History Optional DAMP 2.0 starting on 7th November.

▪️Revise your optional in four months, just before you turn to Prelims preparation.
▪️Improve the answer writing with daily practice under expert guidance
▪️ Sectional papers
▪️Update your notes with latest historiography

For the daily schedule, visit:
https://www.levelupias.com/course/upsc-damp-history-optional/

Join @nikhilhistoryoptional, a channel dedicated for history optional preparation.

In Unit 13 and Unit 14 of the syllabus of Paper I, which are the specific topics that you find most difficult or need better understanding of?

Also, which are the topics which you are most comfortable with in general?

Got a fair bit of idea now. I will try to produce one video regarding the religious/philosophical development of the era.

https://youtu.be/a6ScxqI15e0

For the details, visit: https://www.levelupias.com/course/upsc-damp-history-optional/

This is the exercise given in Old NCERT of Medieval India, class 7 written by Romila Thapar. Now, compare them with the questions recently asked by UPSC in GS/Optional:

▪️"The Chola rulers were not only mighty conquerors, efficient administrators but also builders of fine temples." Comment. [2021, 15 Marks]
▪️Chola maritime expansion was driven largely by concerns of overseas commerce. Elucidate. [2022, 20m]

Mention of Diwali in Al Beruni's Kitab up Hind.

#traveller #literature #earlymedieval

@nikhilhistoryculture

Tagore in 1903 on the state of history writing in India:

"The History of India that we read and memorize to sit for examinations is only a narrative of nightmares. [It is a tale] of who came from where, ceaselessly fought each other, of which sons and brothers wrestled for the throne, of the disappearance of one group and its replacement by the other. The confusing congeries of the Pathans, the Mughals, the Portuguese, the French and the English have made the nightmare more and more complicated…

Where the Indians are, these histories do not answer. As if, only those who have engaged in battles and assassinations alone exist, Indians do not…. It one's youth, it is history which makes one familiar with his own country. It is exactly the opposite in our case. It is our history which has hidden our country in obscurity."

“On a stormy day, the storm itself is not the only event of the day… For human beings, the events of births and deaths, joy and sadness taking place on that day are more important. But a foreigner sees only the storm, because he is outside the houses, not inside. That’s why, in the history written by foreigners, we only see stories of that dust and storm, not of the homes. When we read that history, it seems there was no India then, the Mughals and Pathans, raising their flags, just marched around from north to south and west to east… It wasn’t like there were only Delhi and Agra then. There were Kashi and Nabadweep (birthplace of 15th century Vaishnava saint Chaitanya Mahaprabhu) too. The life stream flowing around that time in the real India, the waves of efforts that were rising, the social changes that were happening, we don’t find any description of that in history.

Tagore asserted that Indians are not “branches and shrubs” but “our hundreds and thousands of roots through centuries have occupied prime position in India. But the kind of history we are made to read makes our children forget all this. It seems, we don’t exist in India, only the visitors do,” he wrote.

#Historiography
@nikhilhistoryculture

Answer Writing Practice

Question 36: Medieval India
Write a critical note on the role played by the Ulama in the Delhi Sultanate Polity. (10)

PS1: Submit your answers by the end of 14th November.
PS2: Reply here in the comment section with your answers (scanned image) for evaluation. Or join the discussion group @nikhilhistorydiscussion for commenting and posting.

#AnswerWritingPractice
@nikhilhistoryoptional

https://youtu.be/e3M-fshh74I

#religion #acharya #bhakti #hinduism
@nikhilhistoryoptional

This topic is going to be important in 2023 exam - prepare all its dimensions well.

@nikhilhistoryoptional

Contribution of KP Jayaswal on the issue of democratic elements in India's ancient past.

The topic is back into limelight this year due to the latest UGC circular and we be better prepared for all dimensions on this, which is posted above.

We recently covered it in two detailed questions in our ongoing Daily Answer Writing Program.

