Social Studies 5

Lesson Our Neighbouring
Countries I
5.5

Pre-reading Activities

Working with your teacher, closely study the globe in the classroom;
locate Nepal's neighbouring countries. Then, discuss the similarities and
differences between Nepal and each of the neighbouring countries.

Reading

Like a family, a country also has its neighbours. For example, India and China
as you read in Grade IV, are the immediate neighbours of Nepal. There are
other neighbours of Nepal. In this lesson, you will learn about them.

Bhutan

Bhutan, officially the Kingdom of Bhutan, is a
landlocked country in South Asia. It is located
in the eastern part of the Himalayas. Like
Nepal, Bhutan is surrounded by India in the
south, east and west and China in the north. It
has an area of 38,394 sq.km.

Physical features

The land consists mostly of steep and high mountains, crisscrossed by a
network of swift rivers. Broadly, Bhutan can be divided into mountains, hills,
valleys and plains. The northern part of the country has mountains, the central
part has hills and the southern part is lowland plains. The north is cold, south
is hot but the hills and valleys have moderate climate like Nepal.

Social life and economy

Most of the Bhutanese are Buddhists. They follow Tibetan culture and
tradition. Buddha Jayanti and Lhosar are the main festivals. Men wear bakhu

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and docha and women wear kira. The national language is Dzonkha. In the
southern part of the country, Bhutanese of Nepali origin live. Their lifestyle
is similar to Nepali people. They speak Nepali and celebrate Nepali festivals.

Ngultrum is the currency of Bhutan. Bhutan's economy is based on agricuture,
forestry and tourism. More than 80 percent of the population depend on
agriculture for the livelihood. Majority of the farmers practise agriculture
based on traditional methods. The major crops include: rice, maize, wheat
and potatoes. Cash crops like apple, mandarin orange and cardamom are also
cultivated for export. Cottage industries produce handicrafts.

Bangladesh

Bangladesh, officially the People's Republic
of Bangladesh, is situated to the south-east
of Nepal. It is bordered by India on three
sides and the Bay of Bengal on the south.
The name Bangladesh means "Country of
Bengal" in the official Bengali language. The
total area of Bangladesh is 143,998 sq km. It
has a population of about 165.18 million as of
September 2017. The capital city of the country is Dhaka.

Physical features

Unlike Nepal, Bangladesh does not have hills or mountains. It is mostly a plain
country. It has low hills in the eastern and northeastern regions. The Ganges,
Brahmaputra and Padma are the major rivers of Bangladesh. The climate
remains hot in this country. In the summer, it rains heavily and the winter is
cold and dry. Bangladesh often has to struggle aganst hurricanes and floods.

Social life and economy

A typical household in Bangladesh includes several generations of an extended
family. Most marriages are arranged by parents or other relatives. As most of
the Bangladeshis are Muslims, Eid is the main festival. Men commonly wear
lungi with a short vest. Women commonly wear sari, but girls and younger
women prefer shalwar kamiz. Bangladeshis mostly eat rice, pulses and fish.

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The currency of Bangladesh is 'Taka'. Jute is the main basis of economy.
Bangladesh grows a significant quantity of rice, tea, potato, mango, onion
and mustard. Although two-thirds of Bangladeshis are farmers, more than 75
percent of export earnings come from the garment industry.

Pakistan

Pakistan, officially the Islamic Republic of
Pakistan, is situated to the far west of Nepal. It is
surrounded by India in the east, and Afghanistan
and China in the north. Arabian Sea is to the south
of Pakistan.

Pakistan has four provinces and four federal
territories. With a population of about 197.42 million
as of September, 2017, it is the sixth most populous country in the world and
has the second largest Muslim population after Indonesia. The total area is
796,096 sq km and the capital city is Islamabad.

Physical features

Pakistan is divided into four regions.
The north-western frontier region: This includes Hindu Kush and the
Himalayan ranges. There are rivers and passes. Khyber pass is in this region.

The south-western region: This includes the plateaus of Baluchistan. This
area is dry and barren.

The north-eastern region: This region mainly consists of plateaus and usually
remains dry and barren.

The southeastern region: This is the most fertile region of the country. The
area is irrigated by Indus River.

Pakistan is very hot in summer and cold in winter. Jacobabad, the hottest place
in Asia, lies in Pakistan.

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Social life and economy

Pakistan is an Islamic agricultural society. The family organization is strongly
patriarchal. Most people live in large extended families. The oldest male,
whether he is the father, grandfather, or paternal uncle, is the family leader. He
makes all significant decisions regarding the family. Traditionally, a woman's
place in society has been secondary to that of men. Pakistani people eat bread,
dal, vegetables and meat. Men wear salwar and shirt and women wear kurta
and salwar. Many women wear burka. Eid is the biggest festival.

The currency of Pakistan is Rupee. Rice, wheat maize and sugarcane are the
basic products of the country. Steel, iron, cement, fertilizer, textile and paper
are the major industries.

Free the Words

immediate : very close
crisscross : cross in a pattern, often randomly
swift : moving at great speed
livelihood : means of survival
mandarin : a kind of shrub that bears fruit
hurricane : heavy rain and wind
extend : increase in range or area
patriarchal : where male is the family head

In-class Activities

Complete the table below with the facts and information from the lesson.

Name of the Capital Area Popula- Lan- Cur- Dress Major Major Major
country tion guage rency crops festi- tradi-
vals tions

Bhutan Dzonkha
Bangladesh
Dhaka
Pakistan
Eid

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Exercise

1. State whether the following statements are True or False.
a. Bhutan is bordered by Nepal, India and China.
b. The physical feature of Bhutan is similar to that of
Nepal.
c. Bhutan imports electricity from India.
d. The climate in Bangladesh is hot.
e. The hottest place of Asia lies in Bangladesh.
f. The Pakistani society mostly has patriarchal family
system.

2. Fill in the blanks.
a. The official name of Bhutan is ................................. .
b. ......................... are the major rivers of Bangladesh.
c. ..................... has no hills and mountains.
d. Men wear .................... and women wear .................... in Pakistan.

3. Answer these questions.
a. What is the major occupation in Bhutan?
b. What are the main festivals of the Bhutanese?
c. Write about the crops grown in Bangladesh.
d. Briefly describe the Pakistani family structure.

4. Look at the map of South Asia. Show
Bhutan, Bangladesh and Pakistan in it.

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Lesson Our Neighbouring
Countries II
5.6

Pre-reading Activities

Divide the class into three groups. The first group represents Sri Lanka, the
second group represents Afghanistan and the third groups represents the
Maldives. Working in the group, make a list of facts/ information you know
about the country you represent. Then, share the information with the class.

Reading

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic
Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, is
located to the far south of Nepal. It
is an island. Until 1972, Sri Lanka
was called Ceylon. It is surrounded
by the Indian Ocean on all sides.
The total area of this country is
65,610 sq km. The total population
is about 20.9 million as of September 2017. The capital city is Colombo.

Physical features
Geographically, Sri Lanka can be divided into three regions: Coastal Region,
Northern Rocky Region and Central Hilly Region. Because the country is
surrounded by ocean, much of Sri Lanka is made up of coastal regions. In the
coastal region, there are forests, lakes and coconut trees. The northern part of
the country is rocky. The central part has low hills.

