Nova Social Studies 4

3. Respect others before receiving respect yourself. How far do you
agree with this? Write your views with relevant examples.

4. Look at the following sequence of drawings and write down your
observation in maximum five sentences.

A B C
6. Discuss the relevance of caste system with your classmates under the

supervision of your Social Studies teacher and write the conclusions.

7. Mark a statement correct ( ü ) if it is right and cross (X) if it is wrong:

(a) Washing and cooking are the work of women only.
(b) Newars and Marwaris are born to become traders.
(c) Women are more effective inside the house and are not good

outside.
(d) Castes have nothing to do with birth but it refers to temperament

to work.
(e) Trafficking of children and women in Nepal is the direct example

of discrimination and suppression against them.
(f) Nepal as a multi-ethnic, multi-lingual, and democratic state and

declared all citizens equal.
(g) The term “Madhesi” is a geographical and cultural identity for the

people who live in the Tarai region. “Madhesi” refers to the people
who speak languages such as Maithili, Bhojpuri, Awadhi, Urdu,
and Hindi. No discrimination should be practised because of a
geographical identity and a language spoken in Nepal.
(h) Gender inequality is a major barrier for human development.

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UNIT

5

Our Earth

Lesson 1: Our District
Lesson 2: A Map of My District
Lesson 3: Origin of Earth
Lesson 4: Composition of Earth
Lesson 5: Our Neighbouring Country India
Lesson 6: Our Neighbouring Country China
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Lesson 1 Our District

Dev Joshi lives in Gulmi district of Nepal and is the student of Grade Four.
Tamghas is the headquarters of Gulmi district. Gulmi is surrounded by
Baglung in the north, Parvat in the northeast, Syangja and Palpa in the
east, Arghakhanchi in the south and Pyuthan district in the west direction.
Gulmi is a hilly district which is located between the northern Himalayan
Mountains and the southern Tarai plains. Mahabharat mountain range in
the north and Hocha hills in the south adds natural scenic beauty to Gulmi.
Hocha Pahad is the part of Chure mountain range in Nepal. Gulmi lies in
Provine-5. Topography in Gulmi is uneven and undulated in appearance.
Elevation of the land goes on increasing gradually from south to north.
There are also valleys and ridges in this district.

Major rivers of the Gulmi district are Ridi, Baridar, Chhaldi, Panaha and so
on. Vegetation differs in its type as per the elevation of the land. Trees like
Salla, Katus, Chaanp, Saal are commonly found in this district. Generally,
trees shed their leaves in winter. Climate of this district is not extreme like
Himalayan or Tarai region. Pleasant weather conditions provide ideal
situation for human settlement. At the same time, it attracts many numbers
of tourists every year. Some of the famous tourist landmarks in Gulmi
districts are Dhurkot's Bichitra Cave, Gyawa Kshetra, Charpala, Musikot,
Isma, Wami Taksar and Purtighat. Resunga in Gulmi is well-known for its
rich biodiversity.

Parents of Dev Joshi are fond of drinking coffee. The Gulmi district is
famous for coffee farming. Gulmi is rich in mineral resources. The Coffee
Research Centre is run by the Government of Nepal at Baletaksar in Gulmi
district. The objectives of this centre are to solve problems related to coffee

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farming and increase its productivity. Rocky sandy soil found in Gulmi

is not very fertile, yet this type of soil grows potatoes, barley, buckwheat,
millet, etc. Chiuri tree is a medium size tree found in Gulmi. The Ghee or
butter is extracted from the seeds of Chiuri trees. Chiuri Ghee (butter) is
used in cooking as a substitute to vegetable oil. Chiuri seeds are also used

to get oil out of it as a substitute to vegetable oil.

Chiuri tree Chiuri seeds Chiuri ghee (butter)

Residents of Gulmi district are engaged in different types of economic

activities. Crops farming, animal husbandry, floriculture, fruits and

vegetable growing, industries and trade are the popular sources of
employment for the people living here. Men wear Daura-Suruwaal, coat and
Dhaka Topi while women wear Sari, Chaubadi Cholo, Lungi and Pachhyora.
People in Gulmi prefer to eat Daal-Bhaat, Roti, Dhindo, milk and curd.

Religious groups like Hindus, Buddhists and Muslims are the residents
of Gulmi. Major festivals such as Dashain, Tihar, Buddha Jayanti and Eid are

celebrated with great fanfare. Magar, Gurung, Newar, Chhetri, Bahuns are

the major ethnic groups settled in this region. These ethnic groups have
their own culture and language. Languages like Nepali, Magar, Gurung,
Newar are used as mother tongues by different ethnic groups living in

Gulmi district.

Teaching Guideline

Encourage the students to make a visit to their respective district to understand the topography,
socio-cultural dimension and economy there. Guide them to make notes on their district’s
profile and share them with the classroom.

Words and terms you would like to know

Extract: to pull something out; to obtain something from a source, usually by separating it out
from other material
Undulated: having appearance like a wave...up and down, high and low, trough and crest

98 Nova Social Studies And Creative Arts Grade-4 >>

Exercise
1. Draw a map of your district and show important landmarks in it.

2. Name the border districts surrounding your district.

3. Write down the socio-cultural profile of your district.

4. What are the major economic activities in your district?

5. Fill up the information below with regard to your district.

District you live in: Boundary shared:

Topography: Noted Landmarks:

Climate: Vegetation:

Agriculture Production: Languages spoken:

Foods and Dresses: Festivals:

Major Rivers: Religious & Historical Sites:

6. Point out the major ethnic and caste groups in a table given below:

Your home district:......................................... Province .........................

Major Caste groups Major ethnic groups

7. Write down the major language spoken and traditional dresses worn
in your district.

Your home district:......................................... Province .........................

Major languages Traditional dresses

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Lesson 2 A Map of My District

Dinesh Choudhary is 11 years old. He is visiting his uncle (Kaka) in
Kanchanpur district. Dinesh makes up his mind to visit different places of
Kanchanpur. He requests his uncle to guide him in this regard.

Kaka: Dinesh, it is good to visit different places in Kanchanpur district.
First of all, you should know some important facts about Kanchanpur.
Kanchanpur lies in the Tarai region of Province number-7. in the far west
of Nepal. Bhimdutta is its district headquarters. It is located in the south-
west of Nepal.

Dinesh: What are its bordering districts?

Kaka: Kanchanpur is bordered with Kailali district in east, Dadeldhura
district in north and with India in south and west.

Dinesh: I have heard about a famous bridge here. Will you tell me about
it? I would love to see that bridge.

Kaka: Yes, it is Dodhara-Chandani Bridge. This bridge is the Asia's longest
suspense bridge. It connects both sides of Mahakali River and connects
the Dodhara-Chandani Municipality to Kanchanpur district. Can you find
Dodhara-Chandani in the map given below?

Important landmarks in the Kanchanpur District

100 Nova Social Studies And Creative Arts Grade-4 >>

Dinesh: Yes, I found Dodhara-Chandani below Bhimdutta in a map. Can’t
we visit the place to see this bridge in real?
Kaka: Why not? But, it is always good to know the place through map
before we see the places in real. In this way, there is very less chance to get
misled or befuddled.
Dinesh: Just now I spotted a place called Bhimdutta in map. Will you
please tell me something about it?
Kaka: Bhimdatta is the business and educational hub of Kanchanpur and
it is very close to the border with India, Bhimdutta Bazaar has a large
concentration of business and trade centers. It is an important centre for
strengthening local economy.

