GS History and Culture

Q1724.
#MCQ

Q1723.
#MCQ

Q1722.
#MCQ

Q1721.
#MCQ

Q1720
#MCQ

1719. Consider the following statements regarding Chalcolithic Period.

1. Chalcolithic settlements could be seen during pre-Harappan, Harappan as well as post-Harappan phase.
2. They knew about copper smelting.
3. They traded with Harappans.

#MCQ

1718. Which of the following developments are associated with Neolithic Revolution?

1. Food Production
2. Beginning of self-sufficient villages
3. Use of Iron
4. Discovery of fire

#MCQ

1717. Which of the following activities were practiced during Mesolithic Age?

1. Food gathering
2. Rock-Art
3. Domestication of animals
4. Burials

#MCQ

1716. Consider the following statements with respect to the Pre-historic period.

1. Homo sapiens started appearing during the Lower Palaeolithic period.
2. Mesolithic and Neolithic cultures belonged to the Pleistocene era.

#MCQ

1715.
#MCQ

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https://youtube.com/shorts/g7lyVSU9QeM?si=N7LFDpstBxpkhLOH

Two tableaus stood apart this 26 January for Visual Arts history.

1. Karnataka - Lakkundi Temple Architecture (Vesara style)

2. West Bengal - Bishnupur Temple architecture (Nagara style)

#architecture

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Get practical advice from someone who’s been in your shoes!

If you want to take a brake of half a day from your preparation in ORN, you must visit the world book fair. Its the largest book fair in India with hundreds of stalls, thousands of people and millions of books. Its the Ganga of books.

I have been visiting almost every year for past 15 years now. It is a great fun. Keep your time aside and plan a visit. Delhi me agar ho to kuchh fayda ho.

Hope to see you there.

That time of the year is approaching. Most exciting time during the year.

May God bless everyone with sackful of books this year. Try to get away from screen for some time and immerse in the magical world of books.

GS History and Culture pinned «Hello students, Most of you have come to this channel through the Youtube channel dedicated History Optional. This channel was started by LevelUp IAS merely 6-7 months ago. As it appears, it is about touching 9000 subscribers and it is already India's largest…»

Hello students,

Most of you have come to this channel through the Youtube channel dedicated History Optional. This channel was started by LevelUp IAS merely 6-7 months ago. As it appears, it is about touching 9000 subscribers and it is already India's largest channel exclusively for History Optional students.

(For those who don't know, here is the link to the History Optional YT Channel)

Please understand that we both, Vishal sir and me, are teachers. We are not content creators or podcasters. Our main objective is to restrict ourself to UPSC CSE demand, although occasionally we end up going perilously close to the limits of its requirement. But I am sure this only helps in deepening our understanding of History as a subject. I am also told that there are many students from various Universities pursuing their BA/MA in History, who also have joined this channel. Some students are also preparing for UGC exam or for state PCS exams. We are only happy to be useful.

Coming to the main point, I guess you all understand the courage it took us to put our entire Optional Foundation course on youtube for everyone. I have been teaching for last 10-11 years now and Vishal sir also almost similar duration. Before coming to LevelUp IAS, he taught in at least half a dozen states to a vast number of students. I used to teach in Vajiram and Ravi and then joined LevelUp IAS. In 2024, we decided to go on Youtube with the entire course. Our idea was two-fold. (1) To reach maximum number of students across India who dont have access to good quality of teaching (self presumptuous..:)) and (2) Refocus our efforts on students at the level of skill building of answer writing, content enrichment, tests and mentorship which requires more time. Daily Foundation classes were not allowing us time to do that earlier. But now we have time for it.

Both Vishal sir and I were also able to come in touch with many new students in this last 6 months. From every nook and corner of India. It was immensely rewarding journey to both of us as well. At personal level, we are also able to read more history books and enrich our content now with more time at disposal.

Now it is almost the end of January 2025. Our entire Foundation course is in public domain. The remaining lectures will be broadcasted in next few days. In this last 6-7 months, except for 2 days where we delayed the posting of the lectures by an hour, there was not a single miss. It was an immense amount of background work and I thank everyone at LevelUp IAS for their relentless, disciplined and creative support.

