social studies vedanta 5 corrected final 2078

(c) Sugauli Treaty is an example of ancient ................... .
(d) Olden utensils give us information about ancient ............
(e) Historical objects are proofs of our .................... past.

(2) Match the following historical objects with their
methods of preserving.

(a) Stone inscriptions/statues by keeping in files
(b) Ancient documents safely
(c) Old Utensils by not spending
(d) Ancient currencies and coins them
by not writing on
them messily
by keeping them
in safe places

(3) Answer the following questions.
(a) What do you mean by history?
(b) Name any six historical objects.
(c) What do statues and sculptures inform us?
(d) Why are historical objects important? Write in two
points.
(e) How can we preserve the historical objects of our
locality? Write any three ways.

(4) There may be several objects of religious or historical
significance such as temples, mosques, churches,
monasteries, waterspouts or Chautaras in your locality.
Find such objects and write a short paragraph about
them.

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Lesson Historical Personalities of
Our Locality
6.2
After the completion of this lesson, we will be able to:

• identify historical personalities of our locality and
respect them.

The Social Studies teacher of Janajyoti
School gave a project work to the
students of grade five. It was to find
out the historical personalities
of their locality and prepare a
short note on them. The
students visited several
places of their locality to
complete their project
work. Their objective
was to find out about
historical personalities
of their locality. Let’s read
their findings.

Historical Personalities of Our Community

There was a man named Basudev Sharma in our village. He
died some twenty years ago. He had invested his savings in
repairing the roof of our local temple. People have inscribed
this information on the stone fixed at the wall of the temple. The
people of our village remember him even these days.

-Prepared by Hardik Tamang

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Lilamaya Shrestha is an exemplary person in our community.
She is always ready to help needy and helpless people of our
locality. She actively participated in the People’s Movement of
2063 BS. The revolution helped to establish Loktantra in our
country. Although she lost one of her legs in an injury during
the movement, she is satisfied at the arrival of Loktantra in our
country.

-Prepared by Sambriddhi BK

There is a statue on the playground of our school. It is the statue
of Zakir Ansari, who donated his land for the construction of our
school building. He was a social activist of our locality.

-Prepared by Sama Khatun

After going through the projects of our friends, our Social Studies
teacher said, “Historical personalities are those people who have
contributed to the welfare of other people in the past. We can get
inspired by their contribution. Therefore, we have to find and respect
them for their contribution. We should also try to be like them. We
should always aim to do something good for our community.”

personality GLOSSARY
inscribed
activist : a famous person
: written on books or carved on an object
: a person who believes strongly in social change and

takes part in activities such as public protests to try
to make this happen

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EXERCISE

(1) Write True for right and False for wrong statements.
(a) We should always be ready to help needy
and helpless people of our locality.
(b) We shouldn’t respect the historical
personalities of our locality.
(c) People never remember those people
who work for others’ welfare.
(d) People’s Movement of 2063 BS helped
to establish Loktantra in our country.
(e) We should do something good for
our community.

(2) Answer the following questions.
(a) Who are historical personalities?
(b) Why should we respect the historical personalities of
our locality?
(c) There may be some historical personalities in your
community too. Find out about one of them and write a
short paragraph.
(d) Do you also want to become a famous person? What
types of work should you do to become such a person?
Make a list of any three pieces of work.

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Lesson Ancient Nepal

6.3 After the completion of this lesson, we will be able to:

• tell about different dynasties that ruled over ancient
Nepal; and

• tell the names and contributions of Kings of those
dynasties.

Kathmandu Valley was called Nepal in the past. Many people of
the hilly regions and remote part of our country still call Kathmandu
“Nepal”. The history of Kathmandu Valley is the history of ancient
Nepal in general. People do not have enough findings on how
other places of Nepal were in the past. Many years ago, Kathmandu
Valley was a lake. It was not like what it is now. The Bagmati River
made its way to the south of the Valley. The water drained out
from Chobhar gorge. Then, the lake dried and became suitable for
human settlement. The earliest people to settle were the Gopalas.

Rule of Gopal Dynasty

Kathmandu Valley was full of green grass in the past. Therefore,
the Gopalas came from Mathura, India, to settle here. They were
cow herders. Later, they started to rule over the Valley. Their main
occupation was animal husbandry. They were also called “Neep”
or “Nep”. Many people believe that Nepal was named after their
name.

Altogether eight Gopal Kings ruled over Nepal for some 521 years.
The first King of the Gopal dynasty was Bhumi Gupta (Bhuktaman),
and Yaksha Gupta was the last one. The capital city of that time was
in Matatirtha, and the kingdom covered Kirtipur, Thankot, Balambu,
Tistung, Palung and so on.

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Rule of Mahispal Dynasty

The last King of Gopal dynasty, Yaksha Gupta didn’t have an heir.
Therefore, his close relative, Jaya Singh became the King of Nepal
after his death. Jaya Singh was a buffalo herder. In Sanskrit, a
buffalo is called Mahis. Thus, the people who reared buffalos were
Mahispals. They ruled the Kathmandu Valley after the Gopalas.

The Mahispals were also known as Ahirs or Abhirs. Three kings
of this dynasty ruled for some 161 years. They were Jaya Singh,
Bhul Singh (Bar Singh) and Bhuwan Singh. Besides animal rearing,
people also started farming from this period.

Rule of Kirant Dynasty First Kirant King, Yalambar

After the fall of the Mahispal
dynasty, the Kirant dynasty came
from Eastern Nepal and started
ruling over the Valley. They lived
by hunting in the jungle. Later
on, they started cultivation. The
Kirants ruled for some 1000 years
in Nepal. The first Kirant King was
Yalambar. Patan (Lalitpur) is called
“Yala” even today because King
Yalambar ruled there in the past.
The capital was at Gokarna at
that time. They worshipped Lord
Kiranteshwor Mahadev of the
Pashupati Temple.

The Kirants were good rulers. They were interested in arts and
commerce. They treated men and women equally. There was no
caste system during their rule. Therefore, there was no conflict in
society. The last Kirant King was Gasti. He was a feeble ruler. Thus,
the Lichchhavis overthrew them.

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The Kirants were the ancestors of the Rais and Limbus of Nepal.

Did You Know?