Kanchanpur district in a map of Nepal

Dinesh: Kaka, you have not told anything about the headquarters of
Kanchanpur district.
Kaka: Oh Dinesh, I forgot to add it. In fact, Bhimdutta is the headquarters of
Kanchanpur district of Nepal. It is popularly referred to as Mahendranagar.
I will take you to see Shuklaphanta National Park and Wildlife Reserve. The
extensive open grasslands and wetlands spread around the lakes of this
park. It is the habitat for a wide range of fauna (both mammals and birds)
like the Bengal tiger, Indian leopard, sloth beer, Swamp deer (Barasingha),
one-horned rhinoceros, elephant, python, cobra, crocodiles and others.

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Dinesh: I have heard a lot about Rani Tal located in Kanchanpur district.
What is so special about it?

Kaka: Rani Tal (Rani Lake) is a must-see place for all the tourists visiting
Kanchanpur. This small lake attracts birds and animals alike. Herons,
ducks, storks, kingfisher and egrets vie for food in this lake (Tal). Swamp
deer wallow at the edges of Rani Tal. You will be able to see thousands of
water fowls frolicking on the lake surface. Even hundreds of swamp deer
are seen grazing at the water-edge in the evening light.

Dinesh: What is about festivals celebrated and languages here?

Kaka: The majority of the people living in Kanchanpur are from Rana-
Tharu ethnic group. But, other migrated ethnic groups from surrounding
hilly districts also reside here. Languages like Nepali, Tharu, Tamang, Doteli
are spoken as mother tongues by different ethnic groups. Teej, Holi and
Maghe Sankranti are popular amongst Tharu community while the Hilly
groups celebrate Dashain, Tihar, Bhai Tika and Gaura Parva. This is it. Okay,
our car is waiting outside. It is time to go together. Let us move.

Teaching Guideline

Encourage the students to collect important information about their own district. Motivate
them to visit different places (landmarks) of different districts they visit.

Words and terms you would like to know

Befuddle: confuse
Wetland: a marsh, swamp, or other area of land where the soil near the surface is saturated or
covered with water, especially one that forms a habitat for wildlife
Wallow: to lie down and roll around in something

Exercise
1. Make a list of available historical, religious and cultural sites of your

district.

2. Dodhara Chandani Belly Bridge, Mahendranagar, Belauri, Betkot
picnic spot, Rani Tal and Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve are
important tourist places in Kanchanpur district. Briefly introduce
each tourist spot and collect photographs of these landmarks.

3. Kailali, Doti and Dadeldhura are the bordering districts of
Kanchanpur while major rivers such as Mahakali, Syauli, Chaughar,
Wahamani and Chandar flow through this district. Mark them clearly
on a map of Nepal.

102 Nova Social Studies And Creative Arts Grade-4 >>

Lesson 3 Origin of Earth

Grade Four students of Gyan Jyoti School are waiting for their Social Studies
teacher Swami Antar Prakash. They are very excited as they have interesting
discussion on “origin of Earth’ waiting to take place. Their teacher Swami
Antar Prakash comes into the classroom. All the students greet him with
warm gesture chanting together ‘good morning, sir’ to which Swami Antar
Prakash responds affectionately. The class begins now.....

Sanad Devkota: Sir, today you are supposed to tell us how our solar system
(Sun and other planets revolving around it) looked like in the beginning.

Teacher: According to scientists, several billion years ago our ‘Solar System’
was nothing but a cloud of cold dust particles swirling through empty
space. This cloud of gas and dust was very much disturbed probably due
to the explosion of a nearby star (a supernova). Gradually, the cloud of gas
and dust started to collapse to take a form of a huge spinning disk. It was
all happening due to gravity pull. After a giant disc was formed, a number
of vigorous movements began inside. There were a series of collisions in
the giant disc-shaped cloud of materials (made up of dust and gas). The
Sun and its family of planets were formed when a condensed cloud of dust
and gas got burst into fragments. Movement never stopped because this
is the nature of universe. Once again force of gravity began to work on
those fragments to convert them into several clumps. These clumps later
got transformed into the Sun and other planets revolving around it. Earth
is one such planet to get into existence in this process. This is how Earth
came into existence.

A process is on to form Sun and other planets including Earth and its satellite Moon.

Nath Yogi: What does it mean? How oceans, mountains and continents
were formed? Did Earth possess life when it was formed? And, when did

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it actually happen? Oh, so many questions are hitting my mind.

Teacher: Relax, I will tell you everything to drive your confusions away.
As you already knew that the Earth and other planets along with the Sun
as a star were formed under the influence of a force of gravity. It is the
same force which gathered the gas and dust together into several clumps.
It is estimated that the Sun and its family of planets including Earth were
formed some 4.6 billion years ago.

The clump in the center of the giant disk mentioned earlier got into a shape
of the Sun. The clumps of materials in the outer rings were turned into large
fiery balls of gas and molten-liquid. After having cooled and condensed
into solid forms, they began to turn into the planets. We know these
planets today as Earth, Mars, Venus, Mercury and others. In the beginning,
there was no question of having life on the Earth as temperatures were so
high. Earth’s temperatures cooled down gradually. All the water vapor in
gaseous state poured down in form of rains. This is how oceans, rivers and
streams were formed. Mountains were formed due to the movement of
tectonic plates and collisions between them. Volcanic eruptions along the
plate boundaries were also responsible for formation of mountains. The
present solid crust of the Earth was formed when the molten outer layer of
the planet Earth cooled down.

Archana Sahani: How high was the temperature when Earth was born?
How, then, life emerged on Earth?

Teacher: It has taken billions of years for different forms of life to evolve
as we see today. In the beginning, Earth’s temperature did not permit
the formation of earth crust and oceans for quite some time. It is because
everything was in gaseous (or vapor) state due to very high temperatures
(ranging from 3000 °C to 6000°C). As temperature cooled (lowered) down,
the physical environment supportive of life appeared on Earth. Chemical
compositions and temperatures of supercontinent and oceans underwent
a favorable change for life forms to exist. First form of life that emerged
on the Earth was single-celled microorganisms (bacteria) some 3.8 billion
years ago. It was a natural process and life forms have continued to evolve
since then. Later, the multi-cellular animals and plants appeared on the
Earth around 600 million years ago. You must have heard a story how
dinosaurs once lived on the Earth some 65 million years ago.

104 Nova Social Studies And Creative Arts Grade-4 >>

Ram Kumar Singh: Sir, from when did human beings begin to live on this
Earth?

Teacher: Human beings can’t live without having suitable physical
environment on the Earth. The physical environment in which humans live
includes the water on the Earth, the air above the solid Earth surface and
the minerals (with water) beneath it. The first human ancestors appeared
between five million and seven million years ago. The modern form of
humans only evolved about 200,000 years ago.

This is all for today. Thanks for being attentive tn the classroom. See you
tomorrow.

Teaching Guideline

Draw a series of sketches on board to systematically explain the event of origin of Earth.
Encourage the students to ask questions regarding the present topic, “Origin of Earth’.