The climate of Sri Lanka is tropical and warm. Mostly rainfall occurs in the
summer and winter. There are about 100 rivers in the country and the longest
of them is Mahaweli River.

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Social life and economy

Most Sri Lankans live in small houses made of wood, bamboo, clay and mud.
However, in towns and cities, they live in big concrete buildings. Sri Lankans
enjoy rice and fish. Most people follow Buddhism. As it is a hot country, men
wear shirts and lungis and women wear saris and blouses.

Though Sinhali is the national language of the country, people speak both Tamil
and English. Sri Lanka has a high literacy rate in South Asia. Education is free
up to the university level and more than 90 percent people in this country are
educated.

Rupee is the currency of Sri Lanka. The main economic sectors of the country
are tourism and agriculture. Sri Lanka produces tea, rubber, coffee, sugar
and other agricultural goods and exports them to other countries. Many Sri
Lankans are employed in Middle Eastern countries.

Afghanistan

Afghanistan, officially

the Islamic Republic

of Afghanistan, is a

landlocked country.

Pakistan lies to the

south east, Iran to the

west, Turkmenistan,

Uzbekistan and

Tajikistan to the north,

and China to the far

northeast. The total area of the country is about 6,52,000 sq km. The population

is about 34.31 million as of September 2017. The capital city is Kabul.

Physical features

It is a landlocked mountainous country. It has plains in the north and southwest.
It has a continental climate with very harsh winters in the central highlands.
There are many rivers and reservoirs. A large part of the country is dry. Coal,
copper, iron ore, lithium, uranium, chromite, gold, zinc, talc, barites, sulphur,
lead, marble, precious and semi-precious stones, natural gas and petroleum,
among other, are the major natural resources found in the country.

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Social life and economy

Family is the most important institution in the Afghan society. A typical Afghan
family is patriarchal. Though polygyny (multiple wives) is permitted, it is not
practised widely. Within families, Afghanis respect the elderly people. Men
wear long knee-length dresses with the baggy trousers called 'Perahan Tunban'
or (Kamiz Shalwar). Women wear long dresses made of cotton. They also wear
head scarfs and flat shoes known as paizar.

The currency of Afghanistan is Afghani. For many poor farmers, poppy
cultivation is an important source of income. Agriculture is another source of
income. Afghanistan produces wheat, fruits, nuts, etc.

The Maldives

The Maldives, officially
the Republic of Maldives,
also referred to as the
Maldive Islands, is an
island nation in the
Indian Ocean. It is the
smallest country in
South Asia. It is also the
country with the lowest
sea-level in the world,
at 2.3 metres (7 fit, 7 inch). The total area of the country is 298 sq. km. Total
population is about 37.7 million as of September 2017 The capital city is Male.

Physical features

The Maldives is comprised of more than 1200 islands. Only 200 islands are
inhabited by people. There are no hills and mountains in the Maldives. The
biggest island is about 6 km long. More than 80 percent of the country's land is
less than one meter above the sea level. Due to high level of salt in the soil near
the beach, vegetation is limited. A few plants such as shrubs, flowering plants,
and small hedges are found. It is a hot country.

Social life and economy

Islam is the main religion of the country. People mostly eat rice and fish. As
the country has very little land to grow crops, it depends mostly on fishing.
Tourism is another important part of the economy. About 98% of people are
literate. The currency is Rufiyaa.

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Free the Words

coastal : located on a sea coast
tropical : hot
literacy rate : education status
continental : relating to a continent
poppy : opium plant
hedge : a row of small trees or shrubs

In-class Activities

Complete the table below with the facts and information from the lesson.

Name of the Bordered by Crops Climate Food
country Indian Ocean Continental
on all sides climate
Sri Lanka

Afghanistan

Maldives Almost no
crops grow:
rice and fish
are used for
food

Exercise

1. Fill in the blanks.
a. .......................... is the national language of Sri Lanka.
b. Total population of Sri Lanka is ................................. .
c. .............................. is men's dress of Afghanistan.
d. ............................ is the smallest country in South Asia.
e. Only ...................... islands are inhabited by people in the Maldives.

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2. State whether the following statements are True or False.
a. Before 1972, Sri Lanka was known as Ceylon.
b. Education is free in Sri Lanka.
c. Polygyny is widely practised in Afghanistan.
d. Fishing and tourism form the basis of economy in the
Maldives.
e. Maldives has the highest sea-level in the world.

3. Answer these questions.
a. What is the physical structure of the Maldives like?
b. What are major products of Sri Lanka?
c. Name the minerals found in Afghanistan.
d. What is Afghan economy based on?
e. Why is Maldives called an island nation?

4. Mark the capital cities in the maps of Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and
the Maldives.

5. Write about the social life of the following nations.

Nations Social life

Sri Lanka

Afghanistan

The Maldives

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Lesson A Map and a Globe

5.7

Pre-reading Activities

You might have observed a globe. Why is it round in shape? It also spins.
What might be the reason? Discuss in the class.

Reading

Have you ever seen a map and a globe? You must have. A map can be hung
on the wall. A globe stands on the table. This is the basic difference between a
map and a globe.

What is a globe then? A globe is a small model of the Earth. It shows the
continents and the oceans of the Earth on its surface. A globe spins on an axis.
The globe's axis is a metal stick stuck through its center. The globe has an axis
so it shows us how the Earth spins. The Earth has an axis, too, but it doesn't
spin on a metal stick. The Earth's axis is an imaginary line drawn through its
center from its North Pole to South Pole.

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What is a map? A map is a picture of the Earth's surface. It shows how things
are related to each other by distance, direction, and size. Maps record definite
facts of climate, vegetation, materials over earth, continents, countries and
states. So we can see land, water, countries, capitals, rivers, lakes, mountains,
etc. on a map. A person who makes maps is called a cartographer.

Maps help us find our way from one place to another. They show where things
or places are located. Maps can be used to show how far one place is from
another. Collectively, globes and maps help us in the following ways: They
• show the name of the country
• show the boundaries of a country
• show the capital city of the country
• show the terrain of the land
• show the routes of big rivers
• show the water area
• show the road network
• indicate the approximate longitude and latitude of the place
• show time zones

In some cases they show vegetation, mineral deposits, earthquake belts,

temperature zones, humidity, etc.

Colour is very important in understanding globes and maps. In the globes and
maps, the part of land is marked with green, yellow and brown colours. Green
refers to plains; yellow refers to hills and brown refers to high mountains.
These three colours on globes and maps also show the continents. A continent
is a group of countries. There are seven continents in the world. They are Asia,
Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe and Australia.

Another important colour used in maps and globes is blue. The water portion
of the Earth is marked with blue. The blue part of the globe shows seas and
oceans. A sea is a large mass of salty water that covers the Earth's surface. An
ocean is much larger than a sea. Actually, a sea is a part of an ocean. There are
five oceans on the Earth. They are Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean,
Arctic Ocean and Antarctic Ocean.

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Free the Words

model : copy
spin : to turn round and round
axis : imaginary line at the center of globe
collectively : together

In-class Activities

Imagine that your birthday is tomorrow. You want to celebrate it with
your best friend, from the class. But, they have never been to your home.
Take a plain sheet of paper. Draw a line map to your home from the school
to help your friends reach your home. Also mention directions and main
landmarks on the way.