Many people believe that Gautam Buddha visited Kathmandu
Valley during the rule of the seventh Kirant King, Jitedasti
and spread Buddhism.

Rule of Lichchhavi Dynasty

The Lichchhavis came to power after defeating the Kirants. They
came to Nepal from Baishali in Northern India. King Mandev,
Amshuverma, Narendradev and Shivadev were some famous Kings
of this dynasty.

The Lichchhavis were rich in art and Amsuverma
culture. They had developed a good trade
relationship with India, Tibet and China.
The country flourished trade, education,
art and culture significantly during that
period. There were many economic, social,
cultural, religious and political reforms
in the country. Therefore, the Lichchhavi
period is also known as the Golden Period
in the history of Nepal. The Lichchhavi
Kings were able to win the hearts of
their Prajas. They built various historical
buildings such as Kailashkut Bhawan,
Mangriha, Changunarayan Temple and
Nyatapole Temple during their rule.

The Medieval period (Malla period) followed the Lichchhavi period,
and the Modern period came after the medieval period.

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remote GLOSSARY
drain
heir : far away from towns or cities
: remove liquid from something
feeble : a person who will legally receive money, property, or a
ancestor
flourish title from another person, especially an older member
reform of the same family, when that other person dies
: weak and without energy, strength, or power
: a person related to you who lived a long time ago
: to grow or develop successfully
: changes and improvements to law, social system, or
institution

EXERCISE

(1) Fill in the blanks with suitable answers.
(a) Many years ago, Kathmandu Valley was a ......................
(b) The major occupation of the Gopalas was ......................
(c) The .................... ruled in the Kathmandu Valley after
the Gopalas.
(d) The ...................... lived by hunting in the jungle.
(e) Changunarayan Temple, Nyatapole Temple, Mangriha
and Kailashkut Bhawan were built in the .............. period.

(2) Identify the following Kings.

(a) The first King of the Gopala dynasty ............................

(b) The last King of the Gopala dynasty ............................

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(c) The first King of the Mahispala dynasty ...........................
(d) The first Kiranti King ............................
(e) The last Kiranti King ............................

(3) Write True for right and False for wrong statements.

(a) The first King of the Gopala dynasty
was Yalambar.

(b) The last Kiranti King was Jitedasti.

(c) The people who reared buffaloes
were the Mahispalas.

(d) The Lichchhavi dynasty ruled for a longer
time than the Mahispala dynasty in Nepal.

(e) The Kirants were the ancestors of
the Rais and Limbus of Nepal.

(4) Answer the following questions.
(a) How did Kathmandu Valley become suitable for human
settlement?
(b) Why is Patan (Lalitpur) called ‘Yala’ even these days?
(c) How was the then society during the Kiranti regime?
(d) Why is the Lichchhavi period called the golden period in
the history of Nepal?
(e) Which period followed the Lichchhavi period?

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Lesson Our National Luminaries -1

6.4

After the completion of this lesson, we will be able to:

• identify the national luminaries of our country; and
• tell their contributions to our nation.

There are great people who have made significant contributions in
various fields. They are our national personalities. They have raised
the glory and prestige of our country. They have helped in making
Nepal a great nation. The government of Nepal has declared some
of them as national luminaries for their great deeds. Let’s learn
about such national luminaries.

(1) King Janak

Rajarshi Janak was the King of Mithila
(Present Janakpur). He was a learnt King and a
great thinker. There used to be gathering and
discussions of scholars and intellectuals in his
palace. Art, literature and civilisation flourished
much during his rule. He was also known as King Shirdhwoj. King
Jank was widely renowned as Videha, too because he lived beyond
the body by remaining away from worldly pleasures. He was called
Rajarshi as he was both a King (Raja) and a sage (Rishi).

(2) Sita

Sita was the daughter of King Janak. She
was married to Lord Rama, who was a prince of
Ayodhya. Ramayana, one of the greatest epics of
the Hindus, recounts the story of Lord Ram and
Sita. She was also known as Janaki. She was an
ideal and faithful woman.

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(3) Gautam Buddha

Gautam Buddha was born in Lumbini,
Nepal some 2500 years ago. He propounded
Buddhism. He also spread the message of peace,
non-violence and truth all over the world. His real
name was Siddhartha, and was the son of King
Suddhodhan and Queen Mayadevi of the Shakya
dynasty. He is also known as the "Light of Asia.”

(4) Amshuverma

Amshuverma was a minister of Shivadev, a
Lichchhavi king. He was able to influence the King
with his work, ability and shrewdness. Later, the
King married his daughter to Amshuverma, and
he became King after Shivadev. He was a learned
and clever King. He was a social reformer who
developed art and culture in the country.

Amshuverma built Kailashkut Bhawan. He had also maintained good
relationship with neighbouring countries. He wrote a book named
Sabda Bidya. It was a grammar book in the Sanskrit language.
Nepali art and architecture reached its height during his period.
Nepal had developed a lot during his period. Therefore, his ruling
period is also known as the golden period in the history of Nepal.

(5) Araniko

Araniko is the Chinese name of a famous
Nepali architect and sculptor. His real name is
Balabahu. He was born in Patan of the Kathmandu
Valley. A Chinese Emperor named Kublai Khan
invited some artists of Nepal to make statues
in his country. King Jaya Bhimdev Malla was the
King of Nepal at that time. He sent a team of
Balabahu and some 80 Nepalese artists to China

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in 1260 AD. They built several pagoda style monasteries in Lhasa
and other parts of China. The Emperor liked his work very much.
The Chinese people conferred him the title of Minghoi. Minghoi
means great talent in the Chinese language. He spread the fame
of Nepali art, architecture and skill all over Tibet and China. His
contribution helped Nepal maintain a good relationship with China.

(6) Shankhadhar Sankhwa

Shankhadhar Sankhwa founded Nepal
Sambat. He was a merchant of the Kathmandu
Valley who used to live in Ilachhe tole. He was
a generous and kind-hearted person. He helped
the poor and needy people of the Kathmandu
Valley by paying off their loans during the period
of Lichchhavi King Raghab Dev. The King was
impressed with his work and started Nepal
Sambat to honour him.

