Labour exchange in farming
helps another person at the time of planting or
harvesting crops or building a house, the person
has to help him or her while doing the same work
in future. It is a tradition of exchanging labour.
It is a two-way help to do a similar type of work.
Mostly, the people of rural and agricultural
communities practise this tradition.
Likewise, Paincho means the practice of lending
goods such as salt, sugar, pulses, rice, soap and
oil. In some rural areas, shops and markets are
far from the locality of people. If any goods finish,
people ask with their neighbours and return that
after they bring the goods. There is no system of
interest or charge in such practice. However, this
system has been declining due to the growth of
local shops and a market in many rural areas.
Sampanna Sherchan : Namaskar, ladies and gentleman! I am going to
speak on the topic, ‘Dhikuti’ in this programme.
Dhikuti is the tradition of collecting fund from
each member on a regular basis. The members
use the collected fund turn wise on the basis of
an agreement or a lottery system. The members
have to pay a minimum interest rate after using
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Teacher the fund. The person who takes the initiation and
the responsibility to collect the fund is known as
‘Ghopa’. Many people believe that this tradition
started in the Thakali community. They call it
‘Dhikuri’ or ‘Dhikur’. However, the government
has banned this tradition at present, as there
were several cases of cheating and fraud in the
name of Dhikuti.
: Our social customs and traditions are important
in our life. They provide us with our identity. They
also give us the chances of gathering, recreation
and socialisation. They help to strengthen
the relationship among the people living in a
community. As traditions have certain rules
and regulations, they make us disciplined too.
They help to maintain social harmony as well.
They serve as an opportunity for people to create
lasting memories with their families and friends.
Therefore, we should always preserve our good
social customs and traditions.
Thank you, everyone, for taking part in this
programme and sharing your ideas on several
customs and traditions found in our community.
Glossary
corpse : a dead body, especially the body of a human being
funeral : a ceremony that is held when the body of someone who
has died is buried or burned
rite : a traditional ceremony that is carried out by a particular
group or within a particular society
reform : change and improvement to law, social system
implement : to do what has been planned
prevalent : widespread in a particular area or at a particular time
cordial : friendly
initiation : the starting of something
fraud : the crime of gaining money or financial benefits by a trick
or by lying
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ACTIVITIES
(1) What are the various ways of preserving our useful social
traditions such as Guthi, Rodi, Badghar, Parma, Paincho, Dhikuti
and Bheja in our community? Discuss among your friends and
make a list.
(2) Read the news given below and prepare a similar news story
based on the traditions found in your community.
Cooperative Changes the Life of Muna Bhattachan
Pokhara, 29th May, (RSS) After six months, she received the
A cooperative has changed the life of collected amount at once. She
Muna Bhattachan who is a resident of utilised the money by setting up
Thakkhola. In the past, it was difficult a new shop. These days, she runs
for her to run her and her family’s her family well. She can meet the
livelihood with the earnings from her daily needs of her family easily. If
field for the whole year. She had been she had tried to save the money
collecting some little amount on a at once, it would not have been
regular basis with other members of possible. Cooperative has changed
the cooperative. her life.
(3) Sometimes we can hear or read the news that people are cheated
in the name of Dhikuti. Dhikuti itself is not a bad tradition, but
some people collect the money and run away. Such activities
have defamed the tradition of Dhikuti. How can a person prevent
herself or himself from such fraud cases? Prepare a list.
EXERCISE
(1) Identify the following social organisations or traditions.
(a) This organisation helps to maintain the socio-economic order in the
Newar community. ................................................
(b) This organisation controls and manages various social, religious,
agricultural and economic activities in the Magar community.
................................................
(c) This organisation leads to maintain unity in the Tharu community,
organises the rituals related to birth and death, and implements the
social rules. ................................................
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(d) The young people of the Gurung community gather at a house
called ‘Rodhighar’ and sing and dance together with a lot of fun in
this tradition. ................................................
(e) The members raise a fund and use it turn wise based on an agreement
or a lottery system in this tradition. ................................................
(f) It is the practice of giving and taking help in labour or service
turn by turn while carrying out any social or agricultural activities.
................................................
(g) It is the practice of lending goods without any interest or charge in
rural communities. ................................................
(2) Write very short answers to the following questions.
(a) What are customs?
(b) Name the three types of Guthis.
(c) Write a strong aspect of Guthi custom.
(d) ‘Bheja unites the society.’ Justify this statement with an example.
(e) Write a similarity and a difference between Guthi and Bheja.
(f) What is the role of Badghar in the Tharu community?
(g) What do people do at Rodhighar?
(h) How are Parma and Paincho different?
(i) Why has the government banned Dhikuti practice at present?
(3) Write short answers to the following questions.
(a) How do Guthi, Bheja, Badghar, and Rodi strengthen the relationships
among people in their community? Present your views.
(b) Write down the similarities and differences among Bheja, Badghar,
Rodi, and Guthi.
(c) Why should we preserve our social customs and traditions? Give
any six reasons.
COMMUNITY WORK
Visit your community and find out the various social customs and
traditions that exist there. Discuss ways to preserve them with the
people living there and present the conclusions in your classroom.
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Lesson
21..21 Popular Religions in Nepal
Religion is an organised system of beliefs in a god or gods and the activities
connected with this belief, such as praying or worshipping. There are religious
beliefs and practices in all societies in the world. Religion promotes welfare
by encouraging people to be helpful and kind. It guides one’s lifestyle and
teaches him or her the proper way of thinking and behaving with others. It
also provides the people with the chances of recreation through festivals,
feasts, dances, prayers, music, and drama. Religious prayers and beliefs
provide peace of mind as well.
People hold belief in different religions in Nepal. In fact, Nepalese people
follow more than ten religions. Some of them are Hinduism, Buddhism,
Christianity, Islam, Kirant, Jainism, Sikhism, Bon, Bahaism and some other
ones. However, there is a system of treating and respecting all religions
equally in our country. Such attitude, pratice or system is called religious
tolerance. Nepalese people respect one another’s religious beliefs. They
participate in religious activities of one another.
Nepal was declared a secular state on 4th Jestha BS 2063. Secularism is a
belief that religion should not play a role in government, education, or other
public parts of society. Since the government of Nepal does not interfere in
the religious beliefs of people, Nepal is a secular state.
Some of the religions followed in Nepal are described below:
(1) Hinduism:
People have been following Hinduism Hindu
since ancient time. In fact, it is the most
ancient religion in the world. It was Approved by Curriculum Development Centre,
originally called Sanatan or Vedic religion. Sanothimi, Bhaktapur
Sanatan means having no specific founder,
and Vedic means the religion mentioned
in the Veda, the holy book of the Hindus.
The four Vedas are Rigveda, Samveda,
Yajurveda, Atharvaveda. The Hindus
believe in polytheism. It means belief in or
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worship of more than one god. They also have the practice of worshipping
gods and goddesses erecting their statues. They believe that gods have
different incarnations or forms at different times. They also hold the
concept of heaven and hell after their death. They believe that the good
deeds take one to heaven, and bad deeds lead to hell. Therefore, this religion
encourages one to speak the truth, love and help others, and show honesty
and good character. Some of the key holy books of Hinduism are the Vedas,
the Puranas, the Mahabharat, the Bhagawat Geeta, and the Rayamaya.
Likewise, Dashain, Tihar, Chhath, Holi, Mahashivaratri, and Teej are some
major festivals of the Hindus.
The Vedas are the earliest Hindu sacred writing.
(2) Buddhism:
Gautam Buddha propounded Buddhists
Buddhism. He was born in Lumbini (present
Rupandehi district) in 563 BC. Buddhism
is the fourth-largest religion in the world.