Words and terms you would like to know

Clump: a compact cluster or group of growing things
Gravity: the attraction due to gravitation that the Earth or another astronomical object exerts
on an object on or near its surface
Vigorous: displaying or using great energy
Collapse: to fail or come to an end suddenly
Revolve: to move in a circular movement, or send something in a circular movement, either
around an object or on a central axis

Exercise
1. Write down the names of all the planets of our solar system. Also

name the only natural satellite of the Earth.

2. Tick ( √ ) for corret statement and cross (X) for incorrect ones.

(a) The Sun was much bigger than what it is today billion of years ago.

(b) A long tailed-star came rushing to the Sun but didn’t collide with
it billions of years ago.

(c) The Earth is not a planet.

(d) Oceans were formed when heavy rains for a long period of time
poured after temperatures of the Earth cooled down.

(e) All the water vapors disappeared after the Earth’s temperatures
climbed down over the years in the beginning.

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(f) The first human being is supposed to have walked on the Earth
about 200,000 years ago.

3. Draw a series of drawings based on your reading of the present
lesson showing different stages of formation of the Earth.

4. Answer the following questions.
(a) Explain how the Earth was formed.
(b) How did the Earth appear in the very beginning?
(c) Give reasons why there were no life forms when the Earth was
formed.

(d) Describe how oceans and lands were formed on the Earth.
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Lesson 4 Composition of Earth

Earth is our home planet. Earth is the third planet from the Sun. Earth is
not quite a sphere. The planet's rotation causes it to bulge at the equator.
Earth's equatorial diameter is 7,926 miles (12,756 km). Earth’s diameter
from pole to pole is 7,898 miles (12,714 km). There is a difference of only
28 miles (42 km) in a diameter around the equator and the poles. Earth is
the densest planet in the solar system. Earth is also called a watery planet
because oceans cover about 70 percent of the planet's surface.

The interior structure of the Earth is layered in spherical shells. Crust,
mantle, and core are divisions based on composition of the Earth. These
layers can be defined by their physical and chemical properties. Earth has
an outer silicate solid crust, a highly viscous mantle, a liquid outer core and
a solid inner core. The inner core is solid; the outer core is liquid, and the

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mantle solid/plastic. Why is this so? This is because of the relative melting
points of the different layers (nickel–iron core, silicate crust and mantle)
and the increase in temperature and pressure as depth increases.

1. Crust: This is the outermost layer of the Earth. It is made up of different
types of rocks. The crust makes up less than one percent of Earth by
mass. Broadly, it consists of oceanic crust and continental land. Crust is
the layer of the Earth where all of us live. Our buildings, roads, bridges,
towns, cities and villages are resting on the crust. Crust of the Earth
holds oceans, rivers, mountains, hills, valleys and plains. Above the
crust of the Earth lies the atmosphere. An atmosphere is a layer of gases
such as nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide and others surrounding the
crust of the Earth. The presence of atmosphere help all of us breathe.
The crust is divided into huge plates that float on the mantle (a layer of
the Earth lying below the crust). These plates are popularly known as
tectonic plates. The plates are around 100 km (62 mi) thick. The tectonic
plates are constantly in motion. Earthquakes occur when these plates
grind against each other. Mountains form when the plates collide and
deep trenches form when one plate slides under another plate. This is
why different kinds of land features we see on the Earth’s crust.

2. Mantle: The mantle is located under the crust. Earth's mantle is a silicate
rocky shell. It is 2,800 kilometers (1,750 mi) thick. The mantle makes
up about 84% of Earth's volume. At present the mantle is solid but it
was viscous fluid in the beginning after the Earth was formed. The
mantle is made of rock and it is hot. The mantle is hot mostly because
of heat conducted from the core. Temperatures in the mantle range
between 500 to 900°C (932 to 1,652°F) near to the crust and to over
4,000°C (7,230°F) near the core. The layer of mantle lies between the
crust and the core. Despite having such high temperatures, the mantle
continues to remain solid. It is because very high pressure on mantle
keeps the melting point high. This helps the rocks of mantle keeping
solid without getting melted.

3. Core: Beneath the mantle lies the core. Earth’s core is the deepest and
hottest layer. It is made up of two layers itself: the outer core and the
inner core. The outer core borders the mantle and the inner core is a
ball-shaped layer made almost entirely of metal.

108 Nova Social Studies And Creative Arts Grade-4 >>

(A) Outer core: The outer core of the Earth is a liquid layer. This layer
is about 2,200 kilometers (1375 miles) thick. It is made mostly of
iron and nickel with small amounts of other elements (metals) like
gold, platinum and uranium. These metals are also found on the
surface of the Earth but in a solid state. The temperature of the
outer core ranges from 4400°C to 6100°C. Temperatures are higher
near the inner core.

Earth's Core

Outer Core Inner Core

(B) Inner core: The Inner Core is the final layer of the Earth. Unlike
the outer core, the inner core is a solid ball made of metal. It is
composed of metals such as Nickel and Iron. The inner core is
about 1278 kilometers (798 miles) thick. It is the second smallest
layer of the Earth (after the crust). Inner Core is the hottest layer
and the temperatures are often higher than 6100°C. Very high
temperatures in the inner core help all metal ores in the outer core
turn into liquid magma.

Teaching Guideline

Help the students understand the inner structure of the Earth by cutting melon and point out
crust, mantle and core. Ask them to make a model showing all the inner layers of the Earth.

Words and terms you would like to know

Mass: Mass measures the amount of matter in a substance or an object. The basic SI unit for
mass is the kilogram (kg). SI unit is a part of a system used for scientific and technical work all
over the world.
Volume: Volume measures the amount of space that a substance or an object takes up. The
basic SI unit for volume is the cubic meter (m3).
Earth’s rotation: The earth rotates on its axis and one full rotation takes 24 hours to complete.
Tectonic plate: Tectonic plates are pieces of Earth's crust and uppermost mantle, together
referred to as the lithosphere.

Exercise
1. Draw the composition of the Earth and indicate different layers

(shells) found in it. Also colour the different layers suitably.

2. Take a boiled egg or a Lychee to show different layers of the Earth’s

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structure by cutting it in the classroom. Demonstrate it by explaining
the details.
3. Give reasons why temperature inside the Earth from the crust to core
goes on increasing.
4. Just imagine that the Earth is not a sphere shaped but it is like a flat
plate. What would happen if the Earth were flat like a disc?
5. Tick ( √ ) the right statement and cross ( X ) the wrong ones.
(a) The inner core is in the centre and is the coldest part of the Earth.

(b) The outer core is not at all different from the inner core.
(c) The mantle is the widest section of the Earth.
(d) The mantle represents about 68 percent of the Earth’s mass and the

core makes up about 31% of the Earth.
(e) As the temperature increases, the nickel–iron inner core becomes

liquid.
6. Answer the following questions:

(a) Differentiate between crust and mantle.
(b) How is outer core different from inner core?
(c) The inner core is solid but the outer core is liquid. Explain how it is

possible.

110 Nova Social Studies And Creative Arts Grade-4 >>

Lesson 5 Our Neighbouring Country India

Except for the northern side, INDIA surrounds Nepal from all the three
sides. India also known as Bharat is ‘Democratic, Republic and Federal’
country. It is the seventh-largest country by area and the second most
populous country in the world. Nepal shares an open boundary in East,
West and South directions with India (Bharat). New Delhi is the political
capital of India.