GLOSSARY

scholar : someone who is intelligent or good at learning by
studying

recount : to tell a story

propound : to suggest belief, or opinion for other people to
consider

shrewdness : clear understanding and good judgment of a situation

sculptor : someone who creates objects out of wood, clay, metal,
stone, etc.

confer : to give an official title, honour, or advantage to
someone

fame : the state of being known or recognised by many
people because of your achievements, skills, etc.

merchant : a person whose business is buying and selling goods
for profit

generous : willing to give money, help, kindness, etc., especially
more than is usual or expected

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EXERCISE

(1) Identify the following national heroes with the help of
the given description.

(a) He helped the poor and needy people
of the Kathmandu Valley by paying off
their debts. ............................

(b) He popularised the Mithila Kingdom
(present-day Janakpur) as a centre of
knowledge and wisdom in the world. ............................

(c) She was an ideal and faithful ............................
Nepali woman.

(d) He promoted and spread the fame of
Nepali art, architecture and skill in China,
Tibet and other parts of the world. ............................

(e) He spread the message of peace, ............................
non-violence and love all over
the world.

(f) He was a good administrator and
promoter of Nepali art, literature and
culture during the Lichchhavi period. ............................

(2) Fill in the blanks with suitable answers.
(a) National luminaries have raised the ........................ and
prestige of our country.
(b) King Janak was also known as King ......................... .
(c) The real name of Gautam Buddha was .........................

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(d) ......................... wrote a book named Sabda Bidya.
(e) Shankhadhar Sankhwa was a ......................... and

kind-hearted person.

(3) Answer the following questions.
(a) Who are national luminaries?
(b) What kind of person was King Janak? Describe in five
sentences.
(c) Why is the ruling period of Amshuverma known as the
golden period in the history of Nepal?
(d) Who was Araniko? What did he do?
(e) What makes Shankhadhar Sankhwa a national luminary?

(4) Give reasons for the following.
(a) King Janak is known as Rajarshi and Videha.
(b) Sita is called Janaki.
(c) Gautam Buddha is known as the “Light of Asia”.
(d) Araniko was given the title of Minghoi in China.

(5) Identify the following personalities.

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Lesson Our National Luminaries -2

6.5

After the completion of this lesson, we will be able to:

• identify the national luminaries of our country; and
• tell their contributions to our nation.

Bharat Chepang lives in Chitwan. He studies in grade five in one
of the local community schools in his locality. His Social Studies
teacher has asked him to write short paragraphs about some
national heroes of Nepal. He consulted several general knowledge
books and textbooks to complete his assignment. His uncle also
surfed the internet and helped him in his task. He has prepared few
notes about Prithvi Narayan Shah, Balabhadra Kunwar and Amar
Singh Thapa.

(1) Prithvi Narayan Shah

PN Shah was born in Gorkha district on Poush
27, 1779 BS, as the first son to King Narabhupal
Shah and Queen Kausalyawati. He ascended the
throne of Gorkha after the death of his father
in 1799 BS at the age of 20. He began to train
soldiers and started the process of unifying the
states of Nepal immediately after becoming the
King. Nepal was divided into small kingdoms as Baise and Chaubise
states during his time. He unified such small kingdoms and made
a single, independent, unified, strong and greater Nepal. He is
known as the 'Founder of Modern Nepal'.

If King Prithvi Narayan Shah had not led the unification campaign,
it would not have been possible to see Nepal in its current form.
Shah also protected Nepal from foreign invasion, especially from
the British invasion. We celebrate Prithvi Jayanti Day every year on

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Poush 27 to honour the founder of modern Nepal. If we see a statue
of PN Shah, we can see him raising his index finger. It signifies all
Nepali as one. It means that although people come from different
backgrounds in Nepal, they have a common identity as Nepali. He
encourages us to live in unity, peace and harmony.

(2) Balabhadra Kunwar

Balabhadra Kunwar was a great warrior of
Nepal. He played a significant role during the
Anglo-Nepal war. He was in charge of Khalanga
(Nalapani) during the war. He led the Nepali army
to protect our country from the British invasion.
Kunwar had some 600 people only including
women and children during the war. On the
other hand, East India Company had more than
3500 soldiers with modern weapons like cannons, guns and bullets.
There was a fierce war between them. The East India Company
couldn’t defeat Nepali troops. The British generals were impressed
with Kunwar’s bravery. They tried to tempt him. However, he never
accepted their offer. Instead, he and his army were ready to die
for their country. If he and his army had not defended the country,
we would have lost this nation. The East India Company erected a
stone inscription in Nalapani to show respect for him.

(3) Amar Singh Thapa

Amar Singh Thapa was also a great warrior
during the Anglo-Nepal war. He fought bravely
against the British soldiers during the war. He
also played a significant role in the unification
campaign. He helped to extend the territory of
Nepal up to the Tista River in the east and Kangada
in the west. He joined Baise and Chaubise states
into greater Nepal.

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Once, the British soldiers asked him to join them. They promised to
offer a high rank and better payment. However, he didn’t fall into
their temptation. He always believed that only traitors deceive their
nation. He also regarded that nothing is superior to the motherland.
He sacrificed everything for the welfare and betterment of his
nation. He is also known as ‘The Living Lion of Nepal.’

GLOSSARY

assignment : a piece of work given to someone, typically as part
of their studies

surf : to spend time visiting a lot of websites

ascend the throne : to become a king

invasion : an occasion when an army or country uses force to
enter and take control of another country

cannon : a large gun, usually on wheels, which used to be
used in battles

fierce : physically violent and frightening

tempt : to make someone want to have or do something

traitor : a person who is not loyal or stops being loyal to
their own country, social class, beliefs, etc.

deceive : to keep the truth hidden from someone for one’s
own advantage

EXERCISE

(1) Fill in the blanks with suitable answers.
(a) PN Shah became the King of Gorkha at the age of
........................ years old.
(b) PN Shah is known as the.................. of modern Nepal.
(c) Balabhadra Kunwar played a significant role during the
.............................. .

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(d) There is a stone inscription at ................................. that
praises the bravery of Bhalbhadra Kunwar.

(e) Amar Singh Thapa is known as the .......................... of
Nepal.

(2) Fill in the blanks with PN Shah, Balabhadra Kunwar or
Amar Singh Thapa.

(a) He began and led the unification
campaign in Nepal. .................................