Exercise

1. State whether the following statements are True or False.
a. A map can be placed on the table.

b. A globe is a kind of ball.

c. Colours are important in understanding the globe.

d. There are five continents in the world.

e. Water on the earth is marked with blue colour.

2. Answer these questions.
a. What is a globe?
b. What is a map?
c. Write three uses of map.
d. What do the colours green, brown and yellow represent in a globe?
e. Define continent and give the names of seven continents.
f. What are sea and ocean?
g. Name five oceans of the world.

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3. Here are colours used in the globe. Write what each colour stands
for.





4. What can we learn from a map and globe? Fill up the following table.

Map Globe

⇒⇒

⇒⇒

⇒⇒

5. In an outline map of the world, put appropriate colour in different
continents and oceans.

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Lesson Mapping Nepal

5.8

Pre-reading Activities

Begin this lesson with a map of Nepal. Closely study the map. Then find out
the district where your school is. Also mark your home district. Try freely
drawing the map of Nepal on a plain sheet of paper and show it to your
teacher.

Reading

Methods of Drawing a Map

A map is the proportional representation of land surface on paper. There are
different methods of drawing a map. We need to survey an area to prepare an
original map. We need instruments such as chain, tape, prismatic compass and
plain table. We can draw the map of our classroom as shown below with the
help of a chain and tape.

Scale 1 cm = 2 feet

There are different methods of drawing a map. Tracing, copying, carboning,
graphic or square methods are the commonly used ways of drawing a map.
Among them, the graphic method is very useful to practise drawing the map
of Nepal. If we memorize the extension of map in a graph, we can draw it
easily without looking at it.

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4 cm

4 cm

4 cm

4 cm 6 cm 6 cm 4 cm

How to draw a map of Nepal:

i. Draw a rectangle of 20 x 12 sq.cm.

ii. Now divide it into 4cm, 6cm, 6cm, and 4 cm. segments

iii. Again mark the extended part of the map of Nepal.

iv. Now join the dots shown in the above map.

v. If you have confidence to draw the map of Nepal, erase graph and show
only the map.

vi. Finally, draw the border line, the north line, scale, index and use different
symbols to show other details on the map.

vii. Your completed map of Nepal should look like the one given below.

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Maps give us information about different facts. With the help of map we
can recognise rivers, mountains, lakes, cities, etc. of any place. But these
things cannot be shown directly in a map. Therefore, we use certain
signs to show them. We call these signs as symbols or index. Some of the
important symbols used to represent facts in map are given below.

Fact Symbols

Mountain

River

Road

Lake

City

Capital

Free the Words

Draw the points of the map of Nepal as shown in your book and practise
drawing the map of Nepal. After drawing the map, write the title, draw
north line, scale and border line on it.

Exercise

1. Fill in the gaps.
a. We need to make a ................... to prepare an original map.
b. Chain and tape, prismatic compass and plain table are the ...................
used to prepare an original map.
c. Tracing, carboning, copying and graphic methods are used ................
the map.
d. ......................... method is very useful to practise drawing the map of
Nepal.

2. Answer the following questions. 117

a. What is a map?
b. What should be done to prepare an original map?
c. What instruments are used to draw an original map?
d. What are the methods of drawing a map?

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3. Draw a map of your classroom as shown in your book with the help
of a chain and tape.

Projects for Unit Five

1. Compare the life-style of Pakistani and Afghani people.
2. In a group, draw a large map of South Asia, mention the main cities

and hang it on your classroom wall. Show your project to students of
junior classes too.
3. "Geography and climate have affected the lives of Nepali people."
Write an essay justifying this statement.

In this unit, we have learned that:

• Nepal is a landlocked country; it has diverse geography and physical
features.

• geographically, Nepal can be divided into three regions: Himalayan
region, Hilly region, and Terai.

• climate in Nepal varies from region to region; while we have hot climate
in Terai, we have very cold climate in the northern Himalayan region.

• due to climate variation, people have adapted to different life-styles;
it has created diversity in the country.

• just as the climate, soil and vegetation are also diverse in the country.
• Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan are our neighboring

countries.
• a map is a picture of earth surface; map shows landforms, land marks,

rivers, lakes, and mountains.

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Test Your Knowledge

1. Select the correct choice and complete the sentences.

a. ............. is a landlocked country. (Bhutan/Pakistan/India)
b. ............. region occupies the most area in Nepal. (Terai/Hilly/

Himalayan)
c. The Himalayan region is at an altitude above ............. meters.

(2000/3000/4000)
d. .................. is the chief crop of Terai. (Paddy/Corn/Coffee)
e. ................... soil can be found in the hills of Nepal. (Alluvial/

Lacustrine/Sandy)
f. Forests help prevent ................ .(storms/landslides/earthquakes)
g. ............. has an area of 143998 sq km. (Bhutan/Bangladesh/Pakistan)
h. The currency of Sri Lanka is ............. . (Lanki/Afghani/Rupee)
i. The ............. divides the earth into northern and southern

hemispheres. (Equator/Prime Meridian/Longitude)
j. There are ............. time zones in the world. (12/24/16)

2. Answer these questions.
a. Imagine you are an explorer who has discovered Nepal for the first
time. Write a field report describing the physical features of the
country.
b. Which of Nepal’s neighbouring countries would you like to visit? Why?
c. What advantages/disadvantages does our country have due to its
diverse topography?
d. Why do you suppose Nepal’s economic status is at a lower level
than its neighbours?
e. Suppose you are a cartographer. Draw a map of an imaginary
country entailing details such as : boundaries, cities, water bodies,
major roads, mountains, etc.

3. Activities
a. Create a brochure for Nepal aimed at foreigners highlighting the
geographical diversity and hot tourist destinations of our country.
b. Make a large map of SouthAsia showing Nepal and its neighbouring
countries on a chart paper. Show their physical features and locate
the capital of each country.

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Unit Our Past

6

In this unit, we will learn:

• the meaning and importance of history.
• the ways of studying history; sources used in writing history.
• about the history of Nepal during the ancient times.
• about our national heroes and their contribution to the country.
• about the roles and functions of the President and the Prime Minister.

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Lesson

6.1 The Study of History

Pre-reading Activities

Before you begin this lesson, think of volunteering to narrate the history of
your own families or forefathers. Include information such as birth date,
place of birth, what your family members did or do, etc.

Reading

Raman Chalise is a fifth grade student from Bhojpur. His home is in Simle
Rural Municipality. He heard about a female revolutionary from his village.
He wanted to know more about her. He visited the school library and searched
in the history books but he was unable to find her name mentioned. He then
sat down in front of the computer and googled “Yogmaya Neupane.” He
found one story published in Republica daily of March 4, 2011. The story was
written by Bikash Sangraula and the title was “Yogmaya Neupane: Nepal’s
First Female Revolutionary.” Reading the story, this is what Raman came to know
about her.

Yogmaya Neupane was born between 1860 and 1868
in Simle, Bhojpur. She was the only daughter of her
parents. She was married to a Koirala boy when she was
between five and nine years old. The boy died soon after
the marriage. After that, her in-laws sent her to maiti
(maternal home).

