Iqbal was a nationalist poet till 1910s. He wrote Sare Jahan se Achha. Then he gradually changed. He became Islamist. By 1930s, his vision became the vision of Pakistan. His dreams and speeches were given concrete shape by Jinnah. He is thus treated as Spiritual father of Pakistan.

Why did this transformation take place? What makes a great intellectual like Iqbal into a pedestrian Communalist? Its one of the great questions of modern Indian history. Communalism is not merely for foolish illiterates. Secularism, conversely, is not for intellectually superior only.

I think we need to help students understand this complexity. Why this cancel culture?

Nikhil

Solution to the Mapping PYQs.

All mapping questions, by using official upsc paper maps. From 2013 till 2024.

https://www.levelupias.com/upsc-cse-history-optional-mapping-pyqs-solution/

Audrey Truschke was hugely controversial for extending arguments in support of Aurangzeb in her book on him.

Now she is coming with a new book on the history of India, to be released next week.

In a recent interview printed in The Hindu, she talks about Shivaji. She seems have taken Phule's ideal of Shivaji as "shudra king", but given it a perverse turn. Phule had said that Shivaji's ideal was to help the agriculturalists. She seems to have picked up the word shudra and says that he wanted to become king to improve his caste to Kshatriya. There is no grander purpose, there is no vision larger than life, no idea of working for people. She seems to have slotted Shivaji's life story into the story of personal ambition of an individual and caste politics.

Its inversion of means-ends. Phule's narrative is made to stand upside down.

We obviously have to wait for the whole book to be released but I am sure that it will become controversial.

Audrey loves controversy. She thrives on it.

Nikhil

The concept of Proto History is not as straightforward as it seems. It is loaded with different shades and meanings. Do watch for 7 mins.

https://youtu.be/JKVxT6e6CF8