When we talk of Akbar’s syncretism, some things deserve special attention (apart from all the usual points we generally study).

🔹First, he didn’t just work on Hindu–Muslim unity, but also tried to heal sectarian rifts within Islam—like the Shia–Sunni divide.
🔹Second, there was a clear class dimension: at the elite level, syncretism was promoted through translation of texts and court debates, while at the popular level, it was supported by patronising local movements and saints.
🔹Third, we shouldn’t restrict the idea of syncretism to Hindus and Muslims alone—Akbar also reached out to Jains, Christians, Parsis and others.
🔹Finally, all this was not just about social policy. It was about the kind of kingship he was fashioning. Sulah-i Kul was at the heart of his vision of sovereignty, and that is the central piece of the whole thing.

If we keep these angles in mind, our understanding of Akbar's syncretism becomes much sharper.

Now read the above answer once more for better appreciation.

How to Read Spectrum Modern India for maximum benefit? (The Book which don't like at all)

https://youtu.be/NX2G1BP1XEw?si=dXZvnmBItsgCb8QA

We will be starting with our much awaited discussion on Cholas with historian Anirudh Kanisetti today evening.

We will discuss their naval campaigns, their administration, their local self government, their nataraja murti, their temple construction and many other aspects which we study for UPSC Exam.

We will also have QnA session for all of you. You can also bring your copy of his book for autograph.

The session is going to be only offline. Come to LevelUp IAS at 6.30 to listen, to learn, to ask, and to get enlightened.

I have been ranting a lot about Dogs issue for last few days. From your reactions here, I gauge that most of you agree with me, while some disagree.

In either case, do watch this video. A lot of interesting things are there. So much so that you would be surprised to know how deeply rooted this issue is.

If you disagree, let me know in comment section. I will write replies there on all relevant comments.

And yes, dont forget to Hype it. Your likes, comments, share and Hypes are what keep me fired enough to go out of the way and record such videos.

Nikhil

https://youtu.be/01Bx1J9w6pM

This is the Ganapati season. Missing my city.

Been in Delhi for 14-15 years now. First as a student and then as a teacher. Every year, Ganapati festival season generally comes around Pre/Mains exam dates. Couldn't go home for this festival in so many years.

North India may have the capital of India. But it doesn't have traditional dhol-tasha pathaks of Ganapati festival.

Missing every second of this mahol.

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"There are many myths that prevail about the founding of the Ganpati festival. One of these is that it was organised for disseminating anti-colonial messages. This was probably not true.

When the Tukaram palkhi was insulted by Muslims in Poona, the lower classes decided to abstain from the Moharram festival. Ganesh Chaturthi festival that we now know of today had its origins in 1894 in Poona, as a Hindu substitute for Moharram.

However, despite not being anti-colonial in origin, what was remarkable about Ganesh Chaturthi is that it united all classes of Hindus under a common banner."

- Abhinav Chandrachud

Complete Article -
https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/british-governor-moharram-origins-modern-ganesh-chaturthi-festival-10211354/lite/

See you all in History Durbar's 3rd edition in some time. It is starting in 20 mins, at 5 PM.

Those of you who have registered must have got zoom link by now. If not registered, please do now.

RSS is completing its 100 years.

Its a really good opportunity, to take stock of its history. May be with a long-form YT video. Its a fascinsting part of Modern India - both its positive and negative.

As against normal narrative nowadays, its very wrong to glorify RSS as something which defines Hinduism. It doesnt monopolize Hinduism. At the same time, it is also totally wrong to dismiss it by calling it fascist and killers of Gandhi. Its relevance goes beyond this binary of extremes. This binary is good for polemic, to support or criticize RSS. But it doesnt help beyond that.

Ideally speaking, RSS should have been a part of our History of Modern India. We should be able to study not only RSS, but also CPI, Tabligh, and every such thing in Modern India. Across the spectrum, right to left.