Some of the teachings of Buddhism are:
always speak the truth, never get involved
in violence, never steal other’s belongings,
never lie to others, always follow good
conduct, always remain away from any
kinds of addiction, and have faith in religion.
The teachings of Buddha can be summed up in four noble truths and the
eight-fold path or the middle path. The four noble truths are:
The world is full of sorrow and miseries. Birth, old age, death, separation
from the beloved ones, and contact with unpleasant ones are the causes
of sufferings.
The main cause of human suffering is desire (Trishna).
One can get rid of the suffering through salvation (Nirvana) or by
staying away from desires (Trishna).
One can achieve salvation by following the eight-fold path. They
include the right view, right intention, right speech, right action, right
livelihood, right effort, right concentration, and right mindfulness.
The Buddhists go to a monastery (Gumba) for praying or studying. The
major holy books of Buddhism are the Tripitaka (three baskets) and the
Jataka. The three parts of the Tripitaka are Vinaya-pitika (basket of
discipline), Sutta-pitika (basket of discourse), and Abidhamma-pitika
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(basket of further teachings). Vinaya-pitika contains the rules for monks
and Sangha (teachers), Sutta-pitika includes the discourse or the lectures
of Buddha and Abidhamma-pitika covers the supplements to doctrines. The
Jataka contains the story of Buddha and his former life. Buddhism has
three sects. They are Heenayana, Mahayana and Vajrayana sect or Tantrik
Buddhism. The Mahayana sect of Buddhism is quite popular in Nepal. The
major festivals of Buddhism are Buddha Jayanti (Baisakh Purnima) and
Lhosar.
(3) Islam:
Muslims follow Islam. They follow the Muslims
teachings of Hazrat (Prophet) Muhammad.
He was born in 570 BC in Mecca (Saudi
Arabia). The teachings of Muhammad
are concerned about various ways to get
rid of worries in one’s life. The important
teachings of this religion are giving alms
to the poor, needy and disabled, following
good conduct, being truthful, helping the
poor people and protecting the religion.
The Muslims worship Allah or Khuda with great devotion, and their sacred
book is the Quran. They face towards Mecca when they pray. It is believed
to be the word of God as dictated to Muhammad by Allah containing 114
units (suras). Some of the major preachings of Muhammad are as follows:
One should be honest and peaceful.
He or she should have faith in Allah and read Namaz daily.
He or she should have faith in fate and fortune.
He or she should visit Mecca as a pilgrim at least once during his or her
lifetime.
He or she should be monotheist i.e. believe in only one God (Allah).
He or she should observe Roza and fast in the month of Ramzan.
He or she should not worship idols or statues.
He or she should treat everyone as his or her own brothers and sisters
and be just to all.
The Muslims worship their lord in a Masjid (mosque). They celebrate Eid
(Eid al-Fitr or Eid al-Adha), Bakr-Eid (Eid al-Adha) and Ramzan as their
major festivals.
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The two sects of Islam are Sunni and Shia. Majority of the Muslims
of Nepal are the Muslims of the Sunni sect.
(4) Kirant : Kiranti
Kirant is an ancient religion that
Kiranti people follow in Nepal. They
believe in animism. Animism is a belief
that there are spiritual beings in plants and
natural things. Therefore, they worship
trees, mountains, forests, fire and rivers.
The Kirants worship at Margasthan or
Bhumesthan. They worship Paruhang
(Shiva) and Sumnima (Parbati) as their
chief deities. They observe Ubhauli and
Udhauli Parva as their major festivals.
The religious scripture of Kirant religion is
Mundhum.
(5) Christianity:
Jesus Christ propounded Christianity. Christians
He was born on 25th of December in
Bethlehem (a small town near Jerusalem).
The main religious scripture of Christians is
the Bible. The Bible contains two sections:
Old Testaments and New Testaments. The
Old Testament contains 39 books. They
record the history of the Jewish people
before the birth of Jesus and contain the
chief texts of the law, history, prophecy,
and wisdom literature of the ancient people
of Israel. The New Testament contains 27
books. They record the life and teachings of
Christ and his earliest followers.
The Christians go to church to worship. The greatest festival of the Christians
is Christmas. This festival, celebrated on 25th December, marks the birthday
of Christ. The major teachings of this religion are to forgive others, show
good conduct, help the poor and needy ones, and love others.
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The two sects of Christianity are Catholics and Protestant. The
number of Protestant Christians is more in Nepal than Catholics
one.
(6) Sikhism : Guru Nanak
Guru Nanak propounded Sikhism in Punjab in
the 16th century. The principal sacred scripture of the
Sikhs is known as the Guru Granth Sahib. It is one of
the youngest religions in the world. The Sikhs do not
worship idols. They worship their God and sing hymns
(Bhajans) in Gurdwara.
Sikhism teaches the equality for all people. It
preaches that people of different races, religions, or
sex are all equal in the eyes of God. It emphasises a
moral and ethical life. A Sikh should represent moral
responsibility and righteousness. It rejects all forms
of rituals such as idol worship, pilgrimages, violence,
fasting, and superstitions.
The hymns mentioned in the Guru Granth Sahib are known as
Gurbani. Sikh Gurus and other writers composed them.
Besides these religions, some other religions followed in the world are
Jainism, Baha’ism, Shinto, Taoism and Judaism. Indian people follow
Jainism, the people of Iran follow Baha’ism, the Japanese follow Sinto, the
Chinese follow Taoism, and the Jews people in various parts of the world
follow Judaism.
Different religions have different sets of festivals. People of various religions
worship and pray in different places. However, all the religions in the world
have the same spirit. The main objective of every religion is to attain the
welfare of humankind and maintain peace and harmony among people.
Some of the common essences of the religions are: show good behaviour,
serve for humanity, be optimistic and thankful, be disciplined, and maintain
social harmony.
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Glossary
recreation : things that you do in your spare time to relax
interfere : get involved in a situation without invitation or necessity
statue : a large sculpture of a person or an animal, made of stone
propound : suggest it for people to consider, put forward
misery : great unhappiness
doctrine : a set of principles or beliefs, especially religious ones
sect : a group of people that has a particular set of religious
scripture beliefs
prophecy : writings that are regarded as holy in a particular religion
: a statement in which someone says they strongly believe
that a particular thing will happen
ACTIVITIES
(1) There may be students of different religious backgrounds in your
classroom. Make a group of students with different religions. Let
each group tell about its religion, culture, festivals and customs.
(2) Meet people following different religions in your community.
Discuss or interact with them about their religions, and write a
short report.
EXERCISE
(1) Match the following religions with their holy books.
(a) Hinduism Mundhum
(b) Buddhism Bible
(c) Islam Tripitaka and Jataka
(d) Kirant Vedas, Puranas, Mahabharat and Ramayana
(e) Christianity Guru Granth Sahib
(f) Sikhism Quran
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(2) Supply very short answers to the following questions.
(a) Define religion.
(b) What do you mean by religious tolerance?
(c) What is secularism?
(d) When was Nepal declared a secular state?
(e) How can you say that Nepal is a secular state?
(f) Why is Hinduism called Sanatan or Vedic religion?
(g) How is the Tripitaka different from the Jataka?
(h) Which religion does not believe in idol worshipping?
(i) Define animism. Who is the founder of Kirant religion?
(j) When do people celebrate Christmas Day?
(k) What is Gurudwara?
(l) Write a positive aspect of your religion.
(m) What are the common essences or gist of all religions? Write any
two of them.
(3) Supply brief answers to the given questions.
(a) What do you mean by Vedic religion? Mention any five features of
Hinduism.
(b) What are the four noble truths according to Buddhism? Write them
down.
(c) Write the major teachings of Islam and Christianity.
(d) Write a short note on Kirant and Sikhism.
(e) Write a letter to your foreign friend describing major religions
followed in Nepal. Also, highlight the religious tolerance that exists
in your country.