As most of you are watching these lectures on YT every day, I only request that you like/share and most importantly write comments, either positive, negative, doubts, whatever. Consider this as token of appreciation or guru dakshina of kind. If you write at least one comment for every video you watch, it helps us reach more students. Although we are not podcasters or youtubers, we still cannot escape the rules of Youtube platform.

As our Foundation lectures are coming close, we are planning newer projects for the channel. And in that, wider reach is going to help us a lot. Please consider the request favourably.

Thank you,
Nikhil Sheth
LevelUp IAS

https://youtu.be/3FQ4fxUdm5Y?si=mp_OC0m5ZtfyQmCq

This is a little funny video. Even I am smiling at it. Do watch it.

New Year New Collection

#bookreview

Should we start daily MCQs for practice once again?

We can have 5 MCQs per day as per pre-declared schedule. It will cover ancient, medieval as well as world history. We will provide weekly revision targets for history and culture. In about 80-85 days, we can practice about 500 MCQs here.

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Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia has just started his performance. 2500 people in the hall are listening in rapt attention.

He is nearing 90 years age and still performing on stage. That is called dedication and devotion.

https://youtu.be/UFFra_ZLlhM

On the ground trip of Harappa in person. One of the funniest ever.

Do not panick.

🚨Important annoucement!

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https://youtu.be/iJYrT4e7tq0

Happy New Year. Hope it is full of happiness, health, hardworking and success...!

https://youtu.be/8fpQGy48mro?feature=shared

I just discovered that both Vajpeyee and Jinnah share their birthday with Jesus Christ on 25 December... that is an interesting coincidence.

GS History and Culture pinned «https://youtu.be/PITA6UWNYx0?si=901R23XnqrIkk8vR Tune in to this insightful podcast interview with Mr. Sarang Pophale, a UPSC topper, where we explore the power of perseverance in cracking the UPSC exam. Through engaging anecdotes and personal experiences…»

https://youtu.be/PITA6UWNYx0?si=901R23XnqrIkk8vR

Tune in to this insightful podcast interview with Mr. Sarang Pophale, a UPSC topper, where we explore the power of perseverance in cracking the UPSC exam. Through engaging anecdotes and personal experiences, Mr. Pophale shares how persistence, focus, and resilience are key to overcoming challenges and achieving success.

If you're an aspiring officer, this conversation is a must-watch to understand how perseverance shapes the journey and leads to victory. Don’t miss out on this inspiring discussion!

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26 Dec | 7:45 pm | Online

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UD-aH8n9OyM

We are delighted to invite you to an exclusive workshop on DAF-2 (Detailed Application Form) for the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2024, by the distinguished Prof. Vinay Kumar Nangia (retired Professor and Head of Department of Management Studies from IIT Roorkee, with over a decade of experience as a panelist for UPSC CSE interviews).

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Prof Nangia of IIT Roorkee has served as UPSC Interview Panelist for more than one decade.

It is an extremely insightful podcast that will help students in Interview preparation. Do watch it.

https://youtu.be/v1NdymY6T8s

https://youtu.be/OKEmGWr9TEI

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Kantara movie director is coming up with this film...❤️❤️❤️

I rarely share non history related content here. But just listen to what these commentators/scholars are saying:

Sushant Sarin: "What Pakistanis tried to do in 1971, Bangladeshis are pretty much managing to do that on their own in 2024."

Tilak Devasher: "It will not take long for Bangladesh to become a Talibanized radicalised Islamic society, like another Afghanistan. May be just a couple of months..."

Both these sentences sent chills through my bones. We are definitely looking at challenges of huge proportion in future, which will last generations. At this moment we can just imagine but that imagination is coming true pretty fast with each passing day.

https://youtu.be/WiYA10Af-XA?si=Q0Be-hghYXKjvslL

I know that it's little cheeky for me directly to ask this.