She attacked the social tradition that prohibited a widow
to marry again. Between 1903 and 1916 AD, Yogmaya
gave up her family and began travelling to holy places.
Later she decided to lead the life of an ascetic. She set
up an ashram and lived there. She soon accumulated many followers and
organized them into the country’s first Nari Samiti (women’s committee). The
committee raised its voice against the exploitation of women, child marriage
and polygamy (marrying more than one woman or man).

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Within a few years of its activity, the committee submitted a 24-point petition
to Rana Prime Minister, Chandra Shamsher, stating the problems women were
facing.

After the death of Chandra Shamsher, Neupane and her disciples came to
Kathmandu and met and discussed the matter with Juddha Shamsher. Neupane
was offered a plate full of gold coins, but she refused to stay silent. Instead
she demanded reforms. Juddha Shamsher promised reforms but instead
of working on the promised reforms, the government executed four of her
followers in 1940 AD. Neupane and her followers lost hope. In protest of the
government’s actions she and 68 other disciples committed jal-samadhi (mass
suicide by drowning), by jumping into the Arun River on July 14, 1941. Before
they plunged into the river they hollered: “May the unjust Rana government be
destroyed!” Seventy years later, a statue of Yogmaya was unveiled in Bhojpur
on March 8, 2011 on the occasion of International Women’s Day.

Raman was happy to know about the woman warrior of his own village but
he was curious as to whether there were other such people in the past. Raman
thought there must be other such individuals from Nepal whose history is
unknown to us. Acquiring historical knowledge is not always easy. There aren't
books written on every subject. But there always is a solution for students who
want to learn about the past. Let us learn about the sources of history.

There are no reliable written documents on the history of ancient Nepal but
there are varieties of historical monuments, coins, temples, religious images
and inscriptions. We call them sources of history. Some sources of history are
presented below:

Chronicles : Chronicles are called bamsawali in Nepali. They are the main
historical sources of ancient Nepal. Most available chronicles were written in
or about 1800 A. D. The latest one was written by a Buddhist monk of Patan
during the time of King Rana Bahadur Shah. A short history of the king and
some important events related to him are included in this chronicle.

Stone Inscriptions: Stone inscriptions, or silalekh, are
another source of history. In the olden days when
paper was not available, people used to write on
stones. Such inscriptions are found in the temples
and palaces of Nepal. Do you remember the message
praising Balabhadra Kunwar inscripted in stone?

The Lichchhavi inscription at the temple of Changu
Narayan is the oldest available stone inscription in Nepal.

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Copper Inscriptions: A copper inscription, or tamrapatra, is a plate of copper
with words and sentences on it. There are many copper inscriptions in Nepal.

Ancient Buildings, Temples and Stupas:

Ancient buildings, temples, stupas, statues

and wooden and metal images are other

reliable sources of history. They provide clear
evidence of the excellence of the Nepalese art
and sculpture. The most historical temples in
Nepal are Changu Narayan, Pashupatinath,
Hanuman Dhoka, Krishna Mandir of Patan,
the Nyatapol (five-storey) of Bhaktapur, Swayambhunath, Baudhanath and
Mahabaudha.

Ancient Coins: Different kinds of coins, on which names of the sun, the moon,
horses, bulls, etc., are imprinted, have been found in different places. These
coins show the character, work, tastes and religions of the kings of that time.

Archaeological Findings: Ancient vessels, coins, utensils, images and stone-
taps have been disovered at Tilaurakot, Lumbini, Bishalnagar, Lazimpat and
Ratna Park. They also hold great historical value.

Museums: Museums collect and keep old weapons, pictures of kings and
queens. The National Museum at Chhauni has a lot of such relics. There are
other equally important museums in Nepal.

If we find such sources of history like coins, tamrapatras or silalekhs or statues, we
should preserve them. They are valuable assets of the country and important

sources of knowledge.

Free the Words

revolutionary : a person who supports or starts revolution

prohibit : to ban

widow : a woman whose husband has died

ascetic : to remain away from physical pleasure

accumulate : gather

petition : written document that demands change

disciple : follower

execute : kill

hollered : called out loudly

unveil : to make public, to show

inscription : words that are written on coin, stone, etc.

relic : an object that has historical and cultural importance

temperament : nature

Oasis Social Studies & Creative Arts-5 123

In-class Activities

Work in a group. Take a walk around your school premises and the office. Study
photographs, records, images, displays, etc. Then, prepare a brief history of your
school. Include vital information such as:
• Date of establishment
• Persons who contributed to the development of your school
• Main achievements
• Important incidents/ events

Exercise

1. State whether the following statements are True or False.
a. Yogmaya Neupane was born in the 1860s.
b. She founded the first women's committee.
c. Yogmaya was killed by Rana rulers.
d. A chronicle records events of the past.
e. Museums keep the collection of old objects.

2. Match the following. Stone inscriptions
First Nari Samiti

Jal Samadhi Ancient books

Words written on stones Yogmaya Neupane

Ramayana, Mahabharat Arun River

3. Answer these questions.
a. Who was Yogmaya married to?
b. What did Yogmaya's Nari Samiti do?
c. What did Juddha Shamsher do to Yogmaya and her followers?
d. What did Yogmaya and her followers do against the Rana rule?
e. List some sources of history.

4. Ask your parents or seniors about an influential person of your
district and write a short history about him/her.

124 Oasis Social Studies & Creative Arts-5

Lesson

6.2 Nepal in Ancient Times

Pre-reading Activities

Where do you live? Have you ever thought about the meaning of your
place? What does the name of your place mean? How was it named? Think
about it and share your views with the class. If you do not know, ask your
parents or elders in your community.

Reading

Nepal is first mentioned in the late
Vedic text, Atharvaveda Parisista,
as a place exporting blankets.
In Samundragupta’s Allahabad
inscription it is mentioned as a
bordering country. The ‘Skanda
Purana’ has a separate chapter
known as ‘Nepal Mahatmya’,
which explains the beauty and
power of Nepal. Nepal is also
mentioned in the Hindu religious text, Narayana Puja. So Nepal has a long
history. In Grade IV, you read about how this country got the name, Nepal.
The early history of Nepal begins from that point of time.

According to mythology, it is said that Kathmandu valley was a big lake in
the past. After Manjushree drained the water by cutting the Chovar hills,
Kathmandu valley became suitable for people to live. The earliest people to
live in Kathmandu are said to be the Gopals.

Gopal Dynasty
It is said that by the end of Dwapara Yuga, a demon called Danasur submerged
the valley by blocking its water outlet. Lord Krishna came from Dwarika and
killed the demon. The Gopals came with him. These Gopals began ruling over

Oasis Social Studies & Creative Arts-5 125

the valley. They kept cows and made curd and ghee. Gopals were also called
Neep or Nep. It is said that the name Nepal came from these words. The first
king of Gopal dynasty was king Bhuktaman. Gopal kings ruled for about 521
years. The last Gopal king was Yakshya Gupta. The capital of the Gopal rulers
was Matatirtha.

Mahispal Dyansty

Yaksha Gupta, the last of the Gopal kings, was childless. So after his death
there was no heir to succeed the throne. Then, Jaya Singh, a Mahispal, became
the king. Mahispals were also called Abhir. Unlike Gopals, Mahispals kept
buffaloes. Mahis is the Sanskrit word for buffalo. Three Mahispal kings ruled
the country. The last king of this dynasty was Bhuwan Singh. During Bhuwan
Singh’s time, Kirati king Yalambar attacked the valley and began to rule.
During the Mahispal rule, people kept animals and farmed for a living.