(f) Complete the given table with the similarities and differences
among all religions in Nepal.
Similarities Hinduism Differences
Buddhism Islam Christianity Muslim Sikhism
Teachings
Holy Books
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Lesson
21..31 Social Harmony
Dhading Bensi, Dhading
3rd July, 2020
Dear Olivia,
Sweet remembrance,
I am fine here and hope you are also well there. I received your letter
yesterday. I am very glad to hear about you and your family. Likewise, I am
pleased to know that you are interested to know about some of the features
of our Nepalese society. So, I am going to describe them in this letter.
Nepal is a geographically diverse country. It is divided into three geographical
regions on the basis of physical features, namely the Mountainous, the Hilly
and the Terai region. These regions have not only different land structures
but also different climatic conditions. The Himalayan region is cold and dry,
the climate of the Hilly region is moderate, and the climate of the Terai
region is hot. The people living in these parts have their own ways of living.
They have different costumes, languages, religions, festivals, and lifestyle.
However, unity in diversity is one of the distinctive features of our Nepali
society.
Although people belong to diverse backgrounds in our country, there is unity
among them. All Nepali people regard Nepal as their common home. The
three regions of our country are also interdependent on one another. The
rivers flowing from the Himalayas reach the Terai and facilitate the process
of irrigation. The crops produced in the Terai region are transported and
consumed by the people of the Hilly and Himalayan region. The electricity
produced in the Himalayan and Hilly region is supplied to the Terai region
for household and industrial purposes. The people of one region go to another
region for study and employment in our country. If the clouds coming from
the southern seas are not blocked by the hills, no parts of Nepal receive
rainfall.
The Himalayan Region of Nepal is home to about 3500 species of herbs
and aromatic plants. They are used in making medicines for the people of
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the entire nation. Most of the industries of the country are set up in Terai
because of the easy land structure. The goods produced in the Terai region
are supplied within the whole country. Therefore, wherever we stay, in the
Himalayan region or Hilly or Terai region, we depend on one another for
various purposes. We respect each other’s existence and identity. This is
a true example of social harmony. Living with social harmony is a typical
feature of the Nepalese people. People live and work together peacefully
without fighting or arguing in our country. This type of situation is called
social harmony.
People of various backgrounds live in our
country. They follow various religions,
speak different languages and have
diverse culture. There is not even a single
municipality or rural municipality where
people of the same ethnic group or religion
live in Nepal. However, all the people of
diverse ethnic groups, castes, languages,
religions, ages, sexes, and culture live in
harmony. They accept and respect each
other’s identity and existence cordially. Unity in diversity
The background of the people may vary, but all of them should maintain
social harmony and focus on national development. We should always try to
maintain social harmony in our society.
To maintain social harmony in our society, we should participate in
community events and maintain a cordial relationship with our neighbours.
Learn to accept the differences and diverse background of people living in
our society is another way to maintain social harmony. Sometimes, various
disagreements and disputes may arise among the people in our community.
We should settle them through tolerance and peaceful talks. This also helps
to maintain social harmony. Many poor, feeble, and differently able people
live in our community. We should always be ready to help them. Various
sorts of discriminations exist in our society in the name of caste, religion,
language and so on. We should put an end to such sorts of discriminations
to maintain social harmony.
I hope my letter has helped you to know more about our Nepalese society.
This much for today. I am looking forward to hearing from you. Convey my
kind regards to your family too. See you soon.
Lots of love, 63 Approved by Curriculum Development Centre,
Reena Shrestha Sanothimi, Bhaktapur
Vedanta
Integrated Social Studies and
Population Education - Book 8
Glossary
diverse : made up of a wide variety of things
costume : a set of clothes in style typical of a particular country
distinctive : a special quality or feature which makes it easily
recognisable and different from other things of the same
type.
interdependent : depending on each other
vary : become different
convey : to cause them to be known or understood by someone
ACTIVITIES
(1) What should do you and your family do to maintain social
harmony? Discuss among your friends and make a list.
(2) Organise a speech competition on the topic, ‘Social Harmony’ in
your classroom. Choose the programme host, panel of judges,
timekeeper and, chairperson among yourselves.
(3) Have you ever heard of or observed any activities that have
maintained social harmony in your community? Share that
incident in your class.
EXERCISE
(1) Offer very short answers to the following questions.
(a) How can you say that Nepal is a geographically diverse country?
(b) Why do people of one region go to another region in our country?
(c) What do you mean by social harmony?
(2) Offer short answers to the following questions.
(a) How do the regions of our country depend on one another?
Describe.
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(b) The traditions may be different from family to family within the
same community. How can you preserve your own traditions and
deal with the people of other traditions?
(c) Write any six ways to maintain social harmony in our society.
(d) Write a letter to your foreign friend who is residing in a foreign
country highlighting the importance of social harmony.
COMMUNITY WORK
Go around your community and visit at least five families to fill up with
the information in the table given below. Then, prepare a report on
‘Social Harmony in My Community’.
Name of house Caste Mother Religion People with
owner tongue disability
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Lesson
21..41 Unity in Diversity in Nepal
Nepal is culturally a rich country. People of various backgrounds live here.
The people living from the Himalayan region to the Terai region and the east
to the west have different facial structures. They have various costumes,
songs, music, dances, arts, customs, and speak a variety of languages.
However, they have always maintained unity and harmony among them.
Just like a garden looks attractive with a variety of flowers of different
colour, size and aroma, our country also looks beautiful with people of
various backgrounds. It is a matter of pride to every Nepali that people of
various identities take shelter under the common roof of Nepal.
Geographically, Nepal is divided into three ecological regions. They are
the Mountains, the Hills and the Terai. These three regions have different
land structures, climates, agricultural productions and other socio-economic
activities. However, the people living in these three regions have always
maintained social harmony. Likewise, the Nepalese people belong to
different races. They have different skin colour, form of head, face, nose, lips
and colour of eyes or hair. There are mainly two racial groups in Nepal. They
are Caucasoid (Indo-Aryan), and Mongoloid. The Brahmins, the Chhetris,
etc. belong to Caucasoid race and the Sherpas, the Gurungs, The Tamangs,
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The Magars, The Rais, The Limbus, etc. belong to Mongoloid race. These
two groups of people have different ways of lives, but there is unity among
them. According to the census report of BS 2068, there are altogether people
of 125 ethnic groups in Nepal.
Nepal is a multi-lingual country. According to the census report of BS 2068,
123 languages are spoken in our country. Some of them are Nepali, Maithali,
Bhojpuri, Newari, Gurung, Tamang, Magar, Rai, Limbu, Sherpa, and so on.
These all are the languages of the nation. A majority of people speak and
understand the Nepali language. So, it is the national and official language
of Nepal. Likewise, there is religious diversity in our country. There are
followers of more than ten religions in our country. Hinduism, Buddhism,
Islam, Kirant, Christianity, Sikhism, Jainism and Baha’ism are the major
religions followed in Nepal. Although people follow different religions in
Nepal, there is religious tolerance.
In this way, Nepal is a small country with geographical, racial, ethnic,
linguistic, religious and cultural diversity. Although the languages, castes,
cultures, customs and festivals of people in different parts of the country are
different, there is peace, unity and harmony among the people living here.
The unity among the people despite their diverse background is known as
unity in diversity. It is one of the most noticeable specialities of Nepalese
society. It is an important factor for national development. If the people of
a nation stand together, forgetting their background for the development of
their nation, the nation progresses soon.
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Glossary
aroma : a strong, pleasant smell
despite : without being affected by; in spite of
progress : the process of gradually improving
ACTIVITIES
(1) Ponder on the following questions.
(a) How would a garden look if there were just a type of flower?
(b) How would Nepal look if everyone puts on the same type
of costumes?