(b) He helped to extend the territory
of Nepal up to the Tista River in
the east and Kangada in the west. .................................

(c) He led the army to protect our
country from the British invasion. .................................

(3) Answer the following questions.
(a) Why do we celebrate Prithvi Jayanti on Poush 27?
(b) If we see a statue or a picture of PN Shah, we can see
him raising his index finger. What does it mean?
(c) What roles did Balabhadra Kunwar play in the Anglo-
Nepal war?
(d) Why didn’t Amar Singh Thapa fall in the temptation of
the British soldiers?
(e) What lessons have you learnt from PN Shah, Balabhadra
Kunwar and Amar Singh Thapa? Write in points.

Choose any four national luminaries of Nepal. Paste their photos
on a sheet of chart paper and write short paragraphs on them.
Paste the chart paper on your classroom display board.

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Lesson Our National Luminaries -3

6.8

After the completion of this lesson, we will be able to:

• identify the national luminaries of our country; and
• tell their contributions to our nation.

(1) Pasang Lhamu Sherpa

Date of Birth : 2018 BS
Place of Birth : Solukhumbu
Died on : 2050 BS

Pasang Lhamu Sherpa is the first Nepali woman to reach the summit
of Mt. Everest. She scaled it on Baisakh 10 2050 BS. She proved to
the world that even Nepalese women are brave and courageous.
She has inspired all Nepalese women to be fearless and bold like
her. The government has named 117 km long Trishuli (Nuwakot) to
Dhunche (Rasuwa) road as the Pasang Lhamu Highway to respect
her achievement. Junko Tabei from Japan is the first woman to
scale Mt Everest in the world.

(2) Bhimsen Thapa

Date of Birth : 1832 BS

Place of Birth : Gorkha

Died on : 1896 BS

Bhimsen Thapa was the first prime minister of Nepal. He was
the prime minister of Nepal during the Anglo-Nepal war. He was
against the East India Company. He wanted to chase them from
Asia. He made several plans to protect Nepal from them. He had

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constructed Sundhara and the Dharhara. However, the massive
earthquake of 12th Baisakh 2072 BS destroyed the original structure
of Dharhara completely. He modernised the Nepali Army by making
arrangement of army barracks. He also introduced the postal system
and constructed several inns in our country.

(3) Bhanubhakta Acharya

Date of Birth : 1871 BS
Place of Birth : Tanahun
Died on : 1926 BS

Bhanubhakta Acharya is the Aadikabi of Nepal. It means he is the
first most important or impressive poet who wrote poems in the
Nepali language. He has made a great contribution in the field of
Nepali literature. He made it rich and prosperous.

During the period of Acharya, poets used to compose poems
in Sanskrit, Urdu and Hindi languages only. However, Acharya
composed beautiful poems in the Nepali language and proved
that one could compose poems in the Nepali language too. He
translated the Ramayana from Sanskrit into simple Nepali language.
This helped in the promotion of the Nepali language. He unified
all Nepali people through their common Nepali language. He also
wrote books such as Bhakta Mala, Badhu Sikshya and many other
ones. Therefore, he is the pioneer poet of Nepal.

(4) Motiram Bhatta

Date of Birth : 1923 BS

Place of Birth : Kathmandu

Died on : 1953 BS

Motiram Bhatta is also known as Yuwakabi (Young poet) of
Nepali language. He introduced Bhanubhakta Acharya and his

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contributions in Nepali literature. He set up the printing press of
Nepal, published Bhabubhakta’s Ramayana and made it available
to common Nepali people. In addition, he has composed a large
number of Nepali poems and Gajals. In fact, he introduced Gajals
in Nepali literature. Thus, he has made a significant contribution to
the field of Nepali literature.

(5) King Tribhuwan

Date of birth : 1963 BS
Place of Birth : Kathmandu
Died on : 2011 BS

King Tribhuwan played an important role to end the 104-year long
autocratic Rana Regime from Nepal. He put his life and throne in
danger and went to India to support the anti-Rana movement.
Nepal was declared a democratic country on 7th of Falgun, 2007
BS. He supported people in this democratic movement.

(6) Ram Shah : 1643 BS
: Gorkha
Born on : 1693 BS

Place of Birth

Died on

Ram Shah was a King of Gorkha. He was famous for justice delivery.
He made his kingdom popular as the Centre of Justice. During his
time, there was a common belief, “Nyay Napay Gorkha Janu”. It
means to go to Gorkha if you didn’t get justice. He brought other
reforms as well. He introduced the measurement system of Mana,
Pathi and Dharni. He also started scales like Dhak Taraju. He also
set up courts in different places to ensure justice for the common
people. He made many rules and regulations. In this way, King Shah
is famous as a King of reform, measurement and justice.

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(7) Falgunanda

Born on : 1942 BS
Place of Birth : Ilam
Died on : 2005 BS

Falgunanda Lingden is Mahaguru of Limbu
community. He is a noted saint and preacher of the
Kirant religion. He has brought several social and cultural reforms to
his community. He organised the General Kirant Conference in 1988
BS and approved a ten- point long code of conduct Satyadharma
Muchulka. It was against the use of alcohol and animal sacrifice in
the Limbu community. He always promoted love and non-violence.
He worked to end evil practices in his community.

massive GLOSSARY
barrack
promotion : large in size or volume
pioneer : a building or group of buildings for housing soldiers
: activities to advertise something
autocratic : a person who is one of the first people to do

saint something
preacher : controlled by one leader who has total power, and

who does not allow anyone else to make decisions
: a holy person
: a person who gives religious speeches

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EXERCISE

(1) Match the following.

(a) Pasang Lhamu Sherpa Aadikabi of Nepal

(b) Bhimsen Thapa famous for justice
delivery

(c) Bhanubhakta Acharya first Nepali woman to
scale Mt Everest

(d) Motiram Bhatta first prime minister of
Nepal

(e) King Tribhuwan introduced Gajals in
Nepali literature

(f) Ram Shah a social, cultural and
religious reformer

(g) Falgunanda supported people in
democratic movement

(2) Fill in the blanks with suitable answers.
(a) Pasang Lhamu has inspired all Nepalese women to be
............................... and bold like her.
(b) Bhimsen Thapa modernised ................................ by
making arrangements of army barracks.
(c) Bhanubkhata translated the Ramayana from
............................. language into easy Nepali language.
(d) Motiram Bhatta is also known as ................................ in
Nepali literature.
(e) Ram Shah popularised Gorkha as the centre of
.............................. .

