There is a controversy over the terms: Lal Ded and Lalla Arifa, which are the names of the same person. Interestingly, TheHindu has covered the full news without informing the readers what is the whole controversy about.

In our syllabus, we study her contribution in the name of Lal Ded or Lalleshwari. She was a prominent Kashmiri Bhakti saint-poet, esp Shaiva.

UPSC has already asked a full subjective question on her in History Optional: Bhakti and mysticism of Lal Ded emerged as a social force in Kashmir. Comment. [2013, 10 Marks]

However, I had not heard of the term Lalla Arifa before this controversy. It seems that Lalla Arifa is the Islamized version while Lal Ded is the local Kashmiri term.

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The Third Episode of Akhyan Diaries Podcast...!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOtskk8Td-U

Five Years of life just passed away. I wouldn't say it was easy. It was not. But it was, as they say in American south, 'one hell of a ride'...!

Apparently, aspirants preparing for Pakistan civil services examination, which is equivalent to our UPSC, are also watching my lectures now.

Having cross border fans, how would you feel about it?

The third Episode is public now.... A lot of insightful observations.
Watch, Take notes, Enjoy.

https://youtu.be/uvs51HPz55s

The Supreme Court has made itself the butt of a joke. So did the Delhi government.

Who thought that they can really regulate the firecrackers - green hai ya nahi, specific time slots me sab jagah hai ya nahi... and how to verify if the firecracker is really 'green'? Bas ek sticker se? Yaha hum paraali control nahi kar paa rahe hai, shahar ke gali gali me fire crackers ko kaise control karenge?

It is ridiculous to expect people to follow the norms and even more fabulous to expect the govt to have capacity to enforce its regulation. Only solution is total and complete ban.

Understand that firecrackers have nothing to do with Diwali. Hinduism was already very old when the first firecracker came to India. Ban on firecracker is not a religious issue. Its public safety issue.

Don't pollute the air any further. Don't terrify children, elderly, patients, animals and birds with noise pollution. Ram is called karunya-sindhu. Please learn an ounce of that compassion from the life of Ram. Live and let live.

My moral outrage has no effect whatsoever when the topmost political leader of Delhi is convinced that firecrackers bring happiness.

PS: I am presuming that the thumbs down to this post means disapproval of the CM's statement, not mine...:) And positive symbols mean approval of my statement, not the CM's.

In Hindi we call it chit bhi meri pat bhi meri...:):)

He is so funny....

"I do understand that Pakistan attacked or there is an attack going on with Afghanistan... that's an easy one for me to solve.... In the meantime, I have to run the USA but I love solving wars."

"Pierre Bourdieu’s notion of cultural capital is a useful entry point: elite schools transmit not just knowledge, but styles, habits, manners, networks, and legitimacy. The “premium” in such schools lies less in marginal improvements in test scores than in embedding a student in elite habitus: peer networks, brand prestige, and social signaling."

The times have changed.

My school fee was 35 rs/month. The value behind Uniform was to ensure equality. No rich or poor gap or upper lower caste gap should be visible. It was like a Gopal Kaala. Its public education for you. It served India okay.

In the 21st century, would I dare to send my child to a public school? Even the CBSE schools also are seen as lower class schools in Delhi. Their condition is not envious. There are very few good exceptions.

Parents tend to want Cambridge curriculum, not CBSE ke NCERTs. After summer vacation, international trips and not mamaka gaon are discussed by children in 8th standard.

All of this is passe. It is so 2010s. Now in 2025, another trend has come. And this newest trend started by the class of parents who became rich after 1991 in LPG. They now aspire to send their wards to the New age British boarding schools.

See these two articles

https://theprint.in/ground-reports/new-british-boarding-schools-latest-accessory-indias-rich/2753964/?amp

https://www.brhat.in/dhiti/inside-the-gilded-classroom-how-imported-boarding-schools-are-redrawing-india-s-educational-map

Its a major trend now. In almost every Indian state there are dozens of such european run/owned boarding schools have opened up in last 5 years. Their allure is bewitching.

They don't teach the values of nationalism. They prefer cosmopolitanism. They don't teach equality and compassion but prefer elitism. Their mile sur mera tumhara song is not about Kashmiri, Telugu, Bengali and Tamil, it is about French, American, German and Spanish.

And we in UPSC preparation keep debating the NEP2020. Its only for us middle/lower class. The rich have bypassed the debate on NEP and they don't bother about the politics of text book revision.

In next 10 years these people will define our youth. And 20 years they will run India. That is, if they stay in India, of course. Otherwise Indian elite appears to have forsaken Indian future largely now.

Kalay Tasmai Namah.

- Nikhil

Happy Diwali everyone...!

For north and south Indians its Ram wali Diwali.

For East and west Indians its Krishna wali Diwali.

And, Happy New Year too from west India.

🎉30% Off on All LevelUp IAS Courses — Valid This Diwali Week Only 🪔

This Diwali, give your UPSC prep a fresh start with LevelUp IAS. Learn from top faculty, get clear guidance, and study the smart way.

🎟 Use Coupon Code: DIWALI25
📞 For queries: 8826496658

How to Avail the Offer:

1. Visit: www.levelupias.com
2. Choose your desired course
3. Add it to the cart
4. Apply coupon code DIWALI25 at checkout

✨ Make this Diwali the start of your success story with LevelUp IAS!

Diwali isn't just about Rama's return from Lanka to Ayodhya in UP.

It is also about the Pandavas ending exile and adnyatvas in Haryana, Mahavira attaining nirvana in Bihar, Dwarakadhish Krishna defeating Narakasura in Assam, release of Guru Hargobind Singh from Gwalior fort jail (MP) back to Punjab, and traders opening new ledgers under Lakshmi's blessings across India.

Today morning, at India Gate, the heart of Lutyen's Green Delhi, the day was started with 500 AQI. Even inside homes there is discomfort in breathing now.

Every Diwali, Delhi’s skies glow—and then suffocate. What begins as the Festival of Lights ends with an air crisis of staggering proportions.

Firecrackers contribute nearly 25% of Delhi’s particulate pollution during Diwali week, exacerbating emissions from vehicles (39%), industry (18%), and stubble burning (22%).

Delhi people should stop blaming their neighbours for their own deeds. Pehle apne karam sudhare, fir idhar-udhar ungli dikhaye.

In Indian philosophy, there is a term called Karm-Vipak. This is the karm-vipak of Delhiites. Only problem is, the philosophy talks about karm vipak of an individual. In Delhi, its a collective suffering. Everyone has to suffer.

Is this how cities die?

I am sure this is not the ranking index which we want to top on the world.

A very good insightful analysis. Its a common sense, yes, but its being played on publicly in India today. To save a city. To save India's IT capital. The civil society, industry leaders, scholars and artists are very vocal in asking the state govt to do its duty. And the govt is angry for that...!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iL_uvt1lsZ4

At least, people are vocal in Bangalore. In Delhi, our elites are silent or sold or sheep. Every city needs to speak up.

That is why one should be able to read the original sources. Never trust the translators and interpreters if you are a real historian.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQPhwKQn7zo

While Dakshina Kali is benevolent and auspicious, this one is a Bama Kali. She is destructive, fierce and ferocious. She puts Shiva under her feet. She is worshiped by Tantriks.

Look at this ferocious magnificence.