Upword

Why do Hindu temples keep falling into corruption? The answer isn't just politicians and bureaucrats. It is about their governance regime. In this video, we explore the ancient Agamic framework and offer a completely different way of thinking about temple governance: the Temple as a Sacred Commons. Watch now: https://youtu.be/SUP2V0tfxpQ

Gurugram, India’s so-called Millennium City, boasts glass towers, luxury malls, and billion-dollar startups. Yet every monsoon, it collapses into chaos. Streets flood, drains overflow, and lives are lost. Why does one of India’s wealthiest cities drown so easily? Understand Gurugram’s paradox—unchecked real estate growth, vanishing wetlands, fragile infrastructure, and a deep groundwater crisis. From satellite data revealing a 293% increase in urban sprawl to the loss of 80% of its water bodies, the story of Gurugram serves as a warning about profit-driven urbanization without proper planning. Watch the explainer to see what Gurugram teaches us about India’s future cities—and why ignoring geography and ecology comes at a deadly cost: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ov3l5gWhLeE&t=193s

On popular demand, we’re finally launching *Upword Lite*, our _Hindi-first_ channel, to take Upword’s ideas to a wider audience by making them simpler and easier to engage with - while remaining committed to the *Hindu traditionalist lens* that anchors our work. Do subscribe to the new channel: https://www.youtube.com/@upwordlite

Praveen Shankara of Prana Stories speaks with Ashish Dhar on transitioning our civilization from mere survival to genuine flourishing. The discussion revolves around: - Dharma as a comprehensive "meta-religion" that provides essential cultural limits against modern overconsumption - Rebuilding traditional institutions to reclaim collective agency - Addressing structural challenges like freeing temples from State control - The urgent need for ecological restoration You can view Part 1 here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLc-f9T7qO0

*The world order is changing before our eyes.* China is rising. The Middle East is on fire. American dominance is being challenged. A new multipolar era is emerging. The question is no longer whether the world will change. The question is: *Will India shape the new order or merely adapt to it?* In this conversation, Ashish Dhar and Pankaj Saxena decode the geopolitical shifts redefining the 21st century and examine India’s path to becoming a major global power. Watch, Hype, Share and Join the conversation: https://youtu.be/Kk0k1LQUtCE?si=N_KU-UG-Y9P9adrJ

*Why criminals are allowed in Temples but not menstruating women* Based on Rama Seshan Chandrasekaran’s substack essay, we break down the Hindu temple debate around menstruation, ritual purity, and sacred space - and why modern takes often miss the deeper logic. Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jl4MfRuBHrA

*Parents, beware! Who is REALLY educating your children?* Based on the eye-opening book *_'Who is Raising Your Children?'_ by Rajiv Malhotra and Vijaya Viswanathan*, this video exposes the UN mandates and NGO networks actively targeting our children. This is Breaking India 3.0 - a covert attack on our youth from the inside out. Please watch and share this vital warning with every parent you know! Watch the shocking truth here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ERbYG22Usk

*Why are wealthy Hindu couples refusing to have kids?* The DINK (Dual Income, No Kids) lifestyle is exploding! But is it really about the high cost of living, or is it a deeper philosophical shift towards modern nihilism? Our new video breaks down the "upward mobility trap", the dark philosophy of anti-natalism, and what ancient texts like the Manusmriti have to say about our cosmic duty to build a family. Watch the full deep dive here: https://youtu.be/oLlqnpnlBKQ

For decades, the Ayodhya truth was buried under ideology, denial, and selective history. In this episode of Upclose, Arvind Singh reveals to Ashish Dhar how Leftist historians tried to suppress the evidence, memory, and civilisational truth behind the Ram Mandir at Ayodhya. Watch now: https://youtu.be/FpJXtJhzjzk?si=wGQLkHl63cHYzrMw

