Look at these PYQs:

"The tenets of Hindu and Muslim mystics were similar enough that the ground was ripe for syncretic movements involving adherents of both religious." Elucidate. [2005, 2007]

“Bhakti and Sufi movements served the same social purpose.” Discuss. [2017, 15 Marks]

Discuss the contribution of the Bhakti and Sufi movements of the Medieval India to the process of cultural synthesis? (30 marks, HPSC)

Nikhil

Hello students,

Here we are coming with our old-faithful DAMP course. It is called as Daily Answer Writing and Mentorship Program

This is the program we have been running for over 4 years since 2020-21, and hundreds of students of History Optional have benefitted. However, in recent months, we had paused it for some time due to introduction of HOT500. Even then, students kept asking for it.

Tbh, I was initially surprised by this consistent requests and tried to avoid them. It is not easy to be a history teacher and updating content all the time with so much explosion of new things around. But after a detailed discussion with Vishal sir, we decided to re-launch it with upgrades.

It's features are simple. Three months program, which gives you schedule for studying/revising optional in a disciplined manner. It also gives daily targets to cover the syllabus properly. There is a 24 hour window for submission of answer, every day, which inculcates habit of regular answer writing. After that you get evaluation, feedback, model answers and video discussion. And then there are 2 full length tests (FLTs) too.

Watching merely the foundation lectures doesn't help if we don't do some regular answer writing practice. Also, directly going to write full tests is a very daunting task. This program is that crucial middle link which makes foundation learning strong, improves answer writing, and makes you ready to write full length tests.

No more delaying your answer writing practice. D in DAMP stands for Daily. It really helps in long term. Initial few days are difficult if you have never done any answer writing. But once you get into habit it, that would the moment of your 'arrival'.

And then both Vishal sir and Me are available for personal mentoring as well. The M in DAMP stands for that Mentorship.


Vishal sir has explained the featurs here:
https://youtu.be/P32NWPuBZ3g?si=fD9UxuChfaDLr0VN

The webpage link for the details is here https://www.levelupias.com/upsc-history-optional-daily-answer-writing-damp

Hope to see many among you there. Every day from 17th of March.

Nikhil

The third video in the series is coming soon.

We have already covered Modern and World History sources. Now, stay tuned for Ancient India sources. A detailed discussion of all the important sources in about 28 mins.

Subscribe to our dedicated YT channel for History Optional.

https://youtube.com/@historyoptionalforupsc

The Sources of Ancient India video is now Live on our channel. If you want to ask doubt about any source that I covered or if you want to ask about any other new source which we have not covered, all the comments are most welcome there in YT. I will try to answer them in the comment section.

As old school teachers, we have not yet mastered the art of seeking comments like a seasoned podcaster. So, we still rely on old school style of requesting Like- Comment- Share- Subscribe.

https://youtu.be/IQVb5bu5zXQ

So far, the discussion videos on sources/booklist for Ancient, Modern and World are recorded and public. I have not yet recorded the same for Medieval India. Will do it very soon. If you want to suggest any source or if you want to ensure that I include discussion on any specific source that you are interested in, do let me know.

Nikhil

📢 History Durbar – A Special Open Session with Nikhil Sir & Vishal Sir

Master the craft of answer writing for History Optional

🗓 Date: 13th March 2025 | ⏰ Time: 5 PM | 🎟 Entry: FREE | Mode: ONLINE

📍 Registration Link: https://shorturl.at/uL365

- Meet Nikhil sir and Vishal sir, top faculty for History Optional
- Master high-scoring answer writing techniques
- Get proven strategies to score 300+ in History Optional
- Understand what UPSC really expects in History Optional

Hello History students and UPSC aspirants,

Those of you who are new to Answer Writing of History Optional, do join us today 5 PM in Live session.

Just to give it a feeling of history, we are calling it History Durbar. In reality, neither are we some Lords, nor are our students Subjects. If anything it would a place with a lot of learning and experience sharing..:)

Both Vishal sir and I will discuss some trends, techniques, and strategies of answer writing, with examples.

We will also solve all your queries regarding history optional preparation in this Live session.

For our students, it is easy to meet us. But for anyone who is not a part of our existing courses, it would be a good opportunity to meet up.

You can register here to avail the link for participation:
https://shorturl.at/uL365

Nikhil

Apply Coupon Code: LEVELUPHOLI on any LevelUp IAS Prelims 2025 course and get a 66% Holi discount

The Offer is also applicable on Prelims Modular Courses
📌 Enroll in LevelUp IAS Modular Courses: https://www.levelupias.com/upsc-cse-prelims-modular-courses-online/

📢 This Holi LevelUp IAS brings you:
✅ Modular Courses – Subject-wise crash courses to strengthen your weak areas
✅ 66% OFF Holi Offer on Prelims Courses.
✅ FREE UPSC Prelims Economics Module – Watch all lectures by Santosh sir for FREE on our YouTube channel!

📲Queries? Call directly- 08062961200, 7041021151

In the series of sources for history optional, this is a video on Sources for Medieval India.

https://youtu.be/Kp5lQC7XmRo

The Dravidian movement, right from its initial phase, found a link between Hindi and North India on the one hand and Sanskrit and Brahminism on the other. In other non-Hindi-speaking states that were formed after linguistic agitations, the anti-Hindi sentiment never took off because this link was not clearly established.

In 1917, long before the anti-Hindi agitations began to break out, Mahatma Gandhi said, “It is not correct to say that in Madras one cannot do without English. I have successfully used Hindi there for all my work. In the trains I have heard Madrasi passengers speaking to other passengers in Hindi. Besides, the Muslims of Madras know enough Hindi to use it sufficiently well.”

The prevalence of Urdu among Tamil Muslims and the basic Hindi skills of communities making a livelihood near pilgrimage sites and in trade centres meant that Hindi could not be an “alien language”. The Dravidian movement seemed to succeed in making it appear alien to most Tamils. That may change with time.

Written by Adithya Reddy

https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/hindi-alien-tamil-nadu-9892859/