Also, all sincere students should definitely try to stay away from Instagram, at least during their first year of preparation. That is what I advise as a teacher. If we need any social media, it is YT and Telegram, where we have content relevant for our exam...

And yet here I am. With Instagram. Do follow only if you are not able to stay away from Instagram..:)

Just got seven new books. I am all set for next few weeks, till the annual World Book Fair comes to Delhi.

There is one Fiction also there in the list of you see closely. I had almost stopped reading fiction for last 15 years. I used to read either academic books, history non fiction on one extrme or directly poetry (Marathi, Hindi, Sanskrit, Urdu and rarely English) on the other extreme. Now, after this loooooong gap, trying to read a historical fiction. Hoping to find that I still have some patience for it.

https://www.instagram.com/stories/nikhilhistoryculture/3512832812791703087?igsh=emFrbnB2MWl4MDZ6

#bookreview

https://youtube.com/shorts/8RvG8HPAqqw?feature=share

We are announcing our History Bulletin. It is out.

https://youtu.be/IbZ-LBv112s

🎬 Gear up for our second movie screening!

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https://www.instagram.com/reel/C_k6r5iyfR1/?igsh=dm9kMnB0ZjA3bWM0

It is so true. I was just telling it the other day in the class. Our houses were always painted in many vibrant, bright colours. That was our culture. But now we have lost colours, become so plain and boring.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTVP1eiZh2A

First lecture of our Prelims Masters Program. The batch started yesterday.
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https://www.youtube.com/live/OWeLMrTIEtg?si=hHAg1iNartiI7ywD

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This webinar will also include a QnA session with Karandeep sir.

International Day against Illicit Trafficking of Cultural Property.

Agar isko really celebrate karna hai to London, Paris, NewYork ke sare museums khaali karne padenge... 😂

Sri Dalada Maligawa

Today afternoon I visited the The Buddha Tooth Relic Temple at Kandy, Srilanka. It is one of the holiest places of Buddhism in Lanka. However, the building housing it is not very old, it was constructed hardly a few centuries ago.

Notwithstanding, there is a long story of the chain of custody of Buddha's tooth relic. How it kept on changing hands from Khema to some Odiya King then finally it reached Srilanka. The role of Dantha and Hemamala, the Odiyan royals, who took it from India to Srilanka in the 4th century, sometime during the beginning of the Gupta era, is well remembered in this respect. The reason for this transfer is cited to be local rivalry, both political and religious.

Interestingly, after reaching Srilanka the story doesn't end. It rather takes a new lease of life. Many new episodes were added to it. The most recent episodes in the life of the tooth relic are from British era who added some new content to it. Its worth reading from it's very scratch.

This entire story/history/myth is very central to the identity of Srilanka Budhhism and Buddhists here. Everyone knows about it. Its a popular story. As recent as in 2014, there was even a movie on this named Siri Daladagamanaya.

Visit for Photos:
https://www.instagram.com/p/DCWqj75NDia/?igsh=ZW5ldmh5OGRlYmhm

Dambulla Cave Temple

The day started with another 600 steps hillock climb. There are 5 caves with many large and small painted Buddha murtis. The cave walls are all painted.

The era to which it belongs to spans from 100 BCE (Sangama period for our rederence, or specifically, pre-Christian period) to 1700 CE (Maratha period for our reference again).

It was originally constructed by the king Walagamba. He was the king of Anuradhapura in north srilanka. But invasion from South India Tamil kings led to his flight from his capital. He went to further south in Lanka and came to this area. When he reconquered his capital in Anuradhapura, he constructed this place.

If we take our reference, the caves belong to the time when Satavahanas started excavating Ajanta and Shakas started funding Kanheri. Exactly at the time when Satavahana and Shakas were fighting to control the Roman trade in Deccan, the king Walagamba accepted Buddbism and used it to consolidate his own power in Srilanka.

What I find wonderful is that we see spread of Buddhism to Andhra coast and Sri Lanka in this period. While Tamilnadu was sandwiched by these two areas, we see least impact of Buddhism in Sangam Literature, which has much more traces of Hinduism. And all these areas were not isolated but had frequent intercourse. This to me seems like a puzzle.

