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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Ye maine thoda jyada hi bol diya...

Recently, UPSC coaching industry has kind of become motivation industry. But I really dont understand this 'motivation' type questions. So, when a student asked it in a live class, I actually spoke something which most people generally don't tell openly.

Let me know if you agree with this view in the comment section. It will "motivate" me to "motivate" you...! 😂😂

https://youtube.com/shorts/pKq9cjiDvOo?feature=share

Folks, watch this. If you want to save time, watch from 1.00 hour onwards. But do watch some of it.

The contingents, the weaponry, the technology of missiles and unmanned warfare on display is marvelous. And most of this is available to the bhade ka tattu Pakistan as well.

It puts your heart to miss beat for a moment. This has marked the changing of all the equations. It puts shame to Trump's ragtag military parade a few months ago. Therein, US army came off not as professional.

I know personally that, in the heart of heart, a common American is extremely worried of the Chinese power. I have spoken to enough of the Americans over the years to know that by now.

We in India are at least 30-40 years behind in this race. We should also be extremely extremely worried.

PS: With this parade, China is claiming that it was Russia and China that suffered most losses, that fought the longest and that fought the most decisive wars in the World War 2. It was Russia and China that won the World War 2 while the Western World just wrote history that suited their narrative. But no more. What a grand and powerful way of rewriting history...!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-aH6rGs-_Q4

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When was India "his" to claim? 😂

That's what you get.
Daring...
Use it wisely.

Dhoni ka fridge. Ganguly ka excitement. It's all in your mind.

Those who see through properly are the ones who ultimately clear the Prelims.

https://youtu.be/QP76bAuiCmI?si=qL2pBzso5E_n6Evr

This was my first brush with the history of Industrial Revolution in the US.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DOSaJcWjLsx/?igsh=MTB3ZGJhcTQzN3Q5Mw==

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This is a great pleasure. Three hours of reading time at the airport...

BTW, Dr Peggy Mohan will be coming to LevelUp IAS for discussing linguistic history very soon. We will discuss with her the mystery of Harappan language and much much more.

She has taught at various places in the US and now associated with JNU and Ashoka University. Her writings on history of languages is like a detective novel.

Looking forward to extremely enriching conversation. You will all be invited.

- Nikhil

We should be extremely vigilant.

What is happening in Nepal is not just frustrated Gen Z and Corruption angry people rising against the government. There are additional layers to it.

There is a talk that CIA is perfecting its model of using social media to manipulate population with such controlled experiments. First Bangladesh and now Nepal. There is also the talk that it is some kind of warning to India. First in Bangladesh then in Nepal.

And these are not just random conspiracies that I am cooking up. These are real discussions ongoing within India's security establishment literally right now.

It is always better to be cynical than sorry in case of national security.

- Nikhil