National flag of India Map of Republic of India showing the mainland only

India is a home to around 1.3 billion people and that makes India the

largest democracy in the world. India is 22 times bigger than Nepal in

terms of land area. India’s total land area is 32,87,263 square kilometers

(km2) while Nepal’s total land area stands at 147,181 square kilometers

(km2). India is bounded by China, Nepal and Bhutan on the south, the Bay

of Bengal, Bangladesh and Myanmar on the East. Indian Ocean surrounds

the mainland from all the three sides except the northern side. Sri Lanka

and Maldives are neighbouring countries of India located in the Southern

Indian Ocean. To the west of India lies the Arabian Sea. Pakistan and

Afghanistan are western neighbours of India. India has the vast network of

river system. Major rivers like Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri and Tungbhadra

flow across the regions in South India. The Himalayan Mountains flank

India from the northern side and are the source of major perennial rivers

of India such as: the Ganga, the Brahmaputra and the Indus.

India is the ancient civilization which is traced back to 10,000 years and
more. India (known as Bharat Varsha) in the past was the most developed
civilization as archeological excavations prove it. There are live evidences
as mentioned in ancient epics like Ramayan and Mahabharat in relation to

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empires built by Shri Rama and Shri Krishna. At present, all the festivals
from all the religions are celebrated in India. India’s contributions in
the areas of mathematics, science, literature, architecture, healthcare,
religion, philosophy, spirituality and sports are recognized and respected
by whole world. Concepts of atom and zero, decimal number system,
parts of Trigonometry, Ayurveda, Yoga and plastic surgery are gifts to
the whole world given by India. India is the source (birthplace) of major
eastern religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism.
India’s religious systems have given the practical techniques of spiritual
transformation of a person. The science of spirituality to transform oneself
into a higher consciousness has been available with India since ancient
times. Games like Chess, Snooker, Ludo, Snake - Ladders and Kabaddi
have originated in India.

India is the country with immense diversity. India is a multi-lingual, multi-
religious, multi-cultural and multi-ethnic country. Hindi and English are
two official languages of India. Sanskrit is the ancient language of India.
The Constitution of India officially recognizes 23 official languages. There
are separate scripts for many languages. But, people in general follow
Devnagari script while writing the languages in the northern part of India.
Bhojpuri, Bengali, Telugu, Marathi, Tamil. Oriya and Urdu are some of the
examples of popular languages spoken in India at regional levels. Nepal
shares the regional languages of bordering Indian states in the southern
Tarai region including Hindi.

Indian cuisines are world famous due to its specific use herbs and spices.
Cooking styles in India vary from region to region. Roti, Bhaat, Tarkari, Daal,
Rajma, curry, khichri, Idli and other such dishes are main food for Indians.
Wheat, Basmati rice and pulses with chana (Bengal gram) are important
staples of the Indian diet. The Indian food is rich with curries and spices.
Ginger, coriander, cardamom, turmeric, dried hot peppers, and cinnamon
are among popular spices used in different Indian cuisines. Chutneys and
pickles are additives served along with the main food.

India is the largest trading partner of Nepal. India's economy is growing
is growing fast. The agricultural sector is the largest employer in
India's economy. Agriculture plays major role in social and economic
development of India. India is the largest producer of milk, jute and pulses.

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It has the world's second-largest cattle population. India is the second-
largest producer of rice, wheat, sugarcane, cotton, groundnuts, fruits and
vegetables in the world. India exports several agriculture products, such as
Basmati rice, wheat, cereals, spices, fresh fruits, dry fruits, cotton, tea, coffee
and other cash crops to rest of the world. India’s industries are growing
rapidly. India is leading in automobile industries, pharmaceuticals,
textiles, diamonds, gems and jewellery, iron and steel, pulp and paper etc.
India’s service sector is growing faster than other sectors. India has become
a major exporter of software and IT (Information Technology) services.
The IT industry continues to be the largest private-sector employer in
India. India’s services sector covers a wide variety of activities such as
trade, hotel and restaurants, transport, storage and communication, health
care, tourism, education, engineering, communications, transportation,
information technology, banking, finance, management, among others.
A number of new cities are coming up in India as a result of new wave
of industrialization and infrastructure development. Some of the famous
cities of India are New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Gangtok,
Patna, Ranchi, Allahabad, Bangalore, Kanpur, Chandigarh and others.

Nepal imports textiles, construction materials, food items, automobiles,
electrical equipments and others. On the other hand, India buys vegetable
oil, refined butter, copper wire, honey, herbs, mineral ores etc from Nepal.
Both Nepal and India are culturally close and share religious background
also. India’s success is always beneficial for Nepal because both the
countries share open borders from three sides.

Teaching Guideline

Show full map of India to students to locate different states and union territories along with
neighbouring countries of India. Encourage the students to go through the atlas and study
India in relation to Nepal from the perspectives of land and water boundary. Ask the students
to collect unique and amazing facts relating to India.

Words and terms you would like to know

Perennial: constantly recurring, or lasting for an indefinite time
Immense: huge, excellent

Exercise

1. Write a letter to your friend describing about India and its relationship

with Nepal.

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2. Draw the map of India on a full page of notebook and show the
following landmarks:

New Delhi, Ganga, Himalayan mountain rage, Bay of Bengal, Andaman
Nicobar, Kolkata, Kaveri, Goa, Chennai, Indian Ocean, Mumbai

3. Explain the cultural relationship with striking examples between
India and Nepal.

4. Write down the details regarding India in accordance with the
following guidelines.

Total area: Economic activities:

Boundary: Rivers:

Capital: Cuisines:

Dresses Major cities:

Money (currency): Festivals:

Languages: Religions:

5. Tick ( √ ) the correct statement and cross ( X ) the incorrect ones.

(A) Hindi and English are both official languages of India.

(B) India is the world's largest, oldest, continuous civilization.

(C) India is the world's second largest democracy after United States
(USA).

(D) Ancient Indians over 5000 years ago established Harappan culture
on the bank of Ganga River.

(E) Sanskrit the language that originated in India is the mother of all
the European Languages.

(F) India is the largest English speaking nation in the world.

(G) India is the only country other than US and Japan, to have built a
super computer indigenously.

(H) India has the largest number of Post Offices in the world.

(I) Yoga has its origins in India and has existed for over 10,000 years.

114 Nova Social Studies And Creative Arts Grade-4 >>

Lesson 6 Our Neighbouring Country
China

China is the northern neighbour of Nepal. Beijing is the capital of China.
China is 65 times bigger than Nepal. China’s total land area is 95,72,000
square kilometers (km2). China shares its borders with Mongolia and
Russia in the north, Korea and Pacific Ocean in the east and Vietnam, Laos,
Myanmar, India, Nepal and Bhutan in the south. Towards the west of the
China’s mainland lie the countries such as Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan,
Kirgizstan and Kazakhstan. China is the world’s most populous country,
with a population of over 1.4 billion. In recent years China has emerged as
one of the fastest growing economy in the world. Its national currency is
called ‘Yuan’. China does not follow parliamentary democracy like India
and Nepal. China is ruled by one party communist rule. China is officially
called the People's Republic of China. Communist Party established the
People's Republic of China in Beijing on 1st October 1949. Mandarin is its
official language. The artistic writing called calligraphy was invented in
China. Major cities in China are Shanghai, Beijing, Tianjin, Guangzhou,
Shenzhen, Nanjing, Shenyang and Hangzhou amongst various other cities.