----------------------------------

This place also a unesco world heritage site. Well protected. There is not a single foodshop in a near vicinity and the entire hill is clean. Both Sigiriya and Dambulla are some of the cleanest historic sites that I have so far seen in Indian subcontinent.

Visit for Photos:
https://www.instagram.com/p/DCVttPHyUAZ/?igsh=MXR5YmZsazMxd3Nieg==

How did Shivaji Maharaj create the Maratha Navy?

Despite calling him as the father of Indian Navy, we don't often read about this fascinsting episode of Indian history.

Actually, there are a lot of fascinsting stories about it. Watch a historian of Marathas giving a very quick capsule perspective on hurdles faced and overall strategy followed by Shivaji. It must have been a hell lot of daring act...! And it did yield wonderful results.

https://youtu.be/Jq8bFLkhBWQ

Sigiriya

Today I visited Sigiriya, which is a unesco world heritage site in srilanka.

For last exactly 10 years, I have been teaching about it in my Art and Culture classes, when we dicuss Ajanta paintings. Ajanta paintings were trendsetter in a way that it influenced entire Asian art. Its replicas/derivative paintings are found in Srilanka, Afghanistan, Thailand and China. India was indeed the 'light of Asia'. More on this in our lecture on Art and Culture during Gupta Era.

This time though, I got to visit it. Climbed all the way up but it was worth it. Its a breathtaking view of surrounding.

An anecdote:
Once upon a time, Gandhiji collected public funds for Kaka Kalelkar to visit Girosoppa waterfall. When Kaka Kalelkar said he won't go alone without students and since funds were not enough, it would be better to cancel the plan. Gandhiji replied that if one student sees it, it is only one. But when a teacher sees it, it's all the students who get to see it through him. Kaka Kalelkar was thus persuaded to go.

I am hoping to be true to Gandhiji's ideal of a teacher.

(For photos, visit https://www.instagram.com/nikhilhistoryculture?igsh=ZjczcTUzdWMzMGZp )

#unesco

Preparing content for the upcoming Art and Culture lectures (in PMP) while traveling on some random road in Srilanka.

In this year's edition, I am planning to add some new content on linguistic history of India using a fantastic new book just published. It's by GN Devy, who has authored civilizational history of India through linguistic lens.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DCTjqI6NK1B/?igsh=MTlzY3RsNnVpM284MA

#bookreview

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/royal-descendants-decry-rahul-gandhis-description-of-them-as-pliant/article68840668.ece

This is the topic we study naturally in Modern India history clases, in the very beginning of the course.

How did British conquer and rule India? Did the Maharajas put up opposition to the British or they became their Indian supporters?

Can the answer be black and white? It's easy. Some were defiant and opposed British, some were facilitators and sycophants. Its both.

However, if some Maharaja is today in politics and is doing good work, and his forfathers were pro British, I don't think it should have any relevance. We judge them by their work today not of their forefathers generations ago.

There is no point basking in the glory of achievement of ancestors nor is there any need to be ashamed of their anti-national deeds and defend them.

So, I don't agree with the outrage of Maharajas today. However, if you agree with the Maharajas, give thumbs up. If you don't agree, the reverse.

#music

In this very short video, we get to see whether Gandhian ideas are still relevant.

It seems that a lot of section of new protectors prefer Fanon and not Gandhi. Will it help in resolution of the problem?

How relevant is Gandhi today? UPSC has asked this question a few times. Its an evergreen question. We generally write a very typical answer. This short video will provide a different case study and a different view point. Most revealing and must watch.

https://youtu.be/flNADE-IKYQ

Here is the link:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBMfaGYFl3LwC_416k6CpxA

Ninth episode of BTQ is out.

https://youtu.be/4C633EyWOAc

There is a huge crop of toppers talk in recent years. Many toppers share their journey and strategy. Even though the actual usefulness of some such videos is doubtful, we all still like to watch them, because it gives a pleasure of vicariously living through the moments of triumphs.

