Spot on.

While the original grievances are genuine, there are some other interests involved.

Beware Nepal. Don't be stooges.

PS: Nepal ka 33% GDP is remittance based. So, it is very difficult to distinguish good vs bad, all of it is green.

The more I am reading the questions of Optional Paper I (2025), the more I am amazed at the breadth of knowledge it commands from the students. Its such a standard of quality.

There is a good balance of topics across Political/Admin themes, Economic themes and Socio-cultural aspects.

More interestingly, there are some traditional questions which need Marxist perspective. Then there are are some which focus on Revisionists perspective. And finally some even demand very basic knowledge of Art/Cultural historians perspective.

Do come tomorrow evening at 5 PM to listen to the Question-by-question insights.

Register here: https://tinyurl.com/a6nz5etz

🎥 Live Orientation Session on 12th Sept – Current Affairs Pre-Cum-Mains Program 2026
📅 12th September | 🕔 11 AM |
Link: https://www.youtube.com/live/yySQhrSX6Fk?si=UVSjVyRBINunRRW_

Every year, aspirants spend endless hours on newspapers, current affairs magazines, and self-made notes, yet fail to convert them into marks. The truth? It’s not about how much you read, but how well you prepare Current Affairs for the UPSC exam.

That’s exactly what Santosh Sir’s Current Affairs Pre-cum-Mains Program delivers. With a clear, exam-focused strategy, this program transforms Current Affairs from an endless maze into your strongest scoring area.

💡 Even AIR 3 Archit Dongre (UPSC CSE 2024) trusted this program and credited it for boosting his performance in Prelims and Mains.

Here’s what you get:
✅ Exam-oriented coverage, no irrelevant content
✅ Direct integration of news with Prelims + Mains demands
✅ How to use Current Affairs in answers, with examples & guidance
✅ A guided plan that saves time & maximizes output

📅 Starts 12th September 2025
🔗 Enroll Now: https://tinyurl.com/mts6hnhx

Don’t just “read” Current Affairs. Learn how to score with it.

Gyan Bharatam Mission

Today we will have the PM address.

With the Rs 400-crore Gyan Bharatam project, the government is aiming to create an institution on the lines of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) for the preservation and interpretation of India’s manuscripts. “What ASI is for monuments, Gyan Bharatam will be for manuscripts,” said Union Culture Secretary Vivek Aggarwal.

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/gyan-bharatam-mission-manuscript-heritage-conference-begins-tomorrow-10242257/lite/

This is communication skills...!! Minimum words, maximum content.

(Although I don't prefer to post political messages here, on this topic of stray dogs' menace and stray dog lovers' terror, I have been taking consistent public stance... and thus couldn't resist sharing this video).

https://youtube.com/shorts/-FIKgfxgxd0?si=w0eZCUFCFD_Vfany

I strongly strongly strongly recommend every History Optional student to attend this meeting.

This is a good opportunity to understand a lot of things about History Optional answer writing.

You all should attend and ask any and all the questions to him personally.

Registration link:
https://shorturl.at/MHGv3

What a presentation!

In my lecture on Classical Dance, I talk about the contribution of Rukmini devi Arundale, along with E Krishna Aiyer, and how she regenerated Bharatnatyam by sanitizing it for the sensibilities of modern urban middle class shaped by colonial and missionary criticism. We had to wait for T Balasaraswati to get back to the sensual aspect.

But I cannot dance on stage. Dance has its own charm.

What a presentation!

These are the oldest zero symbols in Bakshali Manuscript. Even the PM mentioned this manuscript yesterday in the Gyan Bharatam speech. Goosebumps to see it.

Today I visited an exhibition by Samhita project funded by MEA in Delhi. It was about history of Mathematics in India.

There were so many interesting things. I will get it posted sometime soon. Also adding them to the class notes.

It will take time to work on that. Meanwhile, this is just a glimpse for you.

Ciao
Nikhil

See you all today at 11.30

I am already very eager..

History of great Indian contributions to Mathematics in one single timeline.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DOl2C7TksTv/?igsh=MW05ejJwcXFrc2N2dg==

We have discussed Paper I already. Now its the time for Paper II.