National flag of China A map showing the mainland of China

About two-third of the total land area of China is hilly and semi-desert in
nature. China has a wealth of freshwater resources. China is home to some
of the most famous and longest rivers. Two great rivers run through China.
The Yellow River (Hwang Ho) in the north, and the Yangtze (or Yangzi)
River to the south are well-known rivers all over the world. Besides, there
are other rivers like Heilongjiang, Mekong (Lancang), Nujiang and Pearl
River. Like other parts of the world, river banks witnessed the birth of

115<< Nova Social Studies And Creative Arts Grade-4

many civilizations. The Hwang Ho civilization – began about 4000 years
ago on the bank of Hwang Ho or Yellow River in North China. Taoism,
Buddhism and Islam are the important major religions found in China.
Buddhism is the most important religion in China. Confucianism is a
school of philosophy rather than a religion. Confucianism has influenced
the moral behaviors of many Chinese.

The eastern part of China has plain land and deltas making it very fertile.
Agriculture is very important economic activity in China. More than half
of the total population of China is dependent upon agriculture for their
livelihood. China’s major farm products are rice, wheat, potatoes, tomato,
sorghum, peanuts, tea, millet, barley, cotton, oilseed and soybeans. China
has a large population of pigs, poultry and livestock. China has a long
tradition of ocean and freshwater fishing. The country is the world's
leading producer of fish. Fish farming in the surrounding oceans and on
ponds and lakes in the interior of China is source of livelihood. This way of
generating food in the water bodies is called aquaculture. China has made
great progress in mining and manufacturing. In the last 40 years, China
has changed faster than any other country in the world on this front. China
has one of the largest and richest stocks of minerals of any country. The
whole range of industrial goods is produced in China today. The output
of China's factories produces textiles, shoes, toys, railway locomotives,
aircraft, automobiles, televisions, bicycles, washing machines, cars, trucks,
fertilizers, petroleum products, pharmaceuticals, and computers. China is
the world's largest producer of cotton and cotton textiles. Food processing
is important agro-based industry. China is also the world leader in the
production of cement, iron, and steel. The quality of Chinese exports has
improved in recent years. Chinese are thought to be the first people to
use silk, bronze, wood and paper to make art. China's key exports include
machinery and equipment, textiles and clothing, footwear, toys, mineral
fuels, plastics, optical and medical equipment, and iron and steel. Major
imports include machinery and equipment, oil and other fuels, plastics,
optical and medical equipment, organic chemicals, and iron and steel.

Nepal is taking political steps to be the close and trusted trading partner
of China. At political level, China commands a lot of respect in Nepal.
The Chinese government in turn has declared the year 2017 AD as Nepal
Tourism Promotion Year in China. Nepal has signed the Transit Transport

116 Nova Social Studies And Creative Arts Grade-4 >>

Agreement with China in 2016 AD. Now, Nepal is able to conduct third-
country trade through the gateway of Chinese port. Nepal has requested
China to build rail network connecting Kathmandu to the Chinese port
of Tianjin. Nepal is excited about having China to bring network of road
and rail across mountain and hilly regions of Nepal. Nepal is ready to
give a passage to China for reaching to entire South-Asian market. The
Rasuwagadi-Kerung border point operates as an international crossing
point. Citizens of other countries besides the Nepalese and the Chinese can
travel across the border. The Rasuwagadi-Kerung border point is expected
to boost trade, tourism and people to people contact between the two
countries. Nepal is also looking forward to open various other such trading
routes along with the northern Himalayan mountain range to speed up the
trade and tourism with China.

Chinese cuisines include fried rice, noodles, Tofu (Bean Curd), meat of all
forms and leafy vegetables, including Chinese cabbage, spinach, lettuce,
cauliflower and others. Chinese noodles are generally made from flour of
wheat and rice along with bean starch. Tofu, or bean curd is made from soy
milk, water, and a curdling agent. Chinese people eat meat of all animals
such as pork, beef, mutton, chicken, duck, pigeon and many others. Pork is
the most commonly consumed meat. Pork appears in almost every meal in
China. All meat can be boiled, stir-fried, stewed, roasted, poached, baked,
or pickled. Chinese people make lots of dishes with eggs such as the salted
duck eggs and century eggs (preserved eggs). Ingredients from ginger,
garlic, green onion, chili and coriander are used to spice up the Chinese
food.

Teaching Guideline

Show the map of Asia and world to locate direction and region in which China lies. Help
the students to recognize different countries around China and Nepal’s position in relation to
China.

Words and terms you would like to know

Curdle: to cause a liquid such as milk to separate into curds and whey, e.g. by permitting or
encouraging bacterial action
Calligraphy: the art or skill of producing beautiful or artistic handwriting
Ingredient: a component of a mixture, especially an item of food or flavoring included in the
recipe for preparing a dish
Optical: relating to or producing light that can be seen

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Exercise
1. Give the names of major cities and rivers of China.

2. How do you see China in the development story of Nepal?

3. Draw a flag of China’s national flag and compare it with Nepal’s flag.

4. Tick ( √ ) the correct statement and cross ( X ) the incorrect ones.

a) The Chinese New Year celebration lasts for 15 days.

b) In China, every year is represented by one of 12 animals.

c) People race boats with dragon designs at a Chinese festival in the
spring.

d) English is the official language of China.

e) Hong Kong is the capital of China.

f) Green colour is considered very auspicious in China.

g) Like Nepal, China is also a democratic country where the ‘President’
is directly elected by people’s votes.

h) National currency of China is ‘Dollar’.

5. Make a comparison between India and China in relation to following
points:

Titles China India
Bordering Countries
Total Land Area
Capital
How bigger than Nepal
Major Cities

Main Rivers
Official Language
National Currency
Total Population
Main Religions

118 Nova Social Studies And Creative Arts Grade-4 >>

6. Identify the countries in the following map of Asia and locate the
position of Nepal in relation to different Asian countries.


7. Draw the map of Nepal showing both the neighbours clearly.

N

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UNIT

6

Our Past

Lesson 1: History of a Place where I Live
Lesson 2: Our Historical Resources
Lesson 3: History of Naming Nepal
Lesson 4: Our Brave Martyrs
Lesson 5: Paying Respects to Martyrs
120 Nova Social Studies And Creative Arts Grade-4 >>

Lesson 1 History of a Place Where I Live

Nuwakot is located above the Trisuli and Tandi Rivers.