Kirat Age

Kirat kings began ruling over the valley from about 700 BC.
The first Kirati king was Yalambar. About 29 Kirat kings
ruled over Nepal for a period spanning 526 years. It is said
that Lord Gautam Buddha visited Kathmandu during the
rule of Jitedasti, the seventh Kirati king. Kiratis loved arts
and commerce. They were good rulers. They treated men
and women equally. They followed the Hindu religion. They
worshipped Shiva. Kirati rulers built the Kirateshwar temple. The last King of the
Kirat dynasty was Gasti. He was a weak ruler and finally lost to the Lichchhabis.

Lichchhabi Era

The Lichchhabi rule began in Nepal after the end of
the Kirat dynasty at about 400 AD. Mandev, Shivadev
I, Amshuverma and Narendra Dev were the famous
Lichchhabi kings of Nepal. Lichchhabi kings established
trade with Tibet and India and developed art and culture
in the country. Lichchhabi kings were scholars, and they
spread the importance of education too. Therefore, the
Lichchhabi period is also called the golden period of Nepali
history.

126 Oasis Social Studies & Creative Arts-5

Free the Words

mention : state, say
inscription : words written on stones or metals
drain : empty
submerge : go under water
span : measure

In-class Activities

Divide the class into four groups, each group representing a ruling dynasty
of ancient Nepal:Gopal, Mahishpal, Kirat, and Lichchhabi. Discuss and
write why the dynasty your group represents was a better period in Nepali
history.

Exercise

1. Match the following.

First King of Gopal dynasty last Kirat King

Abhir Lichchhabi era

Neep Bhuktaman

Golden era Mahispals

Gasti Gopal

2. Fill in the blanks.
a. Nepal is mentioned as a place exporting blanket in ................... .
b. Kathmandu valley became suitable for people to live after
...................... .
c. Danasur submerged the valley in ................................ .
d. ......................... was the last king of Mahispal dynasty.
e. Lichchhabi kings established trade with ........................... .
Oasis Social Studies & Creative Arts-5 127

3. State whether the following statements are True or False.
a. Nepal Mahatmya explains the beauty of Nepal.
b. Gopals were cow-herders.
c. 'Mahis' in Sanskrit means "a cow".
d. Lord Gautam Buddha visited Nepal during the
Lichchhabi rule.
e. Lichchhabi period is called the golden era.

4. Answer these questions.
a. Which was the first dynasty to rule over Nepal?
b. How long did the Kirats rule over Nepal?
c. How did Kirat kings treat women?
d. During whose rule did Gautam Buddha visit Nepal?
e. Name some Lichchhabi kings.
f. Why is Lichchhabi period called the golden era?

5. Write down the major features of different dynasties under the
given table.

S.N. Gopal dynasty Mahispal dyansty Kirat dynasty Lichchhabi dynasty
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

6. Collect some pictures related to different dynasties and paste them
on chart paper. Display them in the class.

7. Draw an imaginary picture of Kathmandu valley before Manjushree
drained the water from the valley.

128 Oasis Social Studies & Creative Arts-5

Lesson

6.3 Our National Heroes I

Pre-reading Activities

Take a few minutes and think about the following questions. Then, share
your ideas with the class.
• Who do you think is a hero?
• What qualities do you think a hero should possess?
• If you were to choose a hero from your community or nation, who

would you choose and why?

Reading

The culture, language, civilization, and system of government we have now in
Nepal have developed over a long period of time. Many people have helped
to make Napal a great nation. We call such figures national luminaries. In this
lesson and the next, you will study about some of them.

Janak
Janak was the king of Mithila, which is the present day Janakpur.
His real name was Seeradhwaj. Janak was not only a brave
king but was well-versed in the shastras and Vedas. He was
a spiritual person and loved knowledge. Many people came
to his court to solve their problems. He made Mithila a center
for learning. He always thought for his people; he treated his
subjects like his own children. He worked to promote Maithili
language and culture.

Sita
Sita was the daughter of king Janak. She was married to Lord
Rama. She is also known as Baidehi and Janaki. She was a
foundling, discovered in a furrow while ploughing the field;
and for that reason, she is regarded as the daughter of Bhumi
Devi, the goddess of the Earth. She was found and adopted by

Oasis Social Studies & Creative Arts-5 129

Janak. Sita had to lead a very hard life though she was married to Lord Rama.
She was abducted by Ravan. He wanted to make her his queen. But she never
lost her faith. She is an example of womanly virtue. She is also believed to
be the incarnation of Laxmi. Her marriage to Rama is celebrated as Vivaha
Panchami in Nepal and India.

Amshuverma

King Amshuverma was the Lichchhabi king of Nepal in the
seventh century (605-629 AD). He was a learned, bold and
farsighted king. He maintained a good diplomatic relation
with Tibet by getting his daughter Bhrikuti married to
Songston Gampo, the king of Tibet. He was also a lover of
art, architecture and literature. He built Kailashkut Bhawan.
He spread Nepali art and architecture to countries like
China and Japan. Amshuverma's regime became a boon to the Lichchhabis. So
it came to be called the golden age.

Araniko

Araniko's real name was Balabahu. He was a Nepali architect.
He was born in the 13th century (1244 AD) in Kathmandu
Valley. The literal meaning of his name in Chinese was
'ara' meaning 'a woman' and 'niko' which means 'face like'.
He led a group of 80 artisans at the age of 17, crossed the
Himalayas and designed and built many masterpieces in
China in 1310 (1367 BS). His most renowned work of architecture, the White
Stupa of Miaoying Temple in Beijing, can still be seen today. His art was so
good that the emperor Kublai Khan was impressed by him.

Gautam Buddha

Gautam Buddha was born in Lumbini in 563 BC. He
was a prince and led a comfortable life in the palace.
He was married to Yasodhara and had a son, Rahul.
But he was not happy seeing other people suffer. He
wanted to know the cause of human suffering. At the
age of 29, he left the palace to find the truth of life.
Later, he founded Buddhism. He is the primary figure
of Buddhism. He is called the light of Asia.

130 Oasis Social Studies & Creative Arts-5

Free the Words

luminary : an inspiring person

spiritual : concerned with religion

foundling : a child who has been left and whose parents are unknown

furrow : a long and narrow line made by plough

abduct : to take somebody to an undisclosed location against his/her will

incarnation : epitome, avatar

farsighted : visionary, able to predict the future

diplomatic : related to a foreign country

boon : blessing

masterpiece : the best work of art

In-class Activities

Work in a group. Choose a hero not included in this lesson. Then, prepare
a brief profile stating who the person is, what important works the person
did, and why the person deserves to be a hero.

Exercise

1. Match the following. foundling
Gautam Buddha

Sita Kailashkut Bhawan

Janak Miaoying Temple, Beijing
Amshuverma founder of Buddhism
Araniko Lover of knowledge and wisdom

2. Fill in the blanks.

a. Sita is an example of ....................... .

b. Amshuverma married his daughter ................ to .................. of Tibet.

c. Emperor ........................ was impressed by Araniko's art.

d. Gautam Buddha left the palace at the age of ......................... .

e. Buddha is also called ............................ . 131
Oasis Social Studies & Creative Arts-5

3. State whether the following statements are True or False.
a. King Janak treated his people like his own children.
b. Sita was married to lord Krishna.
c. King Amshuverma hated art and architecture.
d. Araniko was praised by Kublai Khan.
e. Gautam Budhha wanted to find out the reason
behind human suffering.