(2) Divide your classroom into several groups and draw pictures of
different costumes, festivals, culture and rituals. Display all those
pictures and conduct an art exhibition. Invite the students of
other classes to observe the display.
EXERCISE
(1) Give very short answers to the following questions.
(a) Why is Nepal called a beautiful garden? Give your answer in a
sentence.
(b) What do you mean by unity in diversity?
(2) Give short answers to the following questions.
(a) ‘Unity in diversity is a typical feature of Nepali society.’ Elaborate
this statement.
(b) ‘Nepal is a garden of beautiful flowers.” Explain this statement in
reference to racial diversity.
(c) Prepare a speech or dialogue on the topic, ‘Unity in diversity in
Nepali society.’
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Lesson
21..51 Our National Heritages
A country’s heritages are all the qualities, traditions, or features of life that
have continued there over many years. They have been passed on from
one generation to another. The items of especially historical or cultural
significance handed from generation to generation as a whole are called
national heritages. They are assets or pride of a country. They are of different
types such as natural, cultural and religious heritage.
Our National Heritages
Religious heritages Cultural heritage Natural heritage
temples, mosques, mountains, hills,
monasteries, churches, etc. rivers, lakes, etc.
Tangible cultural heritage: Intangible cultural heritage:
paintings, monuments, sculptures, etc. oral traditions, rituals, languages, etc.
Some of the national heritages are tangible, while some others are intangible.
We can see and notice tangible national heritages such as temples, churches,
monasteries, musical instruments and costumes. On the other hand, we
cannot see and observe intangible national heritages such as customs,
traditions, and beliefs.
An agency named UNESCO identifies unique sites that represent the culture
of a country as world heritage sites. UNESCO stands for United Nations
Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation. The world heritage sites
are not the property of a single nation only. They are the assets of the entire
world. It is a matter of pride that UNESCO has enlisted ten of our heritage
sites as world heritage sites. They are:
(1) Bhaktapur Durbar Square (2) Boudhanath Stupa
(3) Changunarayan Temple (4) Chitwan National Park
(5) Hanumandhoka Durbar Square (6) Lumbini
(7) Pashupatinath Temple (8) Patan Durbar Square
(V9e)danStaagarmatha National Park (10) Swoyambhunath
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Bhaktapur Durbar Square Boudhanath Stupa Changunarayan Temple
Chitwan National Park Hanumandhoka Durbar Square Lumbini
Pashupatinath Temple Patan Durbar Square Swoyambhunath
Sagarmatha National Park
Among them, two (Chitwan and Sagarmatha National Park) are natural
heritage sites, and the rest of them are cultural heritage sites. The massive
earthquake of 2015 AD destroyed most of these heritage sites. Their
renovation and reconstruction work is being carried out. They should be
renovated in the previous structure as they depict our ancient skill and
architecture.
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Every person of a country has equal access and the right to national heritage.
They do not belong to a single person, a group or a community. They reflect
and promote our art, skills, traditions, civilisations and way of life and give
identity to the country. They attract tourists and help in earning foreign
income. They are sources for religious, cultural and natural study or research.
So, we should preserve them with the help of the following measures:
(1) Launching public awareness programmes on a periodical basis;
(2) Conducting the cleanliness and renovation programme on a regular
basis;
(3) Making strict laws against the construction of modern buildings around
them that hamper their beauty;
(4) Drawing the attention of the concerned authorities for their timely
renovation and reconstruction;
(5) Encouraging the local people in the preservation and cleanliness of
those heritage sites; and
(6) Managing tight security system around such heritage sites.
Glossary
generation : people in a group or country who are of a similar age
landscape
: everything you can see when you look across an area of
entire land, including hills, rivers, buildings, trees, and plants
renovation
civilisation : whole, with no part left out
hamper : the act of repairing a building
: a human society with its own social organisation and
culture
: make difficult to do what someone is trying to do
ACTIVITIES
(1) Make a list of ancient and significant heritage sites present in
and around your locality.
(2) Have you ever been to any of the heritage sites mentioned in the
UNESCO heritage sites list? If yes, share your travel experience
with your friends.
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EXERCISE
(1) Give very short answers to the following questions.
(a) What are national heritages?
(b) Write the three types of natural heritages with examples.
(c) Which agency prepares the list of the world heritage sites?
(d) Write down a base to enlist any heritage sites in the world heritage
site list.
(e) Name any four cultural and natural heritage sites of Nepal enlisted
in the world heritage sites list.
(f) Why should the national heritages affected by the earthquake or
any natural disaster be reconstructed in the previous structure?
Give a reason.
(g) What do our national heritages reflect and promote?
(2) Give short answers to the following questions.
(a) Write a letter to your friend explaining the importance of natural
heritages.
(b) The condition of the national heritages of Nepal enlisted in the
world heritage sites is deteriorating day by day. Mention any six
measures that should be adopted to preserve and promote those
heritages.
(c) Give an introduction to important heritages found in your community.
COMMUNITY WORK
Visit a historical, religious or tourist site in your community. Then,
prepare a report including the given points.
(a) Background/Introduction (b) Objectives
(c) Methods (d) Findings
(e) Conclusions and Suggestions
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Lesson Some International
Personalities
21..61
Those people who have made a significant contribution for the sake of
humanity and human welfare are known as international personalities.
They make a significant contribution to humanity in the world. They are
exemplary persons whose work and experience can become a source of
inspiration to millions of people. They have distinctive personal and social
traits. They regard the entire world as their common home and dedicate
their lives to human welfare. They have played prominent roles to bring
out positive changes in the lives of many people. Some of such international
personalities are Gautam Buddha, Mahatma Gandhi, Helen Keller, Dr
Martin Luther King, Kailash Satyarthi, Malala Yousafzai, Nelson Mandela,
and Florence Nightingale. In this lesson, we are going to learn about Florence
Nightingale and Mahatma Gandhi.
Florence Nightingale
We all have seen nurses looking after Florence Nightingale
patients at hospitals. Nurses care for sick
people. They work day and night to serve
and care patients. They are always busy
providing medicines and assisting the
infirm people. During the early days, only
men carried out this job, and it was not
considered a decent profession. Florence
Nightingale took up the nursing career
among those circumstances. She set an
example that even females can handle the
job of caring for patients well.
Florence was born on 20th May, 1820 in Florence, Italy. She was named
Florence after her hometown. Her parents wanted her to make a good
marriage and settle down, but she refused. She always believed that she
was destined to something greater with her life. She was a caring girl from
her childhood. She used to take care of her dolls as if they had life in them.
She always looked after the sick people in her locality.
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Florence was a devoted Christian. When she was 17, she felt God was calling
her to serve him. At first, she was not sure how God wanted her to serve,
but by 1844, she was convinced she was to nurse the sick. When she put her
plan forward to her parents, they were horrified because nursing was not
a reputable job at that time. Nurses were untrained, often drunk, and the
conditions in hospitals were dreadful. Her family tried to convince her, but
she was determined. She went to Kaiserwerth in Germany to learn nursing
in 1851.
In October of 1853, the Crimea war broke out. The Crimea War was fought
in Crimea (present-day Ukraine) between Russia on one side and Turkey,
France, Sardinia and Britain on the other side. By 1854, no fewer than
18,000 soldiers had been admitted into military hospitals. In late 1854,
Nightingale was asked to organise a corps of nurses to take care of the sick
and fallen soldiers in Crimea. She rose to her calling. She quickly assembled
a team of 38 nurses, mostly from different religious backgrounds and went
to help the wounded soldiers in the army hospital of Britain.