Was it really more difficult than Paper I? How can the study of PYQs help here? Whats the strategy to tackle vast Modern syllabus? Does historiography really play a role in World History? Which section fetches more marks, Modern or World?

Apart from all this strategy related discussion, we will have question by question discussion of the entire Paper.


📅 18th September | 🕔 5 PM
📍 Online (Zoom) + Offline at LevelUp IAS

🔗 Register FREE: https://tinyurl.com/a6nz5etz

🚨 Townhall Meeting & Q&A with Dr. Peggy Mohan

LevelUp IAS presents an exclusive offline session on History of Languages: Townhall Meeting & Q&A with Dr. Peggy Mohan – Linguist, Author of Father Tongue, Mother Land, & Professor

Also featuring:
Karandeep Singh Sir (Anthropology Faculty, LevelUp IAS)

Nikhil Sheth Sir (History Faculty, LevelUp IAS)

📅 Date: 20th Sept 2025 ⏰ Time: 5:00 PM
📍 Venue: LevelUp IAS, 2nd Floor, 45 Pusa Road, Opp. Metro Pillar 128, Karol Bagh, New Delhi
❗ Offline Only | Limited Seats
🎟 Register Free: https://tinyurl.com/52wzwbb6

First-come, first-served. Don’t miss this rare opportunity!

Most aspirants see UPSC as the gateway to IAS or IPS, the famed Civil Services... but the commission’s reach goes far deeper. It also selects engineers, doctors, economists, scientists, and paramilitary officers who keep India’s systems of health, security, and infrastructure running every day. These roles demand the same grit and perseverance, yet rarely get the spotlight or social prestige. This article opens up that hidden side of UPSC — the services that quietly but powerfully shape the nation.

https://theprint.in/ground-reports/the-upsc-beyond-ias-ips-ifs/2743495/

Earlier, white Taj Mahal was turning green. Now the Red fort is turning black...

Some funny justifications I have heard over the years for not caring:

1. Life is colourful. This is the wonder of life. With time human hair also become grey. Ye to hona hi tha. Sabki umar hoti hai.

2. Yaha khane ko nahi hai, rozgar nahi hai, aur inhe purane buildings ki padi hai. State ke pass paisa and resources limited hai. Priority dekho.

3. Ye sab Mughal structures India ke poor se loote paise se banaye the. They represent the feudal era. Ye sab naa hi rahe to achha.

4. Kya fark padata hai kaunsa rang hai? Building to building hai. Colours are bas baahari dikhawa.

Do you fall in any of these categories?Are you also full of such apathy? If yes, I think you need to come to my classes on Culture. I will change your thinking forever...:)

- Nikhil

This site is in UNESCO WHS Tentative List. Govt of India prepared a whole dossier on this. And now such news is coming...

Will it survive on ground before it gets inscribed as a World Heritage? Or will it vanish before that??

https://www.deccanherald.com/india/karnataka/call-to-save-hirebenakal-lest-it-fades-away-from-the-canvas-of-time-3729472

Proud to be from the same Engineering college. He is a real celebrity and model icon...

Everyone is remembering today how he saved Hyderabad from recurring devastating floods by building two dams upstream. I read half a dozen articles since morning on this.

But his connection with design of marvelous Marine Drive in Bombay for land reclamation is rerely talked about.

Is it because Flood is a major problem faced by Indian cities today? Or sea reclamation is seen as insensitive thing to do in the 21st century?

What do you think?

https://www.deccanchronicle.com/amp/southern-states/telangana/remembering-sir-mokshagundam-visvesvaraya-the-engineer-who-secured-hyderabad-from-floods-1903794

Pehle, loss of Culture..
Fir, loss of Idols...
Then, loss of files on Idol theft...
Finally, loss of shame.....

Ab loss of izzat kehne ke liye bhi koi izzat bachi hai?

Is it a step in the right direction?

Such things have happened a lot recently. The Begums of Bhopal, the Indian excavators of Harappa, thr king of Benares, Brahmins of Calcutta etc get the credit. Not their British rulers/patrons.

There is a pattern. Method. A kind of thinking at work.

All credit should flow to Indians. All blame is reserved only for the British.

Why such black and white? Where are Shades of Grey?

Always note that people are complex. History is complex.