Students, this is the schedule for Week 10 of History Optional Foundation 2025 Lectures.

All the lectures are free on youtube.

Here is the channel -
https://www.youtube.com/@HistoryOptionalforUPSC?sub_confirmation=1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QYrAqrpshw

Orientalism is not dead. It is here. All around us. Chinua Achebe, a great African novelist of 20th century, has said, "Unless the lions produce their own historians, the story of the hunt will glorify only the hunter."

I am sure most of us have not read Radhakrishnan. As a teacher I have to read his commentary on Upanishads and Vedanta. I have loved those and always refer to some of his ideas in class. However, beyond that even I have not read much.

Today I felt the intense need to read him more after reading the Opinion written by Pratap Bhanu Mehta in Indian Express. He has expounded upon one of the brilliant speeches given by Radhakrishnan a century ago.

As an after effect, I just placed an order on Amazon for his biography. It's written by his son S Gopal and published by Oxford Paperbacks. Waiting in anticipation.

Happy Teacher's Day to all. Atta Dipa Bhava. Be your own light.

Nikhil

Once, Sage Vyasa, knowing the Mahabharata was vast & complex, sought Lord Ganesha’s help to write it down. Lord Ganesha agreed on the condition that Vyasa must narrate without pause.

Vyasa also put up a condition that Lord Ganesha must only write after fully understanding each verse. This created a dynamic balance: Lord Ganesha wrote swiftly, but only after deep comprehension, while Vyasa gained time to compose complex verses.

For UPSC aspirants, this story underscores the importance of answer writing. Like Lord Ganesha, writing answers requires both speed and depth. It’s not about hurriedly filling pages but about understanding the question fully before putting pen to paper. Each answer must be clear, precise, and well-structured, just like Lord Ganesha’s inscriptions of the Mahabharata.

May Lord Ganesh, the ‘Vighnaharta’, remove every obstacle from your path and bless you with wisdom and clarity.🙏

Students, here is the schedule for Week 11 of History Optional Foundation 2025

Note: Full program is available for FREE with classes uploaded daily at 9 am.

https://www.youtube.com/@HistoryOptionalforUPSC?sub_confirmation=1

🔴Become Mains-Ready before UPSC Prelims 2025

Cover full GS syllabus-Essay | Live Answer Writing | Mentorship

Mains Master Program 2025 starts 30th Sept 2024

Enrol here - https://www.levelupias.com/upsc-gs-mains-master-program-mmp/

Call here for details: 08045248491 / 7041021151

Today a student gifted this book. ❤️

I had been to Assam and Arunachal Pradesh as a teacher exactly a decade ago, in 2014. It's 2024 today. The book brings back those memories.

#bookreview

#modern #modernindia

I had no idea that Francis Younghusband, who invaded Tibet at the instructions of Curzon during 1904, was also a writer.

His invasion of Tibet was futile. He went from Chumbi valley and reached Lhasa. A few Lamas were killed but no large scale Russian presence was found, as was expected during the Great Game. It was perhaps the last page of the century old saga of the Great Game.

Anyway, I discovered that after retirement he was a writer and has written this book on History of India in 1930. It's quite interesting. He has even given profiles of various Indian leaders and thinkers, from a British lens. Eager to read it.

#bookreview

It has been 100 years since the announcement of discovery of Harappan civilization. It was announced to the world in 1924 by Sir John Marshall, the then DG ASI.

He termed it Indus Valley Civilization, the name which is entirely disputed today. He called the bronze female sculpture as a dancing girl, disputed today. He called the pashupati seal as Proto Shiva, disputed today. He termed harappan society as peaceful, questionable today. He called it's religion as Proto Hinduism. Again questionable.

Still, it was a remarkable discovery, more remarkable insight and most remarkable legacy.

Should we expect some aspect of Harappan story asked in GS1 paper this year?

The book is finally here. Been waiting for its publication since last 3 years. I hope the long wait is rewarded amply.

#bookreview

It was some British and most Marxist historians who called Marathas as looters and plunderers. Was Shivaji's Surat expedition merely a loot?

#shivaji #maratha #medieval #mughal

#bookreview of The Golden Road.

🔴Just launched: HOT 500 program for UPSC History Optional.

In 3.5 months we will cover the full UPSC History Optional syllabus through 500 questions & 70 lectures.

Download PDF schedule & check details here: https://www.levelupias.com/upsc-cse-history-optional-through-500-questions/

Queries? Call at: 08045248491 / 7041021151