Travel Reading. Simple joys of life.

https://youtu.be/IfvuN6IkhVU?si=AT_a3P9WJsMmvw1e&t=4680

We have comparative constitutions in GS2 paper. Here is a discussion on American Constitution - its making, debates, issues - from the historical viewpoint.

#worldhistory #world

Do you think such programs succeed in achieving their intended objectives?

https://youtu.be/oL6vNvC4rxM?si=_bPZ1wkpIh2bFpED

I just placed the order for this book but even the video gives a good insight.

Military history as such is overlooked by the UPSC CSE but there are still some very insightful observations here which help us in our understanding of the history.

(PS: It's in Hindi)

Today, we are starting with our MMP lectures on Art and Culture for Mains.

We will discuss approach, structure, frameworks and also practice a lot of questions in the class over next few days.

This part of Main examination preparation is generally the most enjoyable because it is freewheeling and less burdensome. Its not like Prelims preparation.

Once you get a knack here, it's very easy to crack the code.

https://youtu.be/0X6fnJSgj2k?si=uesgQVhp-L1886EX

Do you think India should get artefacts back from British Museum?

A new book. This time issued from a library. Eager to read.

Appeal to all aspirants,

After Pooja Khedkar scam, many officers' names are being circulated in media and social media, pointing towards a larger trend in using forged documents - either non creamy layer in OBC or EWS, or PwBD.

Forging income documents, hiding real income, showing fake divorce of parents, getting private hospital certification for disability etc seem to be happening more frequently than suspected earlier. Nepotism is also there. The issue is no more about Pooja Khedkar alone. These are all serious allegations and I am sure it is being seriously taken note of by the government.

However, I want to make a serious appeal to all aspirants. Don't get emotional. The social media creators and youtubers are pointing out about a dozen cases over last many years. Every year about a 1000 candidates are selected. Not everyone is selected through fraudulent means. Majority are still honest candidates.

However, the border between public vigilance and media trial is very thin. Also understand that questioning upsc's credibility and calling it a UPSC scam may be one way to garner attention, incite passion and attract eyeballs.

In all these, a serious aspirant would still continue working hard, with head down and focus on exam. The not-so-serious ones would get diverted, feel disillusioned or demotivated, spend a lot of time with friends over chaay discussing desh ka kya hoga, ye sab bike huwe hai. Now they have got something to blame for not getting selected. Don't be one of them.

Follow the news, follow the developments but at the end of the day, it should not come at the cost of your time of quality study.

Your time is precious. Your focus is precious. It must not get diluted.

Nikhil

May be the awe was missing for police administration.

For us, students of history and aficionado of culture, this meeting still going to be awesome. Let's hope some good articles in newspaper, some insightful discussion in the meeting, some passionate debates in social media.

What does the voyage of Vasco da Gama have to do with tobacco? On July 8, 1497, began the historic voyage of Vasco da Gama.

Tobacco, originally cultivated by Native Americans, was brought to Europe in the 16th Century and, soon after, introduced to South Asia by European traders and colonisers. The Portuguese, followed by the Dutch and the British, were instrumental in spreading tobacco use. Tobacco quickly embedded itself into the cultural and social fabric of South Asian societies. Yet, it is essential to remember that smoking was alien to Indian ethos and culture. Despite the linguistic diversity in India, with as many as five linguistic families (thousands of languages), none of the Indian languages have a native or original word for “tobacco”.

Surprisingly, there has not been a robust enough critique of the British Raj for tobacco. Indeed, it isn’t the Kohinoor that should symbolise European exploitation. The introduction of tobacco in India has left a lasting legacy of addiction and disease.

Hello Students,

We are publishing our entire History Optional Foundation course open for all.

Nikhil sir and Vishal are the two faculties for History Optional at LevelUp IAS. Their lectures of the entire foundation course, about 180+, are being made public on Youtube. We have started a separate dedicated channel on YT only for this purpose.

Every day, one video lecture is being published. This way, over next 6 months, entire history optional will be covered in detail, chapter-by-chapter. Presently, we have already started with World History and 20 lectures are already there.

Apart from lectures, we also bring question-answer discussion every day. Every day, one UPSC answer is discussed in a separate video. Additionally, there many other series like Behind The Question (BTQ) Explained series where we try to decode the mind of UPSC examiner in a very analytical and insightful manner. Thus, for history optional, this is a one-stop solution.

Subscribe to the channel to remain updated.
https://www.youtube.com/@HistoryOptionalforUPSC

With reference to recent pomp and slpandour of the Ambani wedding, listen to this poem in Hindi.

It may not gel well with your generation, which is raised in the intellectual atmosphere of liberal capitalism as the only value system. Still, try to be little empathetic and understand the other view.

It always enriches us, if we can understand plural perspectives. After all, we do read Anekantavad in Jainism in our syllabus.

https://youtu.be/8uYOaT8f4rA?si=AjvTL0g1vUsEGHUg