The condition of the hospital was deplorable and dirty. Many people were
dying due to a lack of proper care and hygiene. She worked very hard to
improve conditions in the hospital. She and her nurses bathed the soldiers,
washed their linens, and fed nutritious food to them. She eventually
established a separate kitchen with her own money to prepare easily edible
food for patients. She secured a source of clean drinking water and improved
overall sanitary conditions.
Florence made so many endless rounds, carrying a lamp with her in the
late hours of the night, comforting the patients. So, the patients called her
“Lady with the Lamp”. She even used to write letters to the family of the
wounded soldiers. They called her “A Good Friend” as well. Her efforts were
recognised after she came back from the Crimean War. She received many
prestigious awards and admirations. She established Scutari Hospital.
She dedicated her entire life to the selfless service of patients. She transformed
the profession of nursing forever. She passed away on 13th August in 1910
AD. She is a rolemodel to millions of nurses all over the world. Every year,
people observe International Nurses Day on 12th May (the anniversary of
Nightingale’s birth) to mark the contributions nurses make to society.
Florence Nightingale is the first woman to receive the Order of
Merit on 12th May, 1907 AD. The Order of Merit is a prestigious
award provided to a civilian for distinguished achievement by the
monarch of the commonwealth realm.
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Through selfless devotion and sheer determination, Florence transformed
the profession of nursing forever. From her biography, we can learn to
take initiatives and not be hindered by obstacles in our life. We can tackle
challenges if we follow her path and not find excuses for our shortcomings.
She was on a mission of treating wounded patients. She did not inquire about
pay and benefits before leading her team of young nurses off to Crimea. This
incident shows her dedication level to her job and teaches us to work hard
without expecting anything in return. She was a courageous woman. She
rejected several fine suitors and believed in herself. She also challenged the
traditional roles of women to get married and settle down. We can learn
many motivational and inspirational lessons from her life story.
Mahatma Gandhi
Peace is a current topic being discussed in the entire Mahatma Gandhi
world. Peace refers to a harmonious and contented
state in which there is no war or violence. Mahatma
Gandhi proved that even peaceful protests could lead
to solution of problems. He led a peaceful and non-
violent struggle for Indian independence from the
British Empire. Because of the same revolution, India
got its freedom from British rule on 15th August, 1947
AD.
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi is the real name of Mahatma Gandhi. He
was born on 2nd October, 1869 AD in Gujarat, India. He is an archetype
of peace and non-violence. He led non-violent movements such as non-
cooperation movement, Satyagraha (peaceful civil disobedience movement),
quit India movement and non-violent resistance against tax. He postponed
his movement when the protestors burned the police station and killed some
police officers. His colleagues insisted on launching violent movements and
bloodshed. However, his weapon of choice was peace, love and non-violence.
Gandhi always lived a simple life, but his thoughts were always high. He
used to spread a blanket and sleep on that. He always wore simple clothes
and promoted the products made in his country. He even launched ‘Charkha
Movement’ with the purpose of promoting handwoven clothes made in
his native country. He believed that a country could develop only if the
citizens use their domestic products. In this way, he championed the social
reformation campaign in India.
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It is believed that it was the poet Rabindranath Tagore who first
used the title ‘Mahatma’ for Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi.
From the life story of Gandhi, we can learn that simplicity is a virtue. Like
Gandhi, when we learn to enjoy with a simple lifestyle, we can become much
happier and more successful. We can also learn that innovation is the key
to success from his life. Gandhi became innovative and used peace as his
method of freedom. This was the first time any leader had shown innovation
in order to make change for the good of the people. Gandhi also teaches us
that being truthful is one of the keys to success as it helps to gain trust and
respect. Likewise, Gandhi teaches us an important lesson on sacrifice. He
quit his previous life as a successful lawyer in his love for others and his
nation. Even after he succeeded in his dream of Indian independence, he
sacrificed offers of positions of power to continue his life of simplicity and
peacefulness. The United Nations adopted a proposal for celebrating the
birthday of Mahatma Gandhi on October 2 every year as the International
Day of Non-violence.
Glossary
exemplary : serving as a desirable model; very good
infirm : weak or ill, and usually old
circumstance : the conditions which affect what happens
reputable : reliable and can be trusted
corps : a small group of people who do a special job
deplorable : very bad and unacceptable
shortcoming : the faults and weaknesses of a person
suitor : a person who wants to marry a woman
protest : show publicly that you object to it
archetype : someone that is considered to be a perfect or
bloodshed typical example of a particular kind of person
: violence in which people are killed or wounded
virtue : a good quality or way of behaving
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ACTIVITIES
(1) Divide the class into four or five groups. Collect the photos of
Florence Nightingale and Mahatma Gandhi and make a poster.
(2) Conduct a speech contest on the title, ‘Simple Living High
Thinking’. Invite a social worker and choose a judge and a
programme host among yourselves.
(3) Find some quotes about peace quoted by various international
personalities as given below. Write them on a sheet of chart
paper and paste that on the wall of your classroom. Here are
some examples.
Where women are honoured, there the gods are
pleased; but where they are not honoured, no
sacred practice gives in rewards. - Manu Smriti
For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains
but to live in a way that respects and enhances the
freedom of others. - Nelson Mandela
I destroy my enemies when I make them my
friends. - Abraham Lincoln
Just as treasures are uncovered from the earth,
so virtue appears from good deeds, and wisdom
appears from a pure and peaceful mind.
- Gautam Buddha
We could never learn to be brave and patient if
there were only joy in the world. - Helen Keller
Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be
achieved by understanding. - Albert Einstein
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EXERCISE
(1) Write very short answers to the following questions.
(a) Who are called international personalities? Write in a sentence.
(b) Why did Florence refuse to marry?
(c) Why was Florence Nightingale called ‘the Lady with the Lamp’?
(d) Name the non-violent movements led by Mahatma Gandhi.
(e) Why did Mahatma Gandhi launch ‘Charkha Movement’?
(f) When do people observe International Day of Non-violence every
year?
(2) Write short answers to the following questions.
(a) Write a letter to your foreign friend mentioning the lessons which we
can learn from the biography of Florence Nightingale and Mahatma
Gandhi.
(b) Why did Mahatma Gandhi choose non-violent movement instead of
violent movement? Mention any four ways of non-violent movement.
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Revisiting the Unit
(1) Write short answers to the following questions.
(a) Why is Badghar considered important in the Tharu community?
(b) What benefits do Guthiyars get from Guthi in the Newari community?
Make a list.
(c) What would happen if there were no Rodis in the Gurung community?
(d) How does Bheja unite the Magar community?
(e) Give a short introduction to Dhikuti practice in the Thakali community.
Project Work
(2) Do people practise the custom of Parma and Paincho in your community?
If yes, find their condition at present. Prepare a report by asking the
chiefs of any five families of your community with the help of given
questionnaires.
(a) Have you heard about Parma and Paincho?
(b) Is there practice of charging a little interest if some amount of
money is lent or borrowed?
(c) What are the benefits of Parma and Paincho practices?
(d) What should be done to preserve these practices?
Sample of a Report Work
I belong to one of the rural communities in Nepal. We conducted a survey
on 17th of Bhadra to find out about the practices of Parma and Paincho in our
community. We collected data from five households in our neighbourhood.
Our finding goes like this.
Nearly 70% (7 out of 10) of total people of our community are aware of these
practices. We came to know that these practices were very popular in the past.
But the custom of Parma is decreasing because many people prefer to work
on a daily wage basis. Likewise, some people do not have land to call other
people for exchange work. Similarly, the custom of Paincho is diminishing as
people are becoming more commercial and isolated these days.
In order to preserve these practices, people must be honest at returning the
things they have borrowed.
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UNIT SOCIAL PROBLEMS AND
3 THEIR SOLUTIONS
Learning On the completion of this unit, we will be able to:
Outcomes
• identify various social problems that exist in our society and find out the ways
to solve them;
• describe the roles of various social organisations to solve the social problems
prevalent in our society; and
• help settle the conflict by exploring the ways to identify the reasons for it.