Lekin UPSC ko kaha isme interest hai? We dont study such ideologies in our syllabus. So, even my hands get tied backwards. I only hope that one day UPSC gets interested in the study of all these ideologies.

Agar mera mann chale to I would add one point in the syllabus of GS1 history - "Modern Ideologies like Hindutva, Islamism, Marxism, Liberalism etc."

During Covid lockdown 2020, I got stuck in Chennai. We were opening the Chennai branch of Vajiram and Ravi, and suddenly the lockdown kicked in.

Arjun sir, Ravindran sir and entire family took extremely good care of us during pandemic. Kept us with them in their own house, fed us, gave us space, and took good care of us. For 6 months... All the while when there were many challenges for the Vajiram family, at personal and institute level both. Looking back today from 2025, I feel astonished for this empathy and integrity.

I was away from my own family for so many months during the pandemic. And this was another family I got. They even celebrated my birthday with a cake and a gift. I generally never celebrate my birthdays. But this one moment, this birthday in 2020, I will always cherish.

The day I left for Pune, the entire family had come to see me off at the doorstep of the house. It takes some different type of material for people to be so grounded and genuine.

We will miss PS Ravindran sir dearly.

Tomorrow we have the Optional Paper.

वीरभोग्य वसुन्धरा..!
साहसे श्रीः प्रतिवसति...!!!
Best of luck 👍

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This is really unfortunate. Undivided Puniab had really created some of the great musicians.

The decline of Khyal in the land of Ustaad Amir Khan, the decline of Thumri is the land of Bade Gulam Ali Khan is something I cannot even imagine.

Note: History is not merely about facts. If you enjoy this article, you will automatically appreciate why the foundation of Gandharva Mahavidyalaya by Paluskar in Lahore was such an important thing.

The story of how the classical music was cultivated in Punjab since Mughal times, and how it thrived with various Gharanas and then how it declined after partition due to Islamism forms the backdrop of why the fact asked by UPSC becomes contextual.

Enjoy reading history.
Nikhil

https://amp.scroll.in/magazine/1086014/hindustani-musics-decline-in-pakistan-began-the-day-the-nation-was-born

Hello

This channel is for overall History related updates.

I also run a dedicated History Optional channel. The content there is curated for specifically History Optional preparation.

You can follow me there as well.
https://www.tg-me.com/nikhilhistoryoptional

What a fun way to make history alive for children. This is a detective novel based in Kushana era. The city of Takshashila is made alive.

The detective story connecting ancient Gandhara with Silk route immediately reminded me of the modern colonial mindset detective kinda novel "Kim", authored by Rudyard Kipling, and based on Great Game Central Asia connection. There was Takshashila, and then there was Lahore.

https://www.outlookindia.com/amp/story/books/solving-a-crime-in-ancient-times-book-review-of-the-thief-oftaxila-by-veenamuthuraman

Our MMP has started today.

This is one program that I feel should have been there when I was preparing a decade ago.

https://www.youtube.com/live/KuqlM3QGHm8?si=o6ddjVTYMfuJeio5

Nagaland is a Christian majority state. But it is not a Christian state. How can any Indian state have a religion?

And who are these devils/satans? I guess these are some tribal cults in various hilly regions. It is totally irrelevant whether these are as per the Bible. Even the Bible has various interpretations and various Christian denominations keep competing with each other with their interpretations.

It should be only as per Article 25 of Indian Constitution which guarantees freedom of religion to all Indians, subject to certain restrictions. Bible has no locus standi here I suppose. Why does it matter if the local cults/rituals/Gods/Goddesses are as per Bible or not? Demonization of other cults and gods by calling them 'satan/devil' in itself I think is immoral.

If one state allows Bible to dictate laws, other would go for Sharia laws and then another would go for Manu Smriti. And very soon, we would be back to Medieval era.

One of the People of India,
Nikhil

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/nagaland/nagaland-assembly-to-discuss-influence-of-satan-worship-on-youth/article69996654.ece

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