However, at LevelUp IAS, we have a slightly different perspective. We are trying to bring a more methodical and scientific approach to things.

As a part of those efforts, we have started a podcast on mental toughness. We interview officers (both seniors and juniors) to probe their mental journey.

Mental health is emerging as a major issue and we take it very seriously. LevelUp IAS is the first civil services exam coaching institute which started completely free mental health counselling services for aspirants more than six months ago. Our experts are just a call away. In the same vein, we have started this podcast.

In this very special episode of our podcast, Dipika Kumar, an Assistant Director in the Ministry of Defence, and a UPSC CSE topper of 2017 batch, has provided an excellent example of resilience.

Resilience is a major part of mental toughness and Dipika mam has shown through her own living example that the most extreme odds in life can overcome with right mindset. Her life is a story to prove that clearing UPSC CSE is not only about conquering the syllabus. Its also about conquering your own mind and thoughts first.

Do watch it.
https://youtu.be/Wf_PkERyM6U

HOT500 2.0

This is the first lecture by Vishal sir. He has covered some part of the Sources chapter from Ancient Indian history. It is done through QnA format. Do watch it....

https://youtu.be/VOfuUz19aYc?si=uFeQDssbO4J0smST

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https://youtu.be/4feLSiyx210

After a new discovery of Ancient city in Mexico (which was pointed out a few days ago), there is another discovery of a new bronze age city in Saudi Arabia. They have named it al-Natah.

It was contemporary to our Harappan cities. It is entirely possible that they knew each other.

Who said Dead things are not interesting? Their study is very dynamic and exciting indeed.


https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2024/10/4000-year-old-town-discovered-hidden-arabian-oasis

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https://youtu.be/IZxbS9JVg0I

This is a fabulous after-story in the life of great Rakhaldas Banerjee, the man who discovered the identity of Mohenjodaro. Did he become a thief? Or it was a usual colonial arrogance of sorts?

All of it must have been a massive misunderstanding, if at all. But lI don't think he was unaware of the value of the item involved in the story.

Do watch this facinsting story, being retold by Prof Nayanjot Lahiri.

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They have discovered an entirely unknown Mayan city in Mexico called Valeriana. Its like finding a new city in Harappan civilization but for Maya.

It was done using the LiDAR data of the dense forest region. This data was already publicly available for many years. It was taken for some carbon storage survey by other scientists. Ittefaqan, some archaeologist was going through the same data, after many years, and identified a whole ancient Mayan city structures, of pyramids, houses, highways etc.

This is a fascinsting discovery. Even today more cites are found, more scripts are deciphered. Archaeology is not static. History of dead peoples is so dynamic.

Of all articles that I read on this discovery, this one is quite good:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/oct/29/lost-maya-city-valeriana-mexico-temple-pyramids-plazas

Are you this?

Most of us teachers have felt a seismic shift in the post-Covid years with the type of students that we receive. Initially it was felt that it was just a temporary Covid lockdown effect but now gradually it is realized that the generation is changing.

Most of you reading this belong to this Generation Z. There is article that recently appeared in Frontline that described the characteristics of Indian Generation Z. Do you think it is an appropriate description of yours? If you feel that it is a fair representation, give thumbs up. If it is not, give thumbs down.

Here is a link to the full article:
https://frontline.thehindu.com/economy/gen-z-characteristics-digital-natives-career-aspirations-mental-health-social-media-work-culture-technology-identity/article68739933.ece

2024 is the 100th year of announcement of the discovery of Harappan Civilization. But do you know, it could well have been 110th year. But somehow it all got delayed.

Listen to this shortest story of what delayed Harappan discovery by Prof. Nayanjot Lahiri, the most eminent historian alive today on this topic.

https://youtu.be/1Yl67dYCXMo

Here is the link for further details: https://www.levelupias.com/upsc-cse-gs-history-modern-india-module/

https://www.instagram.com/p/DBssjymyHZ2/?igsh=anY0ejNhMzM3cWhw


I am told that instagram would be a better place to reach out to wider audience with interesting books and comments. While Telegram is the platform suitable for UPSC CSE preparation, for mor3 generic history stuff, insta will be better.