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Lesson
31..11 Social Problems and Evils
There are several bad practices in our society. They create obstacles and
have negative effects on the development of society. They also disturb its
peace and prosperity. Those bad practices are called social problems. Such
activities are immoral, unwanted and illegal, and they hinder the smooth
running of the society. Some of the common social problems prevalent in
our society are alcoholism, child labour, corruption, domestic violence, drug
abuse, gambling, human trafficking, and robbery.
Social problems are different from social evils. The bad social practices created
by an individual or a group are social problems. On the other hand, the bad
social practices that emerged in the society in the name of religions, culture
or rituals are called social evils. Some common examples of social evils are a
belief in superstition, child marriage, dowry system, gender discrimination,
and untouchability. Social evils are also part of social problems.
In this lesson, we are going to discuss such two social problems and evils
prevalent in our society.
Dowry System:
The practice of giving money, property or Dowry System
some kinds of special gifts at the marriage
of a daughter by her family or relatives to
bridegroom’s family is known as the dowry
system. Generally, dowry includes a cash
payment, jewellery, electrical appliances,
furniture items, household products,
vehicles, and plots of land.
Dowry system is one of the social evils mostly prevalent in the Terai region
and other parts of our country. Dowry has become a compulsion, not a
matter of choice in some societies. This practice puts a lot of pressure on
the family of the bride. They are compelled to lend money, mortgage or sell
their properties to fulfil the demand of the groom. If the bride’s family is
unable to meet their demand, the bride has to face physical and mental
torture. She is made a victim of domestic violence and even burnt alive.
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Due to the practice of dowry system, the poor parents cannot marry their
daughter. It increases the greed of the groom’s family. It has disturbed the
social harmony and peace in society. Some parents save their money for
their daughter’s marriage instead of spending on her education to offer
dowry for her.
Dowry system is a curse to our society. It is against all the religions, yet it
has been flourishing in different parts of our country. The Social Customs
and Practices Act of Nepal prohibits asking, taking or giving of dowry, and
it is a criminal offence to demand dowry. In spite of all these prohibitions,
the dowry system is common in many parts of Nepal.
Marriage is a union of two happy hearts and families. It should not be
considered a way of making money. One should not get married in the greed
of getting dowry. Love and mutual understanding should be the bases of the
marriage. Parents should be motivated to spend money on their daughter’s
career instead of their marriage. Common people should be educated
against dowry system. Awareness programme should be launched against
this practice on a regular basis. The government should put effective laws
into effect against this illegal practice. Gender-based inequality should be
completely abolished and the position of women in the society should be
raised up. All the educated, conscious, and responsible people have to work
together to uproot this social stigma.
Brain Drain:
The movement of a large number of Brain drain
educated, skilled, and trained people away
from their own country to other countries
where the conditions and salaries are better
is called brain drain. It is the emigration
of highly trained or qualified people from
a particular nation to other countries for
better opportunities. It is also known as
intellectual migration or human capital
flight. Every year, thousands of Nepalese
people go abroad seeking better job
opportunities. This movement adversely
affects the progress of our country.
The development of a nation heavily depends on its youth capital. They
can play an important role in policy formulation, decision making, and
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implementation levels of all relevant development initiatives and social
movements. However, many Nepalese intellectual and skilled youths are
pursuing their careers abroad due to lack of political stability, availability
of better foreign opportunities, lack of effective plans and policies, and a
desire for better quality of life. Because of these reasons, there is a scarcity
of skilled and qualified labour in Nepal.
If all the capable and qualified youths and people of our country flee abroad,
how will it progress? If the youths are ready to accept foreign slavery,
who will bring political stability in the country? If the people having the
potential to invest capital, labour and skill run off their native land, who
will set up the foundation for industrial development? To seek the answers
to these questions, we have to go through the history of developed nations.
The citizens and youths of those countries have really worked hard to uplift
the economic and social condition of their nations. There is no substitute for
hard work.
The immigration of highly talented people from a poor country is a setback
for the nation. Therefore, the state must formulate effective plans and
policies to check the trend of intellectual migration. It should assure quality
education and secured future to the youths and the citizens. It needs to
maintain political stability and guarantee peace and prosperity to its people.
The citizens should also realise their responsibilities towards their country
and work accordingly.
Glossary
obstacle : somebody or something that prevents progress
prosperity : success
prevalent : found frequently
gambling : the practice of playing games of chance in the hope of
trafficking winning money
superstition : the act of conducting illegal business or trade
mortgage : irrational belief
curse : loan agreement secured by the property
offence : evil prayer
abolish : legal or moral crime
: to put an end to something
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stigma : the shame or disgrace attached to something regarded
as socially acceptable
relevant
initiative : having social significance
substitute : introductory step
setback : replacement, alternative
: something that delays progress
ACTIVITIES
(1) Compose songs, poems or write stories to address the effects
of dowry system or domestic violence. Present them in the
classroom.
(2) These days the criminal activities carried out by means of
computers or the Internet are increasing day by day. Some
people hack others’ emails or passwords. They use the internet
to blackmail or threaten others. Some people morph others’
photographs and ruin their reputation. What should be done to
prevent such activities? Discuss among your friends and write
some ways.
EXERCISE
(1) Write very short answers to the following questions.
(a) What are social problems? Name any four of them.
(b) Define dowry system.
(c) Why is the dowry system called a social problem? Write a reason.
(d) What is brain drain?
(e) Write a negative impact of intellectual migration.
(f) Mention any two measures to check human capital flight.
(2) Answer the following questions in short.
(a) How are social problems different from social evils? Explain.
(b) ‘Dowry system is a curse to our society.’ Explain this statement.
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(c) Mention the various ways to solve the problems of dowry system.
(d) How does brain drain affect the progress of a country? Explain.
(e) What roles can the school play in solving the social problems such
as dowry system and brain drain? Mention any six roles.
(f) Write a short paragraph on the topic, “Effects of Intellectual
Migration in our Society.”
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Lesson
31..21 Corruption
Corruption means dishonesty and illegal behaviour by people in positions of
authority or power. It also refers to dishonest or fraudulent conduct by those
in power against laws and dignity of their post, typically involving bribery.
Some examples of corruption are using public power for personal gain or
profit, spending money from the national treasury, economic irregularity,
the judgment against innocents, overcharging customers for public service,
and charging money with service seekers to do illegal activities.
The different forms of corruption are as follows:
(1) Bribery
(2) Misuse of public properties
(3) Nepotism/favouritism
(4) Advised policy
The act of offering someone money or
something valuable in order to persuade
them to do something is known as bribery.
Sometimes, public servants misuse the
public or government properties and use
them for their personal gain and profit. It is a
form of corruption. Similarly, they use their
power in order to get jobs or other benefits for
their family or friends. Such unfair practice
is known as nepotism. Likewise, favouritism
refers to the practice of giving unfair special
treatment to one person or group at the Bribery
expense of another. Both of these activities are forms of corruption. Another
form of corruption is advised policy, which means the act of advising somebody
to enrich oneself.
Corruption is one of the biggest threats to the well-being of our society. There
are several causes of corruption. Some of the major causes of corruption are
as follows:
Greed of money, power, and luxurious lifestyle;
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Ineffective anti-corruption mechanisms;
Lack of accountability in governmental sectors;
Lack of proper governmental monitoring or good governance;
Lack of public awareness and mass participation against corruption;
Lack of transparency;
Low pay scale and price hike;
Political instability;
Recognition of wealth rather than its source; and
Strong network of corrupt people.
Corruption is a serious social problem in our country. It is the main obstacle
to national progress. It makes our government poor. The common people do
not get fair justice due to corruption. Rule of law is limited to slogans only if
there is corruption. It has been a major hindrance for the political reforms.
