how can one remember all those battles, kings, etc..
But to my knowledge, UPSC don't stress much on battles and Kings, but it stresses on events which had impact on Human life .
2. The best mark ever to history as optional never crossed 230-240( I guess, though i may be wrong)
But to be honest, even if one chooses the best optional(regarding scores as many consider it as criteria while selecting optional), if one doesnt understand the optional well, they end up in scoring less marks..
3. Availability of so many sources, as said History is the beautiful lies said upon dead(quote i used may not be correct, but essence is similar)
So, reading authenticated sources and sticking upon to fewer versions and following middle path in analysis will fetch one good marks
why one shift to humanities when one doesnt have enough background, as everybody study basic humanities in school i guess, that will be enough to build upon if one has interest, as Rome is not built in a day, it takes time, the amount of time depends on one's own interest towards subject..!
Finally, its not the optional pros and cons makes it successful to choose, but one's pure interest in choosing.