4. Answer these questions.
a. What kind of king was Janak?
b. Why is Sita regarded as goddess of the Earth?
b. How did Amshuverma maintain diplomatic relation with Tibet?
c. What does 'Araniko' in Chinese mean?
d. What made Siddhartha Gautam unhappy?
e. Why is Gautam Buddha called the light of Asia?

5. In what ways are Amshuverma's and Araniko's contributions
similar? Explain.

6. Why are the personalities mentioned in the lesson are called national
heroes?

7. What sort of work should you do to become famous like the national
heroes?

132 Oasis Social Studies & Creative Arts-5

Lesson

6.4 Our National Heroes II

Pre-reading Activities

Take a few minutes and make a list of people that you consider to be heroes of
Nepal. Choose one person from the list and write four to five reasons why you
think the person is a national hero.

Reading

Ram Shah
Ram Shah became the king of Gorkha in 1606 AD (1663 BS).
He ruled for twenty-six years. He was an able administrator
and a great warrior. He annexed all the small principalities
surrounding Gorkha. He was a great reformer. He introduced
laws and regulations in the country. He introduced the system
of weight and measurement such as mana, pathi, balance, etc.
He also established courts in different places. He believed in
justice and delivered it to his people. Hence there was a popular saying, 'nyaya
napaye Gorkha janu': if you are deprived of justice, then visit Gorkha.

Prithvi Narayan Shah
Prithvi Narayan Shah was born on 11 January 1723
(27 Poush 1779 BS). His father was Narabhupal Shah
and mother was Kaushalyawati. He is the first king
of the House of Shahs to rule Nepal. During his time,
Nepal was divided into dozens of small states. They
were called principalities. King Prithvi Narayan Shah
unified these states into one strong nation, Nepal.
Afterwards, Nepal became bigger and bigger. His
story of victory begins with the conquering of Nuwakot

Oasis Social Studies & Creative Arts-5 133

in 1744 (1801 BS). After Nuwakot, he began his plan to attack Kathmandu
Valley. First, he attacked Kirtipur but he could only conquer Kirtipur in the
third attempt. After conquering Kirtipur, he defeated Kathmandu, Patan and
Bhaktapur and made Kathmandu the capital of Nepal in 1769 (1825 BS).

Amar Singh Thapa

Amar Singh Thapa was a great hero of the national
unification era. He fought wars to unify Nepal. Amar
Singh Thapa joined the military when he was 17 years
old. He was a very important person for Prithvi Narayan
Shah. He fought bravely when Prithvi Narayan Shah
attacked Kathmandu. Prithvi Narayan Shah was very
happy with him. He played a very crucial role in extending
the boundaries of Nepal to Tista in the east.

He unified many small kingdoms into Nepal. He
conquered Kumaun, Gadhwal and Kangada. All these places are now in India.
But they belonged to Nepal until 1816 (1873 BS). His major achievement was
the annexation of several western states like Jumla, Dehradun, Srinagar and
Palpa. But after the Sugauli Treaty, Nepal lost a lot of territory to the British
India. He was very sad because of this. Then he retired from his job and went
to Gosaikunda. He died in Gosaikunda in 1816 (1873 BS).

Balbhadra Kunwar

Balbhadra Kunwar is a national hero of Nepal. After the
Anglo-Nepal War of 1814-1816 (1871-73 BS) he became
very famous. He was a Captain in the Gorkhali Army and
gained fame as the commander of the Gorkhali forces at the
Battle of Nalapani. Balbhadra Kunwar joined the military
at an early age. During the Anglo-Nepal War, Kunwar
was in-charge of Nalapani fort. He had built a fort at a
height of 500 feet. That fort was known as the Khalanga
fort. He had about 600 troops with him. This included
women and children. The British army, under General Gillespie, comprised of
3500 soldiers. They had modern weapons like cannons and guns. But Nepali
soldiers only had Khukuris.

134 Oasis Social Studies & Creative Arts-5

However, Kunwar and his troops fought bravely. British soldiers were afraid of
them. So Gillespie sent a letter to Balbhadra one night asking him to surrender.
But Balbhadra did not agree. Rather, he challenged the British soldiers. The
next morning a great battle followed. British troops shot at Nepali soldiers
with guns and cannons. Nepali soldiers had only Khukuris to fight with. Still
Nepali soldiers killed Gillespie. After Gillespie was killed more British soldiers
came to Nalapani. They cut off water supply to Nalapani. Then Nepalis had to
fight hungry and thirsty. So many Nepali soldiers were killed. At last only 70
Nepali soldiers were left. They had to leave the battlefield.

But British soldiers were very impressed by the bravery of Balbhadra Kunwar.
After the war, the British East India Company erected a war memorial at
Nalapani to respect Gorkhalis and Capt Balbhadra Kunwar. They wrote: "as a
Tribute of respect for our gallant adversary Balbudder, Commander of the fort
and his brave Gorkhas."

Bhimsen Thapa

Bhimsen Thapa was born in 1775 (1832 BS) in
Borlang of Gorkha. He was the prime minister
from 1806 to 1837 (1863 to 1894 BS). He was the
first prime minister of the country. He was a
patriotic prime minster. During his period, Nepal
had extended its borders from Tista in the east to
Satlaj in the west. He did not like the British rule in
India. Actually, he had planned to drive away the
British from South Asia. During his rule, Nepal
fought against British India. This is known as the
Anglo-Nepal War of 1814-16 (1871-73 BS). But
sadly Nepal lost that war and the Sugauli Treaty
was signed.

He was a great reformer also. He built Sundhara
and Dharahara. He also constructed patis
and pauwas across the country. He introduced the postal system and made
arrangement of army barracks. He died in 1839 (1896 BS).

Oasis Social Studies & Creative Arts-5 135

Pasang Lhamu Sherpa

Pasang Lhamu Sherpa was the first Nepali woman to climb
Mount Everest. She scaled it on April 22, 1993 (Baisakh 10,
2050 BS). But she died on her way back from the summit.
Pasang Lhamu has been honoured after her death. She was
the very first woman to be decorated with the "Nepal Tara".
Her statue has been erected at Bouddha, Chuchepati.

Aadikavi Bhanubhakta Acharya

Bhanubhakta Acharya was born in 1814 (1871 BS) in Chundi
Ramgha of Tanahu. He was educated at home by his
grandfather, Shree Krishna Acharya. His father Dhananjaya
Acharya was a government official who worked for General
Amar Singh Thapa. He is said to have unified Nepal through
language. Bhanubhakta translated the Ramayana from
Sanskrit to Nepali. He is the first poet who wrote in Nepali
language. Poets before him in Nepal usually wrote in Sanskrit which many
Nepalese could not understand. He is known as Adikavi of the Nepali language.

Motiram Bhatta

Motiram Bhatta was born in Kathmandu in 1866 (1923
BS). Motiram helped develop Nepali language. He was
the one to make Bhanubhakta known to people in Nepal.
He established a printing press in Nepal and published
Bhanubhakta's Ramayan. He also contributed to the field
of Nepali literature. He died in 1896 (1953 BS).