Mahima Shrestha, a student of Grade Four, lives in Nuwakot village.
Nuwakot had served as an important trading hub for the Malla kings of the
Kathmandu Valley. It was a major transit route used for trade between India
and Tibet. Nuwakot has continued to be a strategic location for Nepal since
the ancient times. This is why King Prithvi Narayan Shah had started his
campaign of unifying Nepal from Nuwakot. He had conquered Nuwakot
to merge it with the kingdom of Gorkha on Asoj 15, 1801 (September 26,
1744). Like Malla kings, Prithvi Narayan Shah also supported the growing
trade routes linking both Nuwakot and Kathmandu with India and Tibet.
Nuwakot has a nice, clean main street that leads up to ‘Saat Taale Durbar’
(seven-story Nuwakot Durbar). This is a beautiful old castle. The seventh
floor of ‘Nuwakot Durbar Palace’ offers a great of Nuwakot village and the
surrounding hills. It has the same historical importance as the Hanuman
Dhoka Palace in Kathmandu has. The seven-story palace is located on
the top of hill named after the district itself. It is called ‘Nuwakot Durbar
Square’. King Prithvi Narayan Shah delivered the legendary Dibya
Upadesh -- the guiding principles of governance here in Saat Taale Durbar’
(seven-story Nuwakot Durbar). Nuwakot village surrounds this palace.
The village is divided into clusters known as tole (pronounced "toll"). For
example, Brahma Tole consists mainly of old houses, and a few cement
ones. Women dry millet and elderly men chat in the winter sun outside the
Brahma Tole. The picturesque 500-year-old Bhairavi Temple, a two-storey
pagoda, stands at the end of Brahma Tole Lane. An annual festival called the

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Sindoor Jatra is dedicated to the goddess Bhairavi. Entire town is covered
in vermillion powder during this festival celebrated on the full moon of
April. In addition to Bhairavi temple, there are other temples dedicated to
Jalpa Devi and Dupcheshwar Mahadev. These temples promote religious
tourism and support the local economy of Nuwakot.

Nuwakot is a hilly district. The name, 'Nuwakot', is made up of two words
'nawa' meaning nine and 'kot' meaning sacred religious sites. Nuwakot is
surrounded by nine hills dedicated to various deities. This is why Nuwakot
is referred to as a “region of nine hills”. The temples of Hindu gods
Vishnu and Narayan stand side by side. Malika Hill in Nuwakot provides
a fascinating view of changing shades of sky from reds to oranges. For
tourists from outside, Nuwakot offers unforgettable experience of life.

Teaching Guideline

Guide the students to do self-research by interviewing, discussing, and reading the information
relating to their place of residence. Teach them how to organize and categorize the collected
information under different headings touching upon historical, cultural, political and
economical perspectives. Encourage the students to make presentation of the information on
their place of residence in the classroom.

Words and terms you would like to know

Transit: the act of traveling or being transported through or across an area, over a distance, or
from one place to another; to pass through, over, or across something
Legendary: very famous in contemporary society
Picturesque: visually very appealing or impressive
Dedicate: to spend time or energy doing something
Fascinating: inspiring a great interest or attraction
Unforgettable: never to be forgotten

Exercise
1. Take a trip to the surrounding areas of a place where you live.

Identify sites of historical, cultural and religious importance. Collect
information about the sites from different sources like interviewing
local people, reading books, browsing internet etc. Arrange the

information on the following headings.

(A) Name and address of the site:

(B) Details of the objects, signs and symbols present there:

(C) Who built a site and when:

(D) The present state (status) of the place (site):

122 Nova Social Studies And Creative Arts Grade-4 >>

(E) Its significance (importance) at social, cultural and economic level:

2. Use the following points to describe the place where you live (reside).

District village and town, Ward, Religious landmark in your Tole,
Resting place or garden or playground, Tunnel, Canal, Well, Entrance
gate, Auditorium, School, College, Pond, River etc.

3. Dev Datta Joshi has listed the years of major developments of his
place of residence in the following manner (way).

Place of Residence ..............................................................

Year in BS Major Development Work

2044 A health post was set up.

2047 A building for looking after village administration was
built.

2050 A blacktopped road (concrete path) was built up in a
village

2053 A Saraswati temple was built for stressing on learning
new skills.

2056 A Higher Secondary School was set up in a village.

2059 Network of telephone reached for the first time in a
village.

2062 A number of cottage industries started to use agricultural
products.

2070 Community library came into existence.

2073 A local squad was formed to end discrimination against
women.

Make the time line using data mentioned given above to show the
major developments of your place of residence in a systemic manner.

Year (in BS) 123
Time line with equal scale:

<< Nova Social Studies And Creative Arts Grade-4

Lesson 2 Our Historical Resources

The historical sites, manuscripts, biographies, old literatures etc are

identities of a nation and society. These are national resources which

define a nation and its culture. We must preserve them with great care

and supreme pride. Nepal’s history and culture is disclosed by several
sites and resources such as temples, Chaityas, Chautaro, Dharmshala, Pati,
Pauva, Pokhari, library, auditorium, mosques and churches and others.
Our ancestors had left the Durbar squares, homes, statues, inscriptions on

stones, manuscripts written on copper, paper etc.

Display of architecture and sculpture across Nepal

Art, architecture and culture of Nepal are reflected by Boudhnath,
Changunarayan, Swambhunath and Pashupatinath temple in Kathmandu
valley, Ashoka pillar and Mayadevi temple in Lumbini, Ram-Janaki
temple in Janakpur, Durbar squares in Patan, Bhaktapur and Kathmandu,
Manakamna temple in Gorkha. All of them are also World Heritage Sites.

Both the visiting tourists as well as countrymen learn a lot about Nepal’s
heritage and culture by observing these sites. There are many other
historical and cultural sites in different parts of Nepal. These sites speak
to a great deal about local culture both in the past and present times.

Why should we as a nation preserve our historical resources such as

124 Nova Social Studies And Creative Arts Grade-4 >>

heritage sites?

Heritage Sites are the symbol of history and they are representation of
the past. We need to spend time, energy and money to preserve our
historical resources such as heritage sites. The following are the reasons
for preserving our historical resources:

1. The historical resources and heritage sites reflect the genius and
lifestyle of our ancestors.

2. Our ancestor’s past is reflected by the historical resources. The
historical resources provide guidelines for the future generations to
shape up the society in times to come. We enjoy the best days of our
lives because of the past struggles of our ancestors.

3. Every historical site has an important story to tell. Heritage sites are
living monuments and record of certain happenings from the past.
These stories relate to high and low times that a society has faced. It
instills pride about our past achievements and inspires many people
to fight injustice and oppression.

4. Heritage sites promote tourism and sustain local economy.

What are the steps for common people to preserve these historical
sites? Have you ever thought on this question? Nepal is a country full
of diversity. Nepal has a diverse pool of cultural heritage and ancient
monuments in the form of buildings and other archaeological sites
and remains. The following are some of the steps that protect and
preserve our historical resources:

(A) Never scribble on the walls of heritage site or a building of
historical importance.

(B) Organize and participate in the regular cleanliness campaigns
(drives) of heritage sites, monuments and other such sites.

(C) Find out ways to spread awareness regarding protection and
preservation of historical resources through short play, discussion,
pamphlets, workshops and use of print and electronic media.

(D) Inform the nearest police station or government cultural
department in case of theft, loot or destruction of historical sites.

In this way, a little effort on our side makes a huge difference.
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Teaching Guideline

Take the students on educational excursion to see their historical sites, monuments, and other
such buildings. Ask them to make notes to prepare report on their visit to a heritage site and
share the same in the classroom.

Words and terms you would like to know

Manuscript: a book or other text written by hand, especially one written before the invention
of printing
Scribble: to write something hastily or untidily, often in smallish letters
Oppression: to subject a person or a people to a harsh or cruel form of domination

Exercise
1. Write a notice to be displayed in your community regarding

protection and preservation of heritage sites present in surrounding
areas. Display the notice at the actual site.