So, here I am reviving an old insta page which was laying dormant for many years.

Will gradually try to shift all non UPSC related history updates like some new events, books, reviews, visits and historians to Instagram.

https://youtu.be/AMZFAbImJgA

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Fresh episode of BTQ (Behind the Question) is here... this time with a question from 2024 paper.

https://youtu.be/vfVeUkfhvz8

https://youtu.be/P8rOEhnnwbY

🔥FREE Movie Screening Alert – Happening Today! Register Now

✅FREE Registration: https://bit.ly/LevelUp_FREE_Movie

Date: 27th Oct | Time: 5 PM
Location: LevelUp IAS, Karol Bagh
2nd Floor, 45 Pusa Road, Opp. Metro Pillar 128, Karol Bagh (https://maps.app.goo.gl/wQpDdKY1Pbijmu546)

Join us today for a screening of Inside Out (2015) – a brilliant Oscar-winning film that explores emotions like Joy, Sadness, and Anger, and how they shape our lives.

Perfect for UPSC aspirants, the screening will be followed by an insightful discussion on how these themes connect to mental well-being and UPSC preparation.

Open to all – bring your friends along!


Call for details: 08045248491 / 7041021151

Now, we are coming with HOT500 2.0.

To be honest, this has been our most ambitious program ever for history optional. And running of 1.0 batch has given us a lot encouragement about the utility of this program.

This time, we will begin the schedule with Ancient India. And this will be the final batch this year. We will not be able to come up with 3.0.

Although called as HOT500, as I have recently started saying again and again, it should ideally be termed as HOT800. There are about 75+ classes and 8 tests (8 sectional, 2 FLT)

The entire course will be over before the end of February. So, you will be able to complete the optional thoroughly before shifting completely to exclusive Prelims preparation.

The schedule and details are provided on course page. Visit this link for further details.

https://www.levelupias.com/upsc-cse-history-optional-through-500-questions

IMP PS: DO NOT take admission now. I have heard that LevelUp IAS is bringing certain discount for Diwali. Wait for a couple of days.

GS History and Culture pinned «We have started this new playlist on eminent historians of India. We teach about their views, you read and write about them. But have you seen them speaking? So, small excerpts of eminent historians on some interesting issues. It will become a very selected…»

We have started this new playlist on eminent historians of India.

We teach about their views, you read and write about them. But have you seen them speaking?

So, small excerpts of eminent historians on some interesting issues. It will become a very selected and eclectic collectoon over time. Although primarily from History Optional point of view, I am sure every aspirant will definitely find it enriching.

Eminent Historians of India: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRY4mFD-4D6uwIEbduokvjo4Fukg5n_Pu

Dont forget to subscribe to stay tuned.

🎬 FREE Movie Screening Alert!

Open to All – Watch Inside Out (2015) at LevelUp IAS!

👉 Reserve your seats now: https://bit.ly/LevelUp_FREE_Movie

Date: 27th Oct | Time: 5 PM
📍 Location: LevelUp IAS, Karol Bagh
LevelUp IAS, Karol Bagh Centre (https://maps.app.goo.gl/tNGTrbR4KmxBa6um8) 2nd Floor, 45 Pusa Road, Opp. Metro Pillar 128, Karol Bagh

Join us for an exciting movie screening of the Oscar-winning film Inside Out (2015), where you’ll explore how emotions like Joy, Sadness, and Anger shape our lives.

Perfect for UPSC aspirants, the screening will be followed by an insightful discussion on how these themes connect to mental well-being and UPSC preparation.

Invite your friends too!

📞 For queries, call: 08045248491 / 7041021151

Along with the complete set of Critical Edition of Mahabharata.

One of the toughest and longest tasks taken by Indian intellectuals. Best of the minds worked on this for about 40-50 years at Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute (BORI).

I had always read about it's intellectuals feat. Even Pandit Nehru, Zakir Hussain, Dr Radhakrishnan all had visited BORI to see this work being unfolded. Got to see the print copies, touch them and smell them for the first time.