Tribhuwan Bir Bikram Shah

Tribhuwan was born on June 23, 1906 (Asadh 17, 1963). He
became king at the age of five. Then there was Rana rule
in Nepal. Ranas were cruel rulers and they exploited the
Nepali people. Tribhuwan risked his life and went against
the Ranas. He supported the movement for democracy
started by Nepal Praja Parishad. Finally, he helped bring
democracy to the country on February 18, 1951 (Falgun 7,
2007 BS). He passed away on March 13, 1955.
136 Oasis Social Studies & Creative Arts-5

Shankhadhar Sakhwa

Shankhadar Sakhwa is the founder of Nepal Sambat
(Nepal Era). Nepal Sambat was established on Kartik Sukla
Pratipada, 936 BS, Kachala-Thva Saka Samvat 802 (October
20, 879 AD). It is believed that he lived in Maru Tole of
Kathmandu. Sakhwa was a kind person. He could not
see the other people suffering. He would pay debts to
merchants and land-owners on behalf of the poor. He
was declared a national luminary on 18 November 1999

(Mangsir 2, 2056 BS).

Free the Words

administrator : a person who looks after administration

warrior : a fighter of the nation

annex : to unify

principalities : provinces

conquer : to win

comprise : consist of

surrender : to give up

patriotic : inspired by the love for one's country

scale : to reach at top

summit : the highest point of a mountain

exploit : to make people work too hard without reward

debt : an amount of money to be paid to the bank or person

In-class Activities

If you were to choose among the heroes you have learned about in this
lesson, who would you like to be? What more would you like to do than
what he or she has done for the country.

Exercise

1. Fill in the blanks.
a. ...................... was the first prime minister of Nepal.
b. Nepal was divided into ............ during Prithvi Narayan Shah's time.
c. ....................... asked Balbhadra to surrender.
d. ................. translated the Ramayana from ................. into .................. .
e. Shankhadhar Sakhwa lived in ........................ of Kathmandu.
Oasis Social Studies & Creative Arts-5 137

2. Match the following:

Ram Shah Fought for democracy

Prithvi Narayan Shah Founder of Nepal Sambat

Amar Singh Thapa System of weight and measurement

Balbhadra Kunwar Promoter of Nepali literature

Bhimsen Thapa Translater of Ramayana

Pasang Lhamu Sherpa Prime Minister during the Anglo-Nepal war

Motiram Bhatta Warrior praised by Britishers

Tribhuwan Bir Bikram Shah Conquered Kumaun and Gadhwal

Shankhadhar Sakhwa Founder of modern day Nepal

Bhanubhakta Acharya First Nepali woman to climb Mt. Everest



3. Answer these questions.

a. What reforms did Ram Shah make? What is he famous for?

b. What is the greatest contribution of Prithvi Narayan Shah?

c. What did the British say about Balbhadra Kunwar in the war memorial?

d. What is Anglo-Nepal war?

e. How did Shankhadhar Sakhwa help the poor people?

4. In a table list out all the national heroes mentioned in the
chapter and write their major contributions.

S.N. National heroes Major contributions
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

138 Oasis Social Studies & Creative Arts-5

Lesson The President And the
Prime Minister
6.5

Pre-reading Activities

Before you begin this lesson, check if you can name the President and the Prime
Minister of Nepal. Then, try to name other prime ministers who preceeded the
current one.

Reading

The President

Nepal was turned into a republican state on 15th Jesth, 2065. That means the
king is no longer the head of the state. The country is governed by a President
and politicians. But they are elected by people as their representatives. Before
Nepal became a republic the king used to be the head of the state. The Second
Mass Movement launched by Nepalese people from 24th Chaitra 2062 to 11th
Baisakh 2063 ended the King's rule from Nepal. The important decisions made
on 4th Jesth 2063 curtailed all the powers of the king. Head of the state is like
the head of a family. In Nepal, president is the head of the state. The first
president of Nepal is Dr. Ram Baran Yadav. The second president is Bidhya
Devi Bhandari. She is the first female president of Nepal. She was elected on
28 October, 2015. The President carries out different functions. Some of them
are given below:

Functions
• Appoints the high-ranking officials, like prime minister and chief justice
• Receives ambassadors from other countries
• Calls and ends the session of parliament
• Presents the programmes of the government in the parliament
• Declares an emergency when there is a crisis
• Follows and protects the constitution

Oasis Social Studies & Creative Arts-5 139

The Prime Minister

The prime minister is the head of the government. The government is a body of
people which works for the betterment of the country and people. The prime
minister is also the head of the council of ministers. All other ministers work
under his directives and advice. The prime minister does different works as
the head of the government. Here are some functions of the prime minister.

Functions
• Run the administration of the country
• Maintain peace in the country
• Manage the budget and use it for development
• Run development program

• Maintain good relations with other countries

The president and the prime minister represent the entire nation. So they are
like an institution. They rule for the people. We should respect and help them
with our good deeds.

Free the Words

republic : country that is governed by the elected president, not
the king
curtail
ambassador : reduce, limit
parliament : the highest ranking person to represent the country
emergency : place where elected representatives make law
crisis : serious situation
: time of danger, difficulty

In-class Activities

Work in a group. List the names of at least three prime ministers of Nepal.
Choose one you like the best. Prepare a brief profile of your most favorite
prime minister. Write why you like him the best. Also mention some good
things the prime minister did for the country.

140 Oasis Social Studies & Creative Arts-5

Exercise

1. State whether the following statements are True or False.
a. Nepal was a republican state even before 2008.
b. The president is the head of the state.
c. The prime minister is the head of the government.
d. The prime minister calls the session of parliament.
e. The president runs development programmes.

2. Answer these questions.
a. When was Nepal declared a republic?
b. What is a republican state?
c. Who is the first president of Nepal?
d. When was Bidhya Devi Bhandari elected the president?
e. Who is the prime minister of Nepal?

3. Write three functions of the head of the state.
4. Write four functions of the head of the government.
5. Find out the good works done by the government and present it to

the class.
Projects for Unit six
1. Find an inscription put around temples or public parks. Have your

parents take photo of the inscription and write what it says.
2. Like Kathmandu thousands of years ago, your own village/town

too might have been a completely different place from what it is now.
Ask your elders about your place and write a story about it.
3. Write a short profile of the current prime minister of our country.
Consult internet sources or take help from your teacher.

Oasis Social Studies & Creative Arts-5 141

In this unit, we have learned that:

• a record of past events is called history.
• historians use inscriptions, coins, written records, buildings,

monuments, artifacts to study and write history of a nation.
• Gopal, Mahishpal, Kirat, and Lichchhabi dynasties ruled Nepal in

ancient times.
• many people have contributed to make our nation great; they are

called our national heroes.
• Nepal is a Federal Democratic Republic; the president is the head of

state of Nepal.
• a prime minister is elected by the parliament to run the government

in Nepal.