Mughal and Ahoms, a topic to be prepared in Medieval India.

@nikhilhistoryculture

Answer Writing Practice

Question 37: Medieval India
To what extent is ‘Segmentary State’ model relevant for defining the Vijayanagar State? Critically examine. (15)

Question 38: Medieval India
What impact did Kabir and Nanak leave on Indian Society and Culture? (15)

Question 39: Medieval India
Describe the role of Sufi saints in influencing the social milieu of Medieval India. (10)

PS1: Submit your answers by the end of 26th November.
PS2: Reply here in the comment section with your answers (scanned image) for evaluation. Or join the discussion group @nikhilhistorydiscussion for commenting and posting.

#AnswerWritingPractice
@nikhilhistoryoptional

#ancient #debate

@nikhilhistoryoptional

https://open.spotify.com/album/1r7y6jEmdNHzJIkmdiwfjf?si=g4u90EC9SMeuSFKd-5bUbA

This is one of the best music albums I have come across in 2022. The fills the very definition of classic-yet-new.

These compositions are by Muthuswami Dikshitar (18th c.), who is celebrated as one among the Trinity of Carnatic music.

According to one popular account, the violin was introduced into Carnatic music by Baluswami Dikshitar (1786–1858), the younger brother of Muthuswami Dikshitar. He encountered the instrument being played by British bands in colonial Madras, and decided to learn it. The music was mostly Irish and Scottish fiddling, rather than Western classical music. After three years of lessons, he adapted the violin to Carnatic music. It is believed that Muthuswami Dikshitar composed these lyrics to aid his brother master the plain notes on the violin.

#music
@nikhilhistoryculture

https://theprint.in/pageturner/book-scene/the-right-is-writing-now-sanjeev-sanyal-at-vikram-sampaths-bravehearts-of-bharat-launch/1236870/

From this news, there are some PYQs related topics which have been asked by UPSC:

1. Chand Bibi, Deccan Policy of Akbar.
2. Lachit Borfukan, Ahom-Mughal conflict
3. Cholas and Indian cultural influences in south east Asia.

I have ordered one copy of the book. Will report later if more PYQs related topics are important from the viewpoint of 2023 Main examination.

Note:
Don't go into ideological issues. They won't help us in the exam. Stay close the exam requirement as much as possible.

Stay tuned for updates
@nikhilhistoryOptional

Answer Writing Practice
Some important dimensions of Mughal Era are covered here. Even if you need to do some digging, do that. It will be immensely helpful in your preparation.

Question 40: Medieval India
Mughal paintings reflect the contemporary socio-political conditions. Discuss. (15m)

Question 41: Medieval India
Give your opinion on the urban development in India during the Mughal times. (20m)

Question 42: Medieval India
Write a short essay on: “The Mughals and the European trading companies.” (15m)

Question 42: Medieval India
Will it be correct to say that the rural economy in Mughal India was relatively self-sufficient? (10m)

PS1: Submit your answers by the end of 4th December. (1 week from today)
PS2: Reply here in the comment section with your answers (scanned image) for evaluation. Or join the discussion group @nikhilhistorydiscussion for commenting and posting.

#AnswerWritingPractice
@nikhilhistoryoptional

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtHFAJ5ZH78

If you can understand Hindi, this is a good discussion. With a lot of interesting points.

Faizan Mustafa has been known to conduct interesting discussions and this time the guest is from the other side. Two people from two different sides coming together. However, Faizan Mustafa has conducted a very rational role of an interviewer and did not interrupt the guest with the intentions of foisting his own views. It is difficult to find such interviewer nowadays.

The focus of this discussion is on analytical approach, going into the mind of people at that historical juncture and types of personalities who shaped the histories. These are the issues we don't generally write in our answers in CSE Main examination. However, it is a small step in the direction of understanding the issue.

#partition #modern #colonization #communalism
@nikhilhistoryoptional