With Rudrangshu Mukherjee, one of the best historians of modern India alive today. He is presently the chancellor of Ashoka University.

I have so far read three books by him. Gandhi and Tagore, Nehru vs Bose, Rani and Begum. Also there is Insightful analysis of peasant participation in 1857 that we regularly quote in our answers.

His talk yesterday was titled 'Bose and Bose'. It was on Rashbihari Bose and Subhashchandra Bose. Extremely interesting. Already incorporated those insights in my lecture on Revolutionaries and on INA. They will get reflected in the next round of teaching.

Talk is ongoing... on Bose and INA by Rudrangshu Mukherjee.

Sanjeev Chopra is ex LBSNAA Director. Shyam Saran is one of the most sagacious diplomats India has alive today. TCA Raghavan is an author.

https://youtu.be/lgIN9tFIdvM

Sonali ma'am's latest podcast with Rujuta Bankar ma'am, ICLS (AIR 325) is live! ✨

She shares valuable insights on developing a growth mindset, building a strong support system, and maintaining mental well-being during UPSC preparation.

A must-watch for every UPSC CSE aspirant!

This is the obituary written in the Times of India in 1904 when Jamsetji passed away.

Merely 120 years ago, a great man was identified as someone who didnt claim honour, fame or privilege. That was the ideal to aspire to.

Today, in the era of social media, a great man is someone who is more famous on some platforms and who has more following. The subscription number decides our judgement about the quality of content/advise.

Do you think it is a good development? Inevitable it is, but is it good?
If you think its good then give thumbs up. If you think its a deterioration of values, give thumbs down.

Nikhil

Old vs. New Justice Lady

Everyone is focusing on blindfold and sword-to-constitution as change in symbolism. And rightly so.

But none talked about her representation. She is no more wearing Roman stola but Indian saree. She is also wearing all Indian ornaments - mugut, haar, bajuband, kamarband, bangles and also tikli/bindi. She is an Indian goddess incarnate.

Only if more Indian journalists joined our course on Indian culture. It will make them sensitive to cultural aspects also...:)

Nikhil

https://youtu.be/B_Vhv0r6Xw0

#bookreview

Is there anyone here from CoEP who is present in Delhi and preparing from ORN? We are trying to arrange a meet up of aspirants from CoEP in Delhi.

We used to have CoEP aspirants group back in 2015 but with many of us getting selected, the group dissipated. If enough people are interested, we are thinking of starting the group again.

If you are in Delhi, please let me know. You can drop me a message or call or come to the LevelUp IAS office tomorrow morning at 10.30 AM. We can meet and chart out further plan.

Nikhil

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This is indeed an interesting book. Not at all for UPSC preparation, but for those who are interested in how to create meaning out of archaeological remains. There are some references to Indian examples but overall the illustrations come from across the prehistoric world.

#bookreview

Here is a new video for all of you, those who couldn't attend today's lecture must watch! Others can watch as well!

Watch what is the relevance of confluence of Saraswati Ganga Yamuna of your preparation.

Share as much possible 😄 thanks and once again happy World mental health day.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uvbf3cSDbOs

#worldmentalhealthday

Ratan Tata ...In His Own Words !

“I had a happy childhood, but as my brother & I got older, we faced ragging because of our parent’s divorce, which in those days wasn’t as common. My grandmom brought us up.

"Soon after, when my mother remarried, the boys at school started saying all kinds of things about us. But our grandmother taught us to retain dignity at all costs, a value that’s always stayed with me. It involved walking away from these situations instead of fighting back.

"And if it weren’t for grandmom, I wouldn’t be half the person I am today.

"My father and I couldn’t agree on the same thing – I wanted to go to college in the US, he insisted on UK. I wanted to be an architect, he insisted on me becoming an engineer. If it weren’t for my grandmother, I wouldn’t have ended up at Cornell University in the US. It was because of her that even though I enrolled for mechanical engineering, I switched majors & graduated with a degree in architecture. My father was upset, but I was finally my own, independent person in college & it was my grandmother who taught me that courage to speak up can also be soft.