Test Your Knowledge

1. Give very short answers to the following questions.
a. What is history?
b. Give the name of a social hero from your district.
c. Give two methods of preservation of history.
d. When was Nepal first mentioned in historical scriptures?
e. How did Nepal get its name?
f. Why did the Kirat dynasty lose to the Lichchhavis?
g. What was Araniko’s real name? Why did the Chinese call him
Araniko?
h. What do you think is the main reason for Nepal to lose the Anglo-
Nepal war?
i. Who are the current president and the prime minister of Nepal?

142 Oasis Social Studies & Creative Arts-5

2. Answer these questions.
a. Why is the study of history important? How are historical
transcriptions useful to us?
b. If you could bring back a national hero to ask some questions, who
would it be and what would you ask him/her?
c. Why is the period of Lichchhavis called the golden age of Nepal as
opposed to the Kirats, Gopals, or Mahispals?
d. Why do national heroes deserve our respect?
e. Explain how Capt. Balbhadra Kunwar was able to minimize losses
to the British at Nalapani.
f. If you were elected the prime minister/president, what changes
would you bring to the country?

3. Activities:
a. On a piece of chart paper, complete with dates and photos. Create
a timeline of Nepal’s history which depicts all the events you have
learned so far.
b. Choose an ancient Nepalese dynasty (Gopals, Mahispals, Kirats,
Lichchhavis) and prepare a presentation with three other people.
Present your findings in front of the class.
c. You must have been to some religious or historical places. Prepare
a short report on it. Use the following information.
• Name of the place
• Date of establishment
• Major findings
• Suggestions
d. List the good works you have done so far. Write them on a chart
paper and paste it in your bedroom.

Oasis Social Studies & Creative Arts-5 143

Unit Our Economic
Activities
7

In this unit, we will learn:

• about people’s occupations; main work people living in different regions of the
country do to earn a living.

• the meaning and importance of public property.
• the importance of protecting public property.
• the importance of using goods produced in our country.
• about the main economic activities in the country.

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Lesson Different People,
Different Occupations
7.1

Pre-reading Activities

Take a few minutes. Make a list of five relatives or persons you know in the
community. Write what each person does for a living. Also write why each
person’s work is important for the community.

Reading

To earn a living, people do different types of work and take up various
professions and occupations. You have learned about professions and
occupations in Grades III and IV. Professions and occupations are determined
by geography, climate and people of the place. For example, people of Terai do
not rear yaks because Terai is a hot region. Likewise, people of the mountain
region cannot grow jute because the climate is not favourable for jute
production. Therefore, profession depends on place, climate and people. Read
about the different professions and occupations of people of Sindhupalchowk.

Sindhupalchowk is largely a hilly district
with high mountains. People living in the
high mountains raise sheep, and chauris
(Himalayan cows) and grow potatoes. From
milk, they make cheese, ghee, chhurpi and
other dairy products and sell them to nearby
towns. Potatoes grow in abundance in the
high hills. They sell potatoes. They also
make bakkhu and radi.

In the lower hills, the ethnicity of the population is diverse. There are
Brahmins, Chhetris, Thamis, etc. Some of the Brahmins are teachers. Chhetris
are involved in trade. They trade goods from the neighbouring Khasa of China.
Most Newars of this area are involved in business. They either run shops or
own small factories that produce soap, biscuits, etc. Thamis make bamboo
articles like doko, thunche, etc. They also work as labourers.

Oasis Social Studies & Creative Arts-5 145

Many people are farmers. They work in the
field and grow maize, millet, rice, wheat, etc.
They also raise buffaloes and cows and sell
milk to the nearby market.

Others work as masons. They know that each
job is important and regard each occupation
with respect.

Free the Words

determine : to decide
favourable : good for something
abundance : large in quantity
mason : one who builds with stone, brick, etc.

In-class Activities

Look up in your bag. List all the things you have in it. Then, write how each
thing you have is produced. Who produces them? What kind of work is
needed to produce each item you possess?

Exercise

1. State whether the following statements are True or False.
a. Work and profession are determined by geography.
b. A part of Sindhupalchowk is Terai.
c. Brahmins in the district are mostly involved in trade.
d. Chhetris are engaged in trade.
e. Jute, rice and tabacco are the major products of the district.

146 Oasis Social Studies & Creative Arts-5

2. Answer these questions.
a. What determines people's profession and work?
b. Give an example of how climate affects people's profession.
c. What do people of the high mountains in Sindhupalchowk produce?
d. What are some of the agricultural goods produced in the lower hills
of the district?
e. How is one work related with another?

3. Write about different professions that people in your district are
engaged in. You can begin like this.
My district is .......................... . It is a valley/hill/mountain. ....................
............................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................

4. Make a list of important places of your district. Write down the
major economic activities of those places.

5. Look at the pictures below and write what economic activities
people are engaged in.

a.

...............................................................
...............................................................

b.

...............................................................
...............................................................

c.

...............................................................
...............................................................

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Lesson

7.2 School Is Our Property

Pre-reading Activities

Before beginning this lesson, take a quick tour of your school. List as many
things as you notice around. Then, discuss how they are used and for what
purpose. What happens if you break or lose a thing or two? How does your
school take care of things it possesses?

Reading

At your home you have furniture, books, TV set, kitchen utensils, etc. Do
you break the furniture? Do you smash the TV set? Do you throw kitchen
utensils out? Do you spend all your money at once? Your answer to these
questions is ‘No’. We take care of our tools and utensils at home. We do not
spend money unnecessarily; we must learn to economize. Caring for property
and controlling expenses are essential skills that we must apply at school too.
Economizing means spending less money
and not wasting things.

A school is a second home for students.
There are a lot of goods, articles, tools
and other properties in the school. In the
classroom, there are whiteboards, benches,
desks, bookracks and dustbins. We should
take proper care of these things. We should
clean the blackboard/whiteboard after
use. We should not write on benches and
desks. A bookrack is meant for keeping
books. We should use it for that purpose only. We should throw wrappers and
paper-scraps into the dustbin. We should keep the classroom clean.

In the school library, there are books, magazines and newspapers. Students
should borrow books to study but they should not tear the pages of the book.
After reading newspapers, they need to be kept in proper place.

148 Oasis Social Studies & Creative Arts-5

We use sporting goods like football,
badminton rackets, table tennis bats,
skipping ropes, etc. We should use these
materials carefully so that they are not
damaged.

If students use school materials carelessly,
the school has to buy them again and that
will cost extra money. We should use school
property as carefully as we use our own.

Free the Words

smash : break
expense : something on which money is spent
wrapper : piece of paper, plastic that is used to wrap food, clothes, etc.

In-class Activities

Go around your school and list goods and materials you find in the

following places.
Principal's office :
Classroom :
Library :
Cafeteria :

Exercise

1. Look at the pictures below and write what is wrong.

a. b.

c. d.

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2. State whether the following statements are True or False.
a. School properties are our properties.
b. Writing on desks and benches make them beautiful.
c. Library books are for us to borrow and not to return.
d. Sports materials have to be used carefully.
e. We should make the correct use of dustbin.

3. Answer these questions.
a. What are the two necessary habits for us?
b. How do you take care of materials in the classroom?
c. Write two ways in which you help keep your school library
functioning.
d. What causes unnecessary spending?
e. How should we use sporting goods?

4. Make a list of things your school has and write how you take care of

them.

Things Way to take care

5. Draw a picture of one of the things at school you like the most and
colour it.

150 Oasis Social Studies & Creative Arts-5