It has weakened accountability, transparency, and good governance. People
are compelled to pay extra money for services because of corruption. It
creates social conflict and inequality. Therefore, this social problem must be
checked in time. Some of the ways to eliminate corruption from our society
are as follows.
Awareness programme should be launched on a large scale against
corruption.
Corrupt public servant or people should be made public and boycotted
socially.
Governmental service and development activities should be made
transparent. There should not be any loopholes for the public servants
to take advantage of it.
The common people should develop a habit of protesting and standing
against corruption.
Anti-corruption agencies should be empowered to carry out their duties
fairly and effectively.
Enough salary and other facilities should be provided to the employees.
There should be rule of law, political stability, and good governance in
the country.
High emphasis should be made of character building and moral
education at the school level.
Transparency International is an international organisation that fights
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against corruption. It gives voice to the victims and witnesses of corruption.
It was established in 1993 AD. It works together with governments,
businesses, and citizens to stop the abuse of power, bribery, and secret deals.
It publishes an annual index ranking the world’s most corrupt countries. The
index is called the Corruption Perception Index (CPI). The CPI measures
the extent of corruption within a country on a scale ranging from 0 to 100.
Countries securing higher scores are rated as the least corrupt and those
with low scorers are perceived to be the most corrupt. Nepal has been ranked
117th with a score of 33 out of 180 countries
ranked in the Corruption Perception Index
(CPI)-2020 AD.
The Commission for Investigation of CIAA, Nepal
Abuse of Authority (CIAA) is a supreme
constitutional body for corruption control
for the Government of Nepal. Constitution
of Nepal has empowered CIAA to
investigate and look into cases against the
persons holding any public office and their
associates who are indulged in the abuse of
authority by way of corruption.
Glossary
fraudulent : designed to deceive
bribery
: the offering of money or other incentives to persuade
somebody to do dishonest or illegal activities
nepotism : favouritism shown by somebody in power to relatives and
friends, especially in appointing them to good positions
persuade : get somebody to do something
responsibility
accountability : get rid of something
refuse to deal with something
eliminate : somebody who sees an occurrence
boycott :
witness :
indulge : have or permit treat
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ACTIVITIES
(1) Design a poster for the anti-corruption campaign and
demonstrate in the class.
(2) Collect news stories, articles, editorials, cartoons, or pictures on
corruption from old newspapers or magazines. Paste them on
the notice board of your school.
EXERCISE
(1) Write very short answer to the following questions.
(a) Define corruption in your own words.
(b) Give any two examples of corruption.
(c) What are the different forms of corruption? Mention any two of
them.
(d) What is bribery?
(e) How is nepotism different from the advised policy?
(f) What is Transparency International?
(g) What does the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority
do?
(2) Answer the following questions in brief.
(a) What are the different causes of corruption? Mention any six of
them.
(b) ‘Corruption is a social crime.’ Elaborate this statement.
(c) What are the effects of corruption? Make a list.
(d) What roles can we play to eliminate corruption from our society?
Write any six of them.
(e) Give a short introduction to Transparency International. Explain its
role in checking corruption.
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Lesson
31..31 Drug Abuse
The substances that some people take Drug addiction
because of their pleasant effects are
drugs. They are usually illegal and have
a physiological effect when introduced to
the body. The excessive and inappropriate
use of a drug is called drug abuse, and the
habit of taking drugs regularly is known
as drug addiction. Drugs affect the mind
of the users and make them dependent on
them. Some examples of harmful drugs are
heroine, morphin, Charesh, cocaine, smack,
cannabis, and Ganja.
Drug abuse causes millions of chronic illnesses and serious injuries.
Addicted people are often ready to do anything to obtain drugs. They even
steal properties of others and are involved in various anti-social activities.
In this way, drug abuse results in domestic violence, stress, homelessness,
social crime, loss of employment, and failure in social life.
Effects of Drug Addiction:
Waste of money and property;
Loss of prestige in society;
Diseases/Sickness;
Stress in family;
Dizziness and depression; and
Insomnia and restlessness.
Trade of drugs is an illegal and criminal offence. However, many people are
involved in drug trafficking. The crime of trading in illegal drugs is known
as drug trafficking. It is very challenging to stop drug trafficking because
of their strong and organised network and political intervention. They also
have a good link with high-ranking officials and setting at customs and
airports.
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Reasons for Taking Drugs:
Many youths are falling into the temptation of drug addiction. They taste
the drug out of curiosity and become its victim unknowingly. Some common
reasons for taking drugs are as follows:
Due to peer pressure and bad company;
Due to the false belief that drugs reduce stress, anxiety, failure, and
tension;
Because of lack of parental care, family disputes, and failure in love
relationship;
Some people consume drugs to show off or imitate celebrities;
Due to one’s curiosity on its taste and flavour;
Due to the quest for pleasure; and
Because of ignorance.
Effects of Drug Addiction:
Drug addiction has never benefitted anyone. It is deadly if one cannot get
rid of it in time. The impact of drug abuse can be far-reaching, affecting
almost every organ in the human body. There are several effects of drug
addiction on individual, familial, and social level.
Individual Effects:
Drug addiction weakens one’s immune system resulting in chances of
infections. It also causes cardiovascular complications ranging from
abnormal heart rate to heart attacks. It causes the liver to have to work
harder, possibly causing significant damage or liver failure as well. She
or he suffers from financial loss and loses social respect. She or he cannot
continue to study and build her or his career.
Familial Effects:
A drug abuser’s family can never live a peaceful life. The family prestige
is ruined. It is very difficult to afford money for drugs. There is a financial
crisis in the family. The family gets isolated. The family members always
have to worry about the addict. Thus, they can never live a happy life.
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Social Effects:
Drug addiction creates conflicts in society. It loses its peace. The cases of
accidents, rapes, murders, kidnappings and robbery increase in the society
because of drug dependence. If most of the youths are involved in drug
addiction, our society loses its active, creative, and capable workforce.
Preventive Measures
Drug addiction can be checked if effective actions are taken on time. Some
of the ways to prevent and control drug addiction and abuse are as follows:
The best way to prevent drug addiction is not to taste the drug at all.
The parents should set a good example to their children and provide
proper parental care to them.
There should be a strong and stable bond among the family members.
The youths and children should always keep themselves busy in games,
sports, extracurricular activities, co-curricular activities, and social
work.
One should always remain away from bad company. It is better to be
alone than in a bad company.
Strict laws should be made and implemented against drug traffickers.
Mass awareness programme should be launched on a regular basis to
make people aware about the bad impacts of drug abuse.
An adequate number of rehabilitation centres should be set up for
those who wish to reform.
Various social organisations should play active roles to make people
aware about the negative effects of drugs.
Glossary
stress : mental, emotional or physical strain caused by anxiety or
overwork
dizziness
insomnia : faintness
intervention : difficulty in sleeping
temptation : action affecting another’s affairs
: the desire for something bad
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peer : somebody who is the equal of somebody in age
cardiovascular : relating to heart and the blood vessels
isolated : remote, alone or lonely
ACTIVITIES
(1) Write the effects of drug addiction on a sheet of chart paper and
paste it on your classroom wall.
(2) What should be the roles of family members to prevent a person
from falling into drug addiction? Discuss with your guardians,
and present your views in the class.
EXERCISE
(1) Write very short answers to the following questions.
(a) What is drug abuse?
(b) Define drug addiction.
(c) What substances are taken as drugs?
(d) What is drug trafficking?
(e) Why is it very challenging to stop drug trafficking?
(f) Prepare an effective slogan against drug addiction.
(2) Answer the following questions in short.
(a) What are the effects of drug addiction? Make a list.