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(3) Write True for right and False for wrong statements.
(a) Pasang Lhamu Sherpa is the first women to
reach the summit of Mt Everest in the world.
(b) Bhimsen Thapa was in favour of East India
Company and British rule.
(c) Bhanubhakta Acharya is the pioneer poet
of Nepal.
(d) King Tribhuwan was always in favour of
Rana Regime.
(e) Falgunanda worked to end evil practices
from the Limbu community

(4) Answer the following questions.
(a) Where is Pasang Lhamu Highway? How long is this main
road?
(b) What is the role of Bhanubhakta Acharya and Motiram
Bhatta in the field of Nepali literature?
(c) What is the contribution of King Tribhuwan in the field of
Nepali politics?
(d) Make a list of any three reforms of King Ram Shah.
(e) Write any two reforms brought by Mahaguru Falgunanda.

(5) Make a list of all national luminaries of Nepal with their
major contribution.

Paste the photos of any four national luminaries of our country
on a sheet of chart paper and mention their major contributions in
three points.

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Lesson Our Head of State and the
6.9 Head of Government

After the completion of this lesson, we will be able to:

• recognise the head of state and the head of
government of our country and give their brief
introduction; and

• tell the functions of the head of the state and the
head of government.

Head of the State Dr. Ram Baran Yadav
First President of Nepal
A head of the state is the leader and the main
representative of the country. He or she holds
the highest post of the state. According to the
present constitution, the President is the head
of the state. King used to work as the head of
the state before 2065 BS. However, the 19 days
Mass Movement (from 24th of Chaitra 2062 BS
to 11th of Baisakh 2063 BS) against monarchy
ended the King’s rule.

After the declaration of Nepal as a Federal Bidhya Devi Bhandari
Republic country on 15th of Jestha 2065 BS, the First Female President
ultimate power of the King transferred to the
common citizens. Therefore, we celebrate 15th of Nepal
of Jestha as Ganatantra Diwas (Republic Day)
every year. Any common citizen has the chance
of being the President of Nepal through the
election at present. He or she stands as the
guardian figure of the nation.

The first President of the Republic of Nepal is Dr Ram Baran Yadav,
and the current President of our country is Bidhya Devi Bhandari.

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She is the first female president of our nation. Bhandari was born
on 19 June 1961 AD in Bhojpur District. She is an activist of gender
equality and an advocate of environmental protection and heritage
conservation.

Major Functions of the Head of the State

(1) To appoint the prime minister and the chief of constitutional
organs;

(2) To make proclamation of the state of emergency during the
time of crisis;

(3) To protect the constitution and its spirits;
(4) To receive diplomatic credentials from ambassadors; and
(5) To represent the country as the head of the state.

Head of the Government

The group of people with the authority to govern or control a country
or state is called government. According to the present constitution
of Nepal, the prime minister is the head of the government. There
are deputy prime minister(s), ministers, assistant ministers and state
ministers to help the prime minister in his or her administration.
The group of the prime minister and other ministers is known as the
council of ministers. The prime minister is elected from among the
People’s Representatives.

Major Functions of the Head of the Government

(1) To maintain a friendly relationship with other countries;
(2) To maintain peace, law and order in the nation;
(3) To run the day-to-day administration of the country; and
(4) To speed up development activities in the country.

Bhimsen Thapa is the first prime minister of Nepal. Similarly, the
first elected prime minister of our country is Bisheshwor Prasad

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Koirala, and the first prime minister of the
Federal Republic of Nepal is Pushpa Kamal
Dahal “Prachanda”.

Head of the state and head of the government B.P. Koirala
are not individual persons. They are institutions Pushpa Kamal Dahal
of our country. Thus, it is the duty of all Nepali
people to honour them. We should support
them in their vision and mission. On the other
hand, we should criticise and warn them for
their wrong deeds. They are our representatives
for a term of five years. If they do not work for
the betterment of people, we can choose other
people as the head of the state and head of the
government for the next election.

GLOSSARY

monarchy : the system of having a king or queen
advocate : someone who publicly supports something
proclamation : an official announcement
credential : a document that serves as official proof of a

person’s position, authority, etc.
ambassador : an important official who works in a foreign country

representing his or her own country there

EXERCISE

(1) Answer the following questions in a sentence.
(a) Who is the first president of republic Nepal?
.................................................................................

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(b) Who is the first prime minister of republic Nepal?
.................................................................................
(c) Who is the current head of the state of Nepal?
..................................................................................
(d) Who is the current head of government of our country?
.................................................................................
(e) Who is the first elected prime minister of Nepal?
.................................................................................

(2) Fill in the blanks with a suitable answer.
(a) The Loktantrik Andolan lasted for...................... days.
(b) WecelebrateLoktantraDiwaseveryyearon.......................
(c) The group of people with authority to govern a country
is ............................ .
(d) The group of the prime minister and other ministers
is ...............................
(e) The head of the state and the head of the government
are our representatives for a period of.................... years.

(3) Answer the following questions.
(a) According to the present constitution, who are the head
of the state, and head of the government?
(b) When was Nepal declared a Federal Republic country?
(c) Write any three major functions of the head of the state.
(d) Prepare a list of any three major functions of the head of
the government.
(e) Why should we respect the head of our state and the
head of government?

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Revisiting the Unit

(1) Give any four examples of the following.
(a) Sources of history
(b) Famous Kings of the Lichchhavi dynasty
(c) Our national luminaries

(2) Write short paragraphs on the following topics.
(a) Ancient Nepal
(b) Our National Luminaries
(c) The Current President of Nepal
(d) The Current Prime Minister of Our Country

(3) Write creative answers to the following questions.
(a) Several historical sites and things in our country are in
miserable condition. What should the government and
common people do to preserve and promote them?
Write any five ways.
(b) Among the national luminaries in the unit, who has
inspired you the most? Why? Write any five reasons.
(c) How are the functions of the head of the state different
from the functions of the head of the government?
Compare in five points.