Attention! Attention! Attention!

Please, do not offer coconut water, eggs, meat, blood, vermillion
and any other colours to this temple and get inside the sanctum
sanctorum to touch the deity. Chemicals present in the things offered
to the temple corrode and destroy the stone sculpture of deity.
Express your devotion by means of prayer, meditation and offerings
in form of flowers. Give service towards maintaining cleanliness,
crowd control, safety of personal belongings etc as a service to GOD.
Spirituality is the quality of heart and inner growth rather than
outward manifestation of mindless rituals.

Temple Manage t Committee
Radha Krishna Mandir

2. Mention the ways you and your community go forward to protect
and preserve the historical resources (sites and monuments). Use the
table below to write your answer.

Historical Resource Your Effort Your Community’s Effort

Gumba Cleanliness Fencing and Constructing
Walls

126 Nova Social Studies And Creative Arts Grade-4 >>

3. Prepare a full report on a historical/heritage site. Read that report in
front of your Social Studies teacher in the classroom.

4. Name the world heritage sites present in Nepal as historical resources.
What are the ways (methods) to preserve these heritage sites?

5. Click photos of heritage sites situated near to your school. Arrange
them in a form of album with headings and captions written below
each photo (picture). Show it to your other friends in the classroom.

6. Make a list of all the monuments, historical and cultural sites found
in your district. Briefly introduce their background and mention
their importance.

7. Draw the sketch of any two architectural designs which are considered
as historical resources of Nepal.

Architectural design-I Architectural design-II
Name: ..................................... Name: ................... ..................

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Lesson 3 History of Naming Nepal

Nepal is our country. The word ‘Nepal’ was not used for entire country
before King Prithvi Narayan Shah defeated Jaya Prakash Malla, the king
of Kantipur on Asoj 13, 1825 (September 25, 1768). In those days, only
Kathmandu valley was referred to as Nepal. King Prithvi Narayan Shah
then named his Gorkha kingdom as the Kingdom of Nepal after conquering
the Kathmandu valley. Kathmandu was declared as new capital of Nepal.
Several other territories towards the east and the west of Kathmandu
valley were added to the Kingdom of Nepal under the leadership of regent
Bahadur Shah (the second son of the King Prithvi Narayan Shah). It is
certain beyond doubt that the compact land called Nepal have been in
existence since ancient times. In 21st century, the modern Nepal is a federal
secular parliamentary republic.

Nepal (in the red colour above) is a country surrounded between India and China.

Nepal is officially called the ‘Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal’. Nepal
is mentioned as a bordering country in Samudragupta’s Allahabad Pillar.
The Skanda Purana has a chapter mentioning about the beauty and power
of Nepal as "Nepal Mahatmya".

How a name Nepal came into existence?

1. Based on religion: As per a Hindu scripture, the present day Kathmandu

128 Nova Social Studies And Creative Arts Grade-4 >>

valley was filled with water. It was a pond then. Lord Shrikrishna diverted
the water from the Kathmandu valley and made a way for people to reside
there. Later, a group of cowherds came to settle down in the valley. These
cowherds were called ‘Nippa’. They made their own houses (Aalaya) for
settlement. Both Nippa and Aalaya were combined together and the land
came to be known as ‘Nepal’. Ancient inhabitants of the Kathmandu valley
were called ‘Gopala’.

Another legend speaks different story on how the word Nepal came into
existence. According to a legend, an ancient sage ‘NE’ chose Kathmandu
valley to be his place for practising ascetic discipline and penance. This is
how the land was named Nepal. A Buddhist text has another story to tell.
A Buddhist monk Manjushree descended down to Kathmandu valley from
China through the Himalayas. He was blessed with ‘spiritual power’. He
used his prowess to dry up all the water and make the land of Kathmandu
valley inhabitable. Gradually, people began to settle down there and a
human settlement area thrived in due course of time. A human settlement
in the Chinese language is called ‘Nipolo’. Swyambhu Purana mentions
this fact. ‘Nipolo’ in due course of time became Nepal through the use of
local tongues.

2. Based on caste: Nepal has derived its name from the word ‘Nyarva’.
Nyarva refers to a class of people who inhabited the valley. These people
are called Newars today. Newars are known for their skills in trade,
business, art, architecture and education. Similarly, there is a branch group
of people called ‘Nepar’ amongst the Kirat community who settled down
in the Kathmandu valley. According to a legend, the powerful influence
of Nepar people on the economy and culture of the valley turned it into a
Nepal as we know today.

3. Based on language: Newar people pronounce the word Nepal as ‘Nepa’.
In Newari language, ‘Ne’ means in middle (centre) and ‘Pa’ means a
country. Kathmandu valley is located in the middle of hills and mountains.
Hence, the word ‘Nepa’ (pronounced for Nepal) was used to indicate the
geographical position of the Kathmandu valley. As a matter of fact, whole
Nepal is located in the middle of two giant neighbours China and India.
In Tibetans language, ‘Ne’ means house and ‘Pal’ means wool. Combining
the both together, the word Nepal is the country of wool production. In
those days, Nepal used to have a great numbers of flocks of sheep. Sheep

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wools were the identity of the land called Nepal. In Limbu language, Nepal
means the plain land. A major portion of the Kathmandu valley is the plain
land which is called Nepal.
Teaching Guideline

Every region or area has its own background which is reflected by its name. Collect as many
names as possible for you of different towns, cities and villages of Nepal. Find the relevance of
the name of a region or area by conducting research on it and share the same in the classroom.
Begin with the place where you live and then extend it on your village, town or city.

Words and terms you would like to know

Federal: Federal structure of political governance operates at local and provincial levels besides
having a national government.
Democratic: Democratic country is governed by elected representatives chosen by the people.
Republic: Republic country is headed by periodically elected representative and does not
belong to any hereditary dynasty
Descend: to go down a staircase, hill or valley

Exercise
1. Explain how Nepal was named as per the Tibetan tradition.

2. Draw the map of Nepal and show Gorkha, Kathmandu valley and
borders with Tibet and India.

3. Name your place of residence, town or village in which you live.
Explain the meaning and background of the name chosen for your
place of residence, town or village.

4. Divide the class into three groups. Discuss how Nepal was named in
reference to religion, caste and language amongst the three groups.

5. What does Swyambhu Purana say regarding Nepal?

6. What is the difference between ancient Nepal and modern Nepal?

7. Mention how Nepal was named as per the Newari and Limbu
mythologies.

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

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

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

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

130 Nova Social Studies And Creative Arts Grade-4 >>

Lesson 4 Our Brave Martyrs

A martyr is someone who suffers persecution and death for country,
community and people. In last 150 and more years, Nepal has seen
different political situations in which people’s rights were crushed. People
of Nepal have always stood up to protect their land against anti-democratic
dictatorial forces operating inside the country. Nepalese people come out
in open and protest against corrupt and selfish elements ruling over the
country. No foreigners from outside came to crush the people of Nepal
and kept the nation backward by looting its national resources. Actually,
the despotic rulers from within Nepal deprived the common people of
their rights and suppressed them. Nepalese People always fought against
the corrupt forces within the society. Nepalese people gave up their lives
while fighting for uprooting the dictatorship and corruption from the
country. They became martyrs who stood against injustice, discrimination
and suppression. Even after making Nepal a democratic republic country,
common men and women laid their lives for the development of ethnic
communities. They too are martyrs because they fought for gaining
freedom, equality and justice for their community people.