(b) Although drug is an illegal substance, why do many people take it?
(c) What are the effects of drugs on an individual and social level?
Mention them.
(d) What are various ways to solve the problems of drug abuse? Write
in points.
COMMUNITY WORK
Organise a street drama to create awareness against drug abuse and
perform in your community.
Vedanta
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Lesson
31..41 Conflict and Its Management
(Olivia and Sohana are close friends. Both of them study in grade
eight. Here is a conversation that goes between them during the
tiffin time one day.)
Olivia : I was absent yesterday because of my sickness. Sohana,
can you please tell me which lesson did our Social
Sohana Studies teacher teach yesterday?
Olivia
Sohana : Okay, sure. We learnt the lesson named, ‘Conflict and
Its Management’ yesterday.
: Could you please tell me something about conflict?
: The seriousdisagreementandargumentaboutsomething
important is known as conflict. If two people or groups
are in conflict, they have had a serious disagreement or
clash and have not yet reached an agreement. Conflicts
arise when two individuals or groups interacting in the
same condition see the situations differently because of
their dissimilar understanding, opinions and views. It
is the opposite of peace or agreement. Conflict can have
both positive and negative effects. The positive effects
of conflict are it leads to new ideas, motivates change,
clarifies the point of view, and allows for a healthy
release of the feelings. On the other hand, the negative
consequences of conflict are it wastes one’s time, energy
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and resources, weakens unity among people, builds a
feeling of defeat, and increases hostility and aggressive
behaviours.
We spend a lot of time with our friends, family
members, neighbours, and relatives. There may be
certain occasions when we do not agree completely
with them on some topic. We do not like what other
interprets. When views and interests clash, conflict
situation arises.
Olivia : What are the different types of conflict, Sohana?
Sohana : The various types of conflicts are intrapersonal,
interpersonal, intragroup, intergroup, racial, class,
national, and international conflict. Intrapersonal
conflict occurs within an individual in her or his mind.
Interpersonal conflict refers to a conflict between two
individuals. Intragroup conflict is a type of conflict
that happens among individuals within a team. The
disagreements and misunderstandings among these
individuals lead to an intragroup conflict. Intergroup
conflict takes place when a misunderstanding arises
among different teams within an organisation or a
society. The conflict regarding one’s physical appearance
is known as a racial conflict. The class conflict refers to
the conflict between different social or economic classes.
National conflict arises when a part of the nation turns
against another part of the same nation. International
conflict refers to the conflict between different nations
in the world.
Olivia : How does conflict arise?
Sohana : Conflict arises because of various reasons. Some of
the causes of conflict are misunderstanding, lack of
proper communication, discriminatory behaviour
or exploitation, variation in political views, cultural
differences, clashes of interests, biases, lack of mutual
respect, injustice, and sense of revenge.
Olivia : What roles can society play to settle conflict?
Sohana : Society can play a significant role to manage conflict.
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Olivia The final solution or management of conflict is known
Sohana as conflict resolution. Society can play a decisive role in
conflict resolution. It can find the reasons for conflicts,
make agreements between the conflicting parties and
find points of reconciliation under the supervision of a
mediator. A mediator is someone who tries to settle an
argument between two people or groups by talking to
both groups and trying to find things that they can both
agree to. There are thousands of examples in which
conflicts are managed within society.
: What role does dual communication play in conflict
management?
: Nobody wants to create conflict willingly. It
mainly occurs because of miscommunication. Poor
communication always results in misunderstanding
and eventually results conflict. In order to clear out
miscommunication, both parties need to stay and
discuss. They should get the chance to put their views
and opinions forward. After discussions, they can reach
a better and more peaceful solution. Communication
brings clarity to one’s thoughts. It helps to find out
the root cause of conflict and find the effective ways of
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Olivia solving it. It also helps to create a favourable situation
Sohana to understand each other and in finding the space for
negotiation.
Use of dialogue is necessary to prevent society from
conflict. There is conflict in some way among individuals,
in organisations, community, and society. They must
be settled down before they turn to bigger issues. We
should collectively try to create a peaceful society by
developing the system of conflict management.
: How does dialogue help in conflict management?
: Dialogue is communication or discussion between people
or groups of people. It is an effective method for dual
communication. It helps to convince both conflicting
parties and lead them to a win-win situation. No side
should feel insulted or lost in conflict management. If
nobody holds grudges, then the conflict is solved forever.
(Bell rings, and both of them go to their class.)
Glossary
clash : fight or argue
hostility : intense aggression or anger
aggressive : likely to attack
exploitation : unfair treatment or use
reconciliation : the ending of conflict or renewing of a friendly relationship
between disputing people or groups
negotiation : resolving of disagreements
grudge : a feeling of ill will lasting for a long time
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ACTIVITIES
(1) What are the different stages of conflict management? Mention them.
(2) Collect different slogans related to conflict management. Write them
on a sheet of chart paper and demonstrate it in the classroom.
EXERCISE
(1) Write very short answers to the following questions.
(a) What is a conflict?
(b) Write any two positive and negative impacts of conflict.
(c) What are the various types of conflict? Name them.
(d) Define dialogue.
(2) Answer the following questions in brief.
(a) Give a short introduction to conflict.
(b) Explain the different types of conflict.
(c) How do conflicts arise? Mention their causes.
(d) Does our society play a significant role in conflict resolution? How?
(e) What role does dual communication play in conflict settlement?
(f) Does dialogue help in conflict management? How?
COMMUNITY WORK
Go to your community and ask people about the events of the conflict
in their lives. Also, ask them how they solved them, and share your
findings in your classroom.
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Lesson
31..51 Sustainable Development
Development brings improvement in the
lives of the people living in a certain place.
It makes utilisation of different types of
resources such as natural, human and
capital by the use of suitable technology. At
the same time, it should be long lasting and
assure positive changes. This is the concept
of sustainable development.
The durable economic development that
is conducted with a minimum depletion
of natural resources is called sustainable Eco-friendly development
development. It involves economic growth together with the protection of
quality of the environment. It is a type of progress that can sustain itself. It
is an environment friendly approach to development, which addresses the
needs of future generation.
The concept of sustainable development received its first major international
recognition in 1972 AD at the UN Conference on the Human Environment
held in Stockholm, Sweden. This term was popularised 15 years later
in 1987 AD in the report of the World Commission on Environment and
Development. This commission is also known as Brundtland Commission
named after its Chair Gro Harlem Brundtland (the then Norwegian Prime
Minister). The report defined sustainable development as “Development
that meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the
ability of future generations to meet their needs.”
The main objective of sustainable development
is to maintain a balance between population,
environment, and development. It is important
to carry out development work together with
environmental conservation. It emphasises on
the extensive use of resources without affecting
the natural condition of the environment.
In this way, the three aspects of sustainable
development are economic development, social
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goodwill, and environment preservation. It provides guidelines for the
politicians and policy makers in planning for the future.
Sustainable Development:
Addresses the needs of future generations;
Is durable and environment-friendly;
Maintains a balance between population, environment, and
development;
Utilises all types of resources;
Uses proper technologies;
Focuses on the use of alternative and renewable sources of energy; and
Emphasises on organic farming.
Objectives of Sustainable Development
To encourage public participation;
To conserve the environment;
To make rational utilisation of natural resources;
To secure economic growth and social goodwill; and
To maintain harmony between population and the environment.
What needs to be done for sustainable development?
Tree plantation and conservation of forest and the environment should
be done.
The small and indigenous technological development has to be
emphasised.
Use of alternative and renewable sources of energy needs to be focused.
There must be proper disposal of urban wastages.
Random use of concrete and sand from rivers should be banned.
Focus should be laid on organic farming.
Proper plans and policies need to be carried out for poverty alleviation.
The government should enforce laws effectively.
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