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Unit : Seven

OUR ECONOMIC
ACTIVITIES

7.1 Occupations of the People of My District
7.2 School Property
7.3 Domestic Products
7.4 Use of Domestic Products
7.5 Economic Activities of Nepal

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Lesson Occupations of the People
7.1 of My District

After the completion of this lesson, we will be able to:

• tell the occupations of people of our district; and
• as per their capacity.

Buddhilal Tamang lives in Dhading. It is the only district of Nepal
that ranges from the mountain Ganesh Himal to the Chure Bhawar
Pradesh of Terai. Majority of people in Dhading are the Tamangs.
Besides them, there are people of Brahmin, Chhetri, Newar, Magar,
Gurung, Kami, Damain, Dashnami, and other communities.
The main occupation of people in
Dhading is agriculture. This district
has a huge potential market for
vegetable farming as it is situated
at the mid-way of Kathmandu,
Pokhara and Bharatpur. In fact,
it is one of the largest vegetable
producing districts in the country.
Chhatredeurali, Jiwanpur, Naubise,
Thakre, Kewalpur and Goganpani
are popularly known as vegetable pocket areas in the district. It
contributes a total of more than 30 per cent of vegetables’ supply
to Kathmandu.
The major crops produced in Dhading are paddy, maize, wheat,
millet, barley, potato, soya bean, black gram (Maas) and sugarcane.
Besides farming, people of Dhading are also involved in business,
service, construction, tourism, animal husbandry, wage labour and
other occupations. There are several stone mines and sand mines
in Dhading.

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potential GLOSSARY
wage
: possible, capable of becoming real
: an amount of money that a worker is paid based on

the number of hours, days, etc., that are worked

EXERCISE

(1) Phurwa is from Sankhuwasabha district. The following
picture shows the economic activities of the people in
her district. Study the picture carefully and answer the
following questions.

Index
Paddy Cultivation
Orange Farming
Sheep and Mountain Goat
Cardamom
Business Centres
Maize
Carpet
Vegetables
Doko And Baskets

(a) What are the major crops produced in Sankhuwasabha
district? Make a list.

(b) Which is the economic activity carried out using locally
available raw materials in her district?

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(1) Write True for right and False for wrong statements.
(a) Dhading lies in the Terai region of Nepal.
(b) The Tamangs have the largest population
in Dhading.
(c) Dhading doesn’t supply any vegetables
to the Kathmandu Valley.
(d) The people of Dhading are engaged in
different professions.

(2) Answer the following questions.
(a) Which places of Dhading are known as vegetable pocket
areas?
(b) What are the major economic activities of the people in
Dhading?
(c) Make a list of major agricultural products of Dhading.
(d) What are the key economic activities of people in your
district?

(3) Draw the picture of any two agricultural products of
your district.

Paste any two photos of economic activities of your district on a
sheet of photocopy paper and describe them in short.

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Lesson School Property

7.2 After the completion of this lesson, we will be able to:

• identify the properties of our school and take care
of them; and

• utilise the properties of our school economically.

A school is a place where children like us come to be educated.
There are many things like in our home in our school too. They
are our school properties. Some of the school properties are
sports materials, books of the library, costumes used in the cultural
programmes, musical instruments, markers, dusters, dustbins,
brooms, and furniture such as desk, benches and chairs used in the
classroom. Similarly, playground, school garden and plants inside
the school premises are properties of the school. We must take
proper care of all our school properties.

Our school properties are important to us. They are necessary
to conduct teaching, learning and sports activities. Therefore,
we should use them in an economical way. We should be careful
while using them. We must not write or scratch on the desks. We

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must not break the furniture of our
school. We should not break or
play with switchboards and electric
bulbs. We must be careful while
using the reading materials from
our library. Reading books widens
our knowledge, and newspapers
update us about the current affairs
of the world. Thus, we should try to
utilise them for our benefit.

We should develop the habit of using school properties economically
and keeping them in their own place after using them. If we do not
use them carefully, they cannot last long. We use them for different
purposes. They are for our own benefit. Therefore, we should
handle them carefully. Misuse of school properties is just a waste
of money.

premises GLOSSARY
economic
: the land and buildings owned by someone,
especially by a company or organisation

: not using a lot of something

EXERCISE

(1) Fill in the blanks with suitable answers.
(a) A school is a place where children like us come to be
............................... .
(b) We should take care of our school .............................. .
(c) Weshouldusethethingsinourschoolinan........................
way.

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(d) We should try to utilise the materials of our school for
our ................................. .

(e) Misuse of school properties is just a ................. of money.

(2) Tick ( ) the right statements and cross (×) the wrong
ones.
(a) It is a good habit to write on the walls of our
classroom.
(b) We must put the books and newspapers in
their previous place after reading in a library.
(c) We mustn’t throw wastage in and around
our school.
(d) It is not necessary to take care of the sports
materials of our school.
(e) We mustn’t break or destroy the furniture
in our school.

(3) Answer the following questions.
(a) Give some examples of school properties.
(b) Why are our school properties important to us?
(c) Why should we utilise the reading materials of our
library?
(d) What will happen if we do not use our school properties
carefully?
(e) Why should we take care of our school properties?

Write the rules and regulations of your classroom on a sheet of
chart paper, and display it on the display board of your classroom.

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Lesson Domestic Products

7.3 After the completion of this lesson, we will be able to:

• identify and use the goods produced in our own
country; and

• tell the importance of using domestic products.

Nepal is an agricultural country. Most of the people in our nation are
involved in farming. People produce various types of products in
our country. Most of them are agro-based products. They depend
on agricultural products as raw materials. In rural areas, people also
produce local goods in cottage industries. A cottage industry is a
small business that a person runs from his or her home with little
investment. It utilises local products. Generally, family members
work to run cottage industries.

People set up large industries in city areas because they need a
large amount of raw materials, electricity, trained and experienced

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human resource and good transportation facilities. Such facilities
are commonly not available in rural areas or villages. Such factories
produce different types of goods. The different kinds of goods
produced in different parts of our country are as follows.