Is the Mahabharata merely an ancient epic to be dated, dissected and dismissed or is it Dharma’s grand design? Dr. Vishwa Adluri unpacks the Mahabharata, challenges colonial Indology and explains why Vyasa’s text has more layers than anticipated. Watch now & Hype the video: https://youtu.be/-GU2e9d_ksE

Everyone asks why BJP has turned Ambedkarite. We already showed in an earlier Pinpoint video that they’re trapped in a Nash Equilibrium. The real question is: what are the immutable laws of political power that forced them into it? This video goes deeper - into Bertrand de Jouvenel's theory of power, and the uncomfortable truth about the Indian democratic republic. Watch: https://youtu.be/b0FUf5cyB_8

Modern India talks about IKS. But does it actually understand it? In this thought provoking conversation, Raghava Krishna joins Ashish Dhar to unpack how India was cut off from its own knowledge systems and why reclaiming them is critical to any real civilisational revival. Watch now: https://youtu.be/0ck86rSRPq4?si=ZMPtTqip3wP8cs8s

*Are Brahmins being dehumanised in pop culture—and is the judiciary ignoring it?* A recent Supreme Court petition by Shri Mahalingam Balaji raised serious concerns about targeted hate, media portrayals, and “Brahmophobia.” The response wasn’t legal action but a lecture on “tolerance.” This video shows how Brahmins are portrayed in pop culture and memes, and what that means for Indian society. https://youtu.be/ilBrM6MOjUg Watch and share widely.

*Upword Deepdive* They called it “science.” It was ideological & religious bias with a method. How German Indologists rewrote Indian texts to fit their own worldview - and why we’re still living with it today. https://youtu.be/E0-_qc56nSQ _Based on 'The Nay Science' by Dr. Vishwa Adluri and Dr. Joydeep Bagchee_

For decades the world has been shown a simple story about Iran. Before 1979: bikinis. After 1979: burqas. But behind that image lies a plethora of geopolitical history. Watch: Bikini vs Burqa: The Propaganda War Behind Iran and America https://youtu.be/YOwnT7tfVMU

Part 2 of our conversation with Padma Shri Dr. Bharat Gupt is now live. We examine Dharma and ritual in the Colonial era, Deritualisation of Dharmashāstras, Temple takeover by the State, Adhikāra, and the Integrity of the Shruti–Smriti Paramparā. A sharp civilizational deep dive. Watch here: https://youtu.be/-UODhwFBhLk

New episode of the _Upclose Podcast_ is live. Ashish Dhar in conversation with Padmashree Dr. Bharat Gupt on caste-based policies, identity politics, and the intellectual roots of “woke” frameworks from Europe to American academia and their impact on how Indian history is interpreted today. A sharp, scholarly discussion on civilizational memory and contemporary politics. Watch here: https://youtu.be/RFci-azx7lg

We bring you 'Seeds of Poison - Phule's Dark Legacy' - the 1st film in our 'Chronicles' series. It shows how a missionary‑backed, British‑loyal “reformer” turned a repackaged victim story into an aggressive anti‑Brahmin ideology – the template that shapes our street politics and caste narrative today. https://youtu.be/DgIdRztL_-Q

Did you know India’s SC/ST welfare allocation is nearly double the country’s entire education budget? Or that for the same MBA programme, General Category candidates are often required to score 30–45 percentile points higher than reserved-category candidates just to be considered? We’ve put together a short explainer that examines why recent UGC-related flashpoints are symptoms of a much deeper structural imbalance. If merit, fairness, and India’s long-term institutional health matter to you, this is worth watching and sharing. https://youtu.be/CM91qPTeYfw

*New Episode | Dharma 101 Podcast* After a long gap, we’re back with a deep dive into Dharmic Atheism and the much-invoked Charvaka Darśana. We examine what Charvaka actually stands for, how it differs from modern Western atheism, and why it fails to even qualify as a coherent darśana. https://youtu.be/PrJ38da6ltI?si=_gZwEp48Xa4PyFEt