Facts speak for themselves.

▪️India contributes to UN about $38 million — less than 1%.
▪️China contributes about $680 million (roughly 20 per cent)
▪️US leads with $820 million (about 22 per cent).

There was a poem I read many years ago:
The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

Bhyrappa has passed away. (1931-2025)

I am speechless.

I think God is really feeling lonely. He is picking up gems one after another. First Mehendale and now Bhyrappa.

Another criticism of UPSC CSE. A lot of people are speaking now....

https://theprint.in/opinion/upsc-civil-services-exam-memory-test-select-officers/2749696/

This is really a great loss to the nation. He was one of the greatest novelists in any Indian language in post Independence era.

In Marathi, we grew up reading his translated Kannada novels. About 60-70% of his literature is available in Marathi, very powerfully translated by Uma Kulkarni and published by Mehta Publication.

Always impressed by depth of his writing.

I suspect people will focus only on Avarana. It is indeed a very powerful and controversial novel. But his writing goes much beyond it.

Finally, the teaser is out.

Second episode of Akhyan Diaries. On the history of Cholas with Anirudh Kanisetti.

https://youtu.be/KPCetoSRdwU

Journalism of Courage?

In today's Delhi edition print, I couldn't locate the news of Bhyrappa's demise... it is not even visible on the online portal front page till you specifically Google for it. And there it is slotted as a local city news..

And this was one of the most celebrated novelists of last 100 years that India produced.

🔹Are these news editors totally jaahil or it is too much to expect from the journalists nowadays...

🔹Is it the ignorance of southern Indian culture? Bhyrappa was pan-Indian in spirit.

🔹Ignorance of non-Hindi/English literature? Well, Bhyrappa was celebrated in many Indian languages. These journalists might not know India well?

🔹Or do they consider anyone who made career outside delhi/mumbai is less worthy? Closeness to the power centre defines worth for you?

🔹Or they are totally unaware of Indian intellectual-cultural sphere in pre internet era? If not visible on social media then it must be less important, right?

Very couragious jaahiliyat.
Aksharshatru...!!

Nikhil

SL Bhyrappa wrote this. This requires Courage of Conviction.

"I came from a poor family in a village in southern Karnataka. My mother passed away when I was eleven, and my five-year-old brother passed away when I was fifteen. I carried my brother's body to the cremation ground. My little sister also died prematurely. This is when the questions in my mind began. Questions like "Why do people die?" and "What is the meaning of death?" started revolving in my mind.

Later, when I went to Mysore for my education, I asked a philosophy professor about these persistent questions. He told me to read a translation of the book Katha Upanishad. You probably know the story. When Nachiketa goes to Yama (the god of death), Yama offers him three boons. Nachiketa asks Yama, "You are the god of death. You must know what death is. Does the soul perish after death?" and so on. Yama's answers to Nachiketa's questions are in the Katha Upanishad.

I read the Kannada translation given by the professor, but I couldn't understand anything. When I told him this, he said, "Yes, it is indeed very difficult to understand." He said, if you truly want to understand the philosophy of the Katha Upanishad, you should take up Philosophy for your M.A. studies.

I took up the subject, and my friends taunted me with the famous saying, "Don't you know that philosophy doesn't bake any bread?" I retorted, "I will set up my own bakery to bake the breads and fill my stomach." Along with this subject, I also developed an interest in applied arts and literature."

SL Bhyrappa went on to became one of the greatest novelists in India later.

- Nikhil

I don't teach essays in UPSC CSE, but I am deeply interested in Essay writing and reading.

Here is one recent talk by Prof Vinay Lal. It will be very useful if you listen properly and take notes. It offers so many perspectives and points that can be used liberally.

I especially liked the point on moral language.

(PS: If you are a BJP voter, you can ignore the first point and move on others. Dont get stuck at the first and form prejudicial opinion about the whole thing. It is indeed a very perceptive talk.)


https://youtu.be/mFmCBTvyNzE?si=6HjhS_cUp-NeBLNl

Today, finally we will have Paper 2 discussion.

UPSC History Optional Paper-2 (2025) – Trend Analysis & Detailed Discussion

📅 26th September | 🕔 5 PM
📍 Online (Zoom) + Offline at LevelUp IAS

🔗 Register FREE: https://shorturl.at/5lnjB

Sanjay Subramanyam in his book Europe's India has a chapter called India's Europe.

He says that Shah Jahan thought Europeans “would be a great people” except for the facts that they follow the wrong religion, eat pork, and don’t wash their private parts properly.

Just placed the order for the book.

I have always enjoyed this person.

In the previous decade, he was the spokesperson of the MEA. We never used to miss a single press brief by him.

He later served India in the UN also. What an absolute delight it was, just to listen to him speak. Every word was so measured and so powerful.

Had it not been for S Jaishankar's tremendous aura, this person would have definitely got more limelight.

SUNDAY LIVE MENTORSHIP PROGRAM 3.0 | History Optional – UPSC CSE 2026

Join the Orientation Session Tomorrow at 11 AM

For Offline, Visit LevelUp IAS, Karol Bagh

For Online, Join Here: https://youtube.com/live/gkcA5ptxH0U (click on notify me)

A good article

https://indianexpress.com/article/upsc-current-affairs/upsc-essentials/devdutt-pattanaik-how-hindu-temples-survived-political-upheavals-10272849/

As declared on 26th, we are discussing Opitonal Paper 2 (World History) of 2025 today. At 5 PM.

Registered students: Zoom link & venue details already shared via Email. You can also come offline.

See you there.

I really enjoyed this conversation—it turned out quite insightful and analytical. I’m sure you’ll also find it helpful.

Even though it’s mainly for the Optional, do try to watch it if you get the time. The Modern India syllabus overlaps a lot between GS and Optional, and honestly, I sometimes feel that UPSC asks tougher and deeper questions in GS than even in Optional

Why were Indians putting mithuna sculptures on the sacred walls of temples exactly 1000 years ago?

This is an old debate with various theories. UPSC asked a question in GS1 on features of Chandel temple sculptures, and everyone just thought of erotic ones.

I anyway wanted to discuss this topic for quite some time. And this seems to be a good opportunity given by the almighty UPSC....

So, I will be coming soon with a detailed discussion on mystery behind the erotic sculptures at Khajuraho.

Nikhil

"Politics in society is like the toilet in the house. You cannot showcase it, but you cannot avoid it either."

This is what Golwalkar Guruji used to say about the role of politics in society. This was generally the approach of RSS' old generations towards politics since its foundation in 1925.

This attitude started to change gradually after 1970s, during the tenure of Balasaheb Deoras, the third Sarsanghachalak. And today, after 100 years, the things are very different.

Kalay Tasmai Namaha.

Earlier, he had said that India and Pakistan are fighting for thousands of years... now he is saying that Communism is failing for thousands of year...

What else is a thousand years old, Mr. President? The United States of America? No. It is Jahiliyat. Jahiliyat is thousands of years old.