Goods Sources of Production Place
Produced Production
Apple Agriculture Jumla, Mustang, Helambu and the
Himalayan Region
Basket (Dalo) Cottage industries All over the country
Cardamom Agriculture Hilly regions of Eastern Nepal
Cement Large scale Udaypur, Hetauda
industries
Clothes Large scale Major cities of Nepal
industries
Cotton Agriculture Banke, Bardiya, Dang, Kailali,
Kanchanpur
Doko, Naamlo Cottage Industries Almost all areas of Nepal
Jute Agriculture Eastern Terai Region
Maize and Agriculture Hilly region and high hilly region
millet
Mango Agriculture Terai region, flat land in the hills
Orange Agriculture Dhankuta, Pokhara, Gorkha, Syangja
and other hilly regions
Paddy Agriculture Terai region, flat land in the hills
Shoes small and large Major cities of Nepal
scale industries
Soap Cottage and large Duhabi, Birgung and Butwal
scale industries
Sugar Large scale Birgunj, Bhairahawa, Morang, and so
industries on.
Tea Large scale Ilam, Jhapa, Panchthar, Dhankuta
industries
Utensils Large scale Rural and urban areas of different
industries places
Vegetable Agriculture Almost every places in Nepal

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Some other goods, which are not given above, are also produced
in our country. They include noodles, toothpaste, biscuits, paper,
toys, pencils, copies, carpet, medicine, and garments. We do not
consume all these products. People export surplus products to
other countries. It helps us to earn foreign currency. It helps in the
economic development of our country.

investment GLOSSARY

garments : the act of putting money, effort, time, etc. into
consume something to make a profit

: a piece of clothing
: to eat or drink, especially a lot of something

EXERCISE

(1) Fill in the blanks with suitable answers.
(a) Most of our domestic products are .............................. .
(b) Generally, ................... members work to run cottage
industries.
(c) Cottage industries utilise ........................ products.
(d) People grow cardamom in hilly regions of ........... Nepal.
(e) Export of surplus products helps to earn foreign ...............

(2) Answer the following questions.
(a) How can you say that Nepal is an agricultural country?
(b) What do you mean by a cottage industry?
(c) Why do people set up large industries in cities?

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(d) Make a list of any six domestic products of our country
with their production places.

(e) What do people do to surplus products?

(3) Classify the following domestic products into
agricultural, cottage or large-scale industries.

apple biscuits chhurpi clothes copy
Dhaka doko fountain pen furniture jute bags
khukuri
soap mandro medicine milk paddy
sugar tea tooth-paste karuwa

Agricultural Cottage Large scale
Industry Industry Industry

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Lesson Use of Domestic Products

7.4 After the completion of this lesson, we will be able to:

• name the things produced in our own country.
• encourage our parents and other people to consume

domestic products.

We need many things to fulfil our needs in our daily life. Some of
them are agricultural products like rice, wheat, pulses, fruits and
vegetables. Likewise, some of them are industrial goods such as
sugar, soap, noodles, salt, medicine, clothes, etc. Similarly, people
produce some of them in cottage industries such as handicrafts,
Pashminas, Dhaka clothes, clay pots and so on. Wherever the
products come from, we should develop the habit of using domestic
products.

There are several benefits of using
domestic products. Our domestic
products are cheaper than imported
goods. They are easily available.
Our money doesn’t go out of our
country. Similarly, the people of
our own country get employment
opportunities in domestic
industries if we consume their
products. They do not need to go
to foreign nations for employment.
It improves the living standard of Taan

people living in our country. It also
helps to strengthen the economy of our country. Likewise, it helps
to develop feeling of nationalism. Therefore, we should use our
own domestic products.

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Many people believe that imported goods are better than domestic
products. It is not true in all cases. People of other nations also
demand some of our products to consume in their own country.
Nepali tea, Pashmina shawls, handicrafts, noodles and footwear
are popular all over the world. Thus, we should be responsible and
encourage our family members and other people to use domestic
products. We should also try to find out some ways to promote the
goods produced in our country.

GLOSSARY

handicraft : a skilled activity in which something is made in a
traditional way with the hands rather than being
produced by machines in a factory, or an object
made by such an activity

strengthen : to make something stronger or more effective, or
to become stronger or more effective

nationalism : a great or too great love of your own country

promote : to encourage people to like, buy, use, do, or
support something

EXERCISE

(1) Write True for right and False for wrong statements.
(a) We need different agricultural and industrial
goods to fulfil our daily needs.
(b) We shouldn’t develop the habit of using
domestic products.
(c) Imported goods are always better than
domestic goods.

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(d) We can become self-dependent if we use
our own domestic products.

(e) It is not necessary for us to encourage our family
members to use domestic products.

(2) Answer the following questions.
(a) Give four-four examples of agricultural and industrial
goods.
(b) Name any four products produced from cottage
industries.
(c) Why should we always use our own domestic products?
Write any three reasons.
(d) What products of Nepal are popular all over the world?
(e) What are some ways to promote our domestic products?
Discuss among your friends and make a list of any two
ways.

(3) The following slogans promote our own domestic
products. Write them on pieces of chart paper and
paste them at various places.

“Let’s use the “Let’s consume
goods produced goods made in
our own nation
in our own and become self-
country and make dependent.”

our economy
strong.”

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Lesson Economic Activities of
Nepal
7.5
After the completion of this lesson, we will be able to:

• describe the economic activities of people according
to our physical regions.

People of different regions of Nepal are involved in different
professions and occupations according to their interest, skill,
capacity and qualification. Similarly, climate, family background,
environment, and physical infrastructure have shaped their career.
For example, if the people of the Himalayan Region want to do fishery,
it is not possible due to its cold climate. The economic activities
of different regions of our country are not the same because they
have different land structures, climate and environment. Economic
activity means the activity of producing, buying, or selling products
or services.

Terai Economy

Agriculture is the main occupation
of the people living in the Terai
region. The soil of this region is
fertile, and climate is favourable
for cultivation. Irrigation facility is
also available here. Similarly, it is
possible to transport agricultural
tools and products easily from
one place to another due to its
plain land. A large quantity of crops grows here. Therefore, the Terai
region is also called granary or breadbasket of Nepal. The major
agricultural products of the Terai region are food crops like paddy,
wheat, and pulses and cash crops like sugarcane, jute, tobacco,

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mustard, coconut, and betal nuts. People grow food crops for their
consumption and cash crops with the purpose of generating money.
Food crops are generally grown for the local market, but cash crops
are grown for the national and international market as well.
Besides agriculture, people of the Terai Region are also involved in
industries, factories, fishery, trade and business. Many factories and
industries of cement, match, soap, noodles, sugar, paper, thread,
and clothes run in the Terai region. People work at different levels
in such industries and factories. People have also involved in fishery
in the ponds of the region. This region shares borders with India.
Some people are engaged in trade and business by importing
goods from India. They transport different crops, raw materials,
machinery and other products through custom checkpoints. Such
custom checkpoints are in Kakarvitta (Jhapa), Jogbani (Morang),
Raxaul (Parsa), Bhairahawa (Rupandehi), Rupaidiha (Banke), and
Tanakpur (Kanchanpur).