"After college, I landed a job at an architecture firm in LA, where I worked for 2 years. It was a great time – the weather was beautiful & I loved my job. It was in LA that I fell in love & almost got married. But at the same time I’d made the decision to move back, at least temporarily, since grandmom wasn’t keeping too well. So I came back to visit her & thought that the person I wanted to marry would come to India with me, but because of the 1962 Indo-China war her parent’s weren’t okay with her making the move anymore & the relationship fell apart.

"After the move, I did spend some time with my grandmom. I’d run with my dog, catch up with her & we’d have long chats. I’m glad I got that time with her before she passed, because right after I moved to Jamshedpur for an internship at what’s known as Tata Motors now.
It was a waste of time – I was moved from one department to another & since I was a family member, no one told me what to do – I spent 6 months trying to be ‘useful’.

"It was only after I moved to Tata Steel that I got specific work & my job got interesting. I started from the floor & understood the plight of those working there. So years later, when we downsized Tata Steel from 78,000 to 40,000, we ensured to pay them their present day wages until retirement–it’s been in our DNA to serve those who serve us.

"Then, in 1991, JRD stepped down as the Chairman of Tata Industries and then from Tata Sons, there was vicious criticism.
There were other aspirants, who were vocal of him having made the wrong decision. I had been through this before, so I did what I knew best–maintained silence & focused on proving myself.
The criticism was personal–JRD got clubbed with nepotism & I, as the wrong choice. I was under scrutiny, but the time I spent on the floor served as a big plus – I hadn’t gotten there from nowhere!

"All in all, it was a big move. I remember after I was appointed Chairman, I walked with JRD to his office, where he told his secretary that he had to move out. I said, ‘No, J, don’t move out, this is your office for as long as you want.’ He said, ‘Where will you sit?’ I said, ‘Where I’m sitting today–I have an office down the hall & that’s fine.’

"I was lucky to have him there. He was my greatest mentor & the years that he was alive, I used to go into his office & say, ‘J, I wish this had happened 10 years ago, we have such a great relationship.’ He was like a father & a brother to me & not enough’s been said about that.

"Ever since, my life has been for & about growing the company. When I was appointed Chairman, it was believed my surname got me the position, but my focus was on creating something bigger than us all & on giving back, which has been in the TATA DNA since the start.

With Jamshedpur for instance, while our workers were thriving, the surrounding villages were suffering. It became our goal to uplift their quality of life as well … things like these came naturally to us.

"Even with the Nano – I remember seeing a family of 4 on a bike in the heavy Bombay rain—I wanted to do more for these families who were risking their lives for lack of an alternative. By the time we launched the Nano, our costs were higher, but I’d made a promise & we delivered. Looking back, I’m proud of the car & the decision to go ahead with it.

"That’s what my life has been about—work became a lifestyle. I was always at Bombay House or travelling, that’s why even though I came close to marriage with 2-3 different partners, I couldn’t go through with it because they’d have to adjust to my lifestyle & that didn’t sit right with me.

"Now that I’m retired, that lifestyle has changed again. People ask if I’m truly ‘retired’ & to that I say—there’s no doubt about it. I’m enjoying the separation from the company—I don’t look at newspapers & worry about the bad stuff anymore.

"But let me tell you, retirement isn't about playing golf, or reading on a beach, whilst sipping on a cocktail. In fact, never before has the urge to do more, been greater. From affordable cancer treatment, to making the lives in rural India easier—I’m looking forward to making it happen at the Tata Trust. I’m trying to enjoy myself to be honest— I’m spending time with friends —old & new, across age groups, who I’m constantly learning from.

"At 82, I’m still learning, so when you ask me to give advice, I feel like the ‘right advice’ changes over a period of time—but the one thing that remains unchanged is the desire to do the right thing.

"So I’ll say this —leave the advice & do the right thing, even if it isn’t the easiest thing to do. When you look back at your life, that’s what’s going to matter the most. Doing the right thing.”

- RatanTata