Hilly Economy

Agriculture is the main occupation
of the people living in the Hilly
Region. They grow cardamom,
lemon, maize, millet, orange,
potato and different kinds of
fruits and vegetables. The hilly
region is not only naturally
beautiful but also rich in socio-
cultural aspects. Thus, many
tourists love to visit this region
for trekking, rafting, research,
kayaking and other adventurous activities. There are many hotels,
restaurants, homestays and resorts in this region. They serve food
and accommodation to tourists. Many people also work as tourist
guides to earn their livelihood in this region. The major tourist

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destinations of this region are Pokhara, Kathmandu, Gorkha, Ilam,
Palpa, Surkhet, Dhankuta and so on.
The people living in the city areas and towns of this region are
engaged in service, trade and industry as well. Kathmandu, Pokhara,
Chitwan, Dhankuta, Surkhet etc. are primary commercial centres of
this region.

Mountainous Economy

The climate of the mountainous region is cold, dry and windy.
Similarly, the soil of this region is
not fertile but full of rocks. As a
result, this region is not so suitable
for cultivation. However, people
grow wheat, barley, potato, apple
etc. in limited quantity. This region
is full of grazing lands. People
rear animals like sheep, mountain
goats, and yaks in their home.
They make cheese and Chhurpi
from the milk of such animals and carpets and blankets from the
wool of sheep. They earn a good amount of money by doing so.
Several mountain peaks such as Sagarmatha (Mt Everest),
Kanchanjunga, Makalu, Gaurishankar, Annapurna, Langtang,
Dhaulagiri, and Saipal fall in this region. A large number of domestic
and external tourists visit those places for trekking, expedition
and mountaineering. The people of this region work as hoteliers,
porters, tourist guides, cooks and helpers to serve the tourists and
earn money. Annapurna region, Langtang, Namche Bazaar, Makalu,
Sagarmatha Base Camp, etc. are the major tourist destinations of
this region. Horticulture is another source of income to people of
this region. They grow apples and apricots. Some people of this
region also seek, collect and sell herbs for their livelihood.

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GLOSSARY

career : the job or series of jobs that you do during your
working life

favourable : giving an advantage or more chance of success

granary : an area where a lot of grain is grown

bread basket : a large farming area that provides other areas with
food

consumption : the amount used or eaten

kayaking : the activity of travelling in a light, narrow boat

resort : a place where many people go for rest, sport, or
another stated purpose

expedition : a place where many people go for rest, sport, or
another stated purpose

horticulture : the art of growing fruits in an orchard

livelihood : the way a person earns the money he or she needs
to pay for food, a place to live, clothing, etc.

EXERCISE

(1) Fill in the blanks with suitable answers.
(a) .......................... is the main occupation of the people
living in the Terai and Hilly Regions of our country.
(b) There are large ........................ and industries in the
Terai Region of our country.
(c) There are many hotels, ................................, homestays
and resorts in the Hilly Region of Nepal.

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(d) There are many grazing lands in the ........................
Region of Nepal.

(e) Besides agriculture, animal husbandry and tourism,
people of the Himalayan Region of Nepal are involved
in .......................... .

(2) Give any four examples of the following.
(a) Cash crops grown in the Terai Region of our country
(b) Custom checkpoints located in Nepal
(c) Activities that tourists do in Hilly Region of our country
(d) Major tourist destinations in the Hilly Region of Nepal
(e) Major tourist destinations in the Himalayan Region of
Nepal

(3) Write True for right statements and False for wrong
ones.

(a) An economy activity means the activity of
producing, buying, or selling products
and services.

(b) People grow food crops for selling and cash
crops for consumption.

(c) The primary commercial centres of the Hilly
Region are Pokhara, Kathmandu, Gorkha,
Ilam, etc.

(d) People of the Himalayan Region of Nepal
produce cheese, Chhurpi, carpets and
blankets.

(e) Some people of the Terai Region of Nepal
are engaged in collecting and selling
medicinal herbs.

198 Our Economic Activities Approved by Curriculum Development Centre,
Sanothimi, Bhaktapur

(4) Make a list of any five cash crops and five food crops
produced in the Terai region of Nepal.

Cash crops Food crops

(5) Answer the following questions.
(a) Why do people choose different professions or
occupations in our country? Give reasons.
(b) Why are many people of Terai Region of our country
involved in farming?
(c) Why is the Terai Region called the granary or breadbasket
of Nepal?
(d) What are the people of Hilly Region of Nepal involved
in?
(e) What are the major economic activities of the people
living in the Himalayan Region of our country?
(f) Why do many people prefer to live in the Kathmandu
Valley than other places in Nepal? Discuss among your
friends and write.

Approved by Curriculum Development Centre, Vedanta Integrated Social Studies Book 5 199
Sanothimi, Bhaktapur

Revisiting the Unit

(1) Give any four examples of the following.
(a) Occupations of people in your district
(b) Goods produced in our own country
(c) Products of cottage industries
(d) Economic activities in the Terai Region of Nepal
(e) Economic activities in the Hilly Region of Nepal
(f) Economic activities in the Himalayan Region of Nepal

(2) Write short paragraphs on the following topics.
(a) Importance of Our School Properties
(b) Importance of Our Domestic Products

(3) Write creative answers to the following questions.
(a) How can we utilise the properties of our school
economically? Write any five ways.
(b) Why should we use and promote our domestic products?
Write any five reasons.
(c) Although agriculture is the main economic activity in all
regions of our country, we still have to depend on our
neighbouring countries for various agricultural products.
How can we become self-independent in agriculture?
Write any five ways

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