People of Nepal are protesting on street for their democratic rights

Despotic Ranas ruled over Nepal for 104 long years from 1903 BS. Nepal
was bled through thousands cuts during their rule. Their policy of nepotism
and favoritism was at all time high. There was no rule of law. Neither did

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justice reach out to common citizens. Nobody was allowed to raise voice
against the mighty hereditary Rana rulers. People rose against the Rana rule
collectively in 2007 BS. Many numbers of people were crushed to death by
ruthless Ranas. Even today we Nepalese people pay tributes to our great
martyrs like Shukraraj, Gangalal, Dharma Bhakta and Dasharath Chand.
Who can ever forget 30 years of absolute rule by Shah Kings Mahendra and
Birendra? It was called ‘Panchayat rule’ in which all the political parties
were banned. People were picked by King’s army on the suspicion of being
anti-monarchy and killed. There was no police complaint, no trial and no
fundamental rights. People from different ethnic communities were not
allowed to speak their own mother tongues. The cultural diversity of Nepal
was crushed by a royal dictate of ‘One Nation, One Culture’. People came
together to protect the diversity and democracy of Nepal. Mass Movement
(also called Jan Andolan I) spread like a wild fire in length and breadth
of the country in 2046 BS. Many people sacrificed their lives and became
martyrs. Oppressive Panchayat rule which had continued since 2017 BS
came to an end. Once again people’s power won over the anti-people
absolute monarchy.

Mass Movement II (Jan Andolan II) is another example of People’s
sacrifice to get back their democratic and fundamental rights. The then
King Gyanendra declared himself the absolute monarch (king) of Nepal
on Magh 19, 2061 BS. He suspended democracy and took away all the
rights of the people of Nepal. Men, women, youth and children were in the
streets of Nepal marching and protesting against the King’s decision. Mass
Movement II continued from Chaitra 24, 2062 to Baisakh 11, 2063. Many
people lost their life in hands of King’s brutal oppression. King Gyanendra
could not stop the people flowing into the streets of Nepal. Finally, he was
forced to give back democracy and fundamental rights to the people of
Nepal on Baisakh 11, 2063. Thanks to the martyrs of Mass Movement II,
Nepal is a democratic and republic country today. Martyrs are the pride of
the country and therefore, we must respect them.

Teaching Guideline

Encourage the students to collect different pictures, news, views and other texts connected with
Mass Movement I and Mass Movement II along with the photographs of martyrs. Ask them
to arrange in a album and make the fact file. Guide the students to share their work with one
another in the classroom.

132 Nova Social Studies And Creative Arts Grade-4 >>

Words and terms you would like to know

Oppressive: imposing a harsh or cruel form of domination
Absolute Monarch: A king that has all the authority without accountability and using that
authority to crush people
Mighty: strong and powerful
Nepotism: favoring and promoting own family members, relatives and friends
Favoritism: appointing or employing people who is known already disregarding the merits of
deserving candidates
Suppression: the state of being forcefully restrained or held back
Despotic: relating to a tyrant or ruler with absolute powers

Exercise
1. Who are martyrs? Why should we respect them?
2. Describe how you pay tributes to our martyrs.
3. You might have seen busts or statues or memorials dedicated to our

martyrs around the country. If you have seen them then write down
the details mentioning the names of the martyrs, place where you
spotted such busts or memorials along with the specific contributions
of the martyrs.
4. The present lesson has mentioned certain dates from the history
of Nepal. Note down the dates to draw a time-line out of it. Also
highlight the relevance of these dates in the history of Nepal.
5. How does Mass Movement I (Jana Aandolan I) and Mass Movement
II (Jan Andolan II) differe from each other?
6. What similarities do you find Mass Movement I (Jana Aandolan I)
and Mass Movement II (Jan Andolan II)?
7. People of Nepal can never be deceived and suppressed by any political
class greedy for money and political power. How far do you agree with
it?
8. Collect the names and photos (if possible) of martyrs of Nepal and
point out their contributions.
9. What is the significance (importance) of People’s movement 2007
BS?

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Lesson 5 Paying Respects to Martyrs

A martyr gets killed for bringing positive political change and standing for
people’s welfare in the country. Thousands of martyrs have laid down their
life to bring and sustain democracy in Nepal. Martyr's week is observed
in Nepal from Magh 10 to Magh 16 to commemorate the sacrifices made
by all the martyrs. Early martyrs who were arrested together to be killed
by Ranas in span of just a week in 1997 BS have inspired all the Nepalese
people. These brave martyrs were: Dharma Bhakta Mathema, Dasarath
Chand, Gangalal Shrestha and Sukraraj Shastri. Lakhan Thapa was arrested
and killed by Jang Bahadur Rana for raising voice for the welfare of the
people. The last day Magh 16 out of a whole week (Magh 10-16) is marked
as the ‘Martyrs Day’ in Nepal every year. People from all sections of life
pay their respects and tributes to our martyrs. Thanks to our martyrs, the
despotic Rana rule was overthrown in February 1951 and democracy was
established in Nepal.

Brief details of martyrs who fought for democracy and people’s rights in
early days are being given here:

Lakhan Thapa Dharma Bhakta Mathema Dasharath Chand Ganga Lal Shrestha

1. Lakhan Thapa: Lakhan Thapa is famous as "The First Martyr of Nepal.”
He was the first revolutionary leader of Nepal who stood against
the misrule and suppression imposed by the Ranas in their dynastic
rule of 104 years (1846 – 1950 AD). He rebelled against the tyranny
of Jang Bahadur Rana who committed a lot of violence to capture
power in the palace. Lakhan Thapa was emerging ethnic leader from
Magar community. He demanded law based on justice not the blind
dictatorship of Jang Bahadur Rana. The demands of Lakhan Thapa

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enraged Jang Bahadur Rana. Jan Bahadur sent his troops to Gorkha to
capture and kill Lakhan Thapa. The troops captured and hanged him
to death on February 27, 1877 for demanding good governance and
justice to all. Lakhan Thapa was killed because he had a community
support to rebel against the ruthless dictatorship imposed by Jang
Bahadur Rana.

2. Dharma Bhakta Mathema: Dharma Bhakta Mathema sacrificed his
life in struggle for freedom against hereditary dictatorship of the Rana
dynasty. He opposed tyranny and economic exploitation advanced by
Rana rule. He was a member of the secret political organization called
Nepal Praja Parishad that was working to remove Rana’s family rule
and establish democracy. One day, a secret meeting of Praja Parishad
was held in Lainchaur, Kathmandu. Along with other members, even
King Tribhuvan had attended that meeting. The hereditary Rana Prime
Minister Juddha Shamsher ordered arrest of all the members of Praja
Parishad who were attending the meeting in Lainchaur. Dharma Bhakta
Mathema and Dashrath Chand were amongst those who were arrested
by Juddha Shamsher. Dharma Bhakta Mathema was hanged till death
on 26 January 1941 (Magh 13, 1997) at midnight in Kathmandu.

3. Dasarath Chand: Dasrath Chand was active in anti-Rana movement
through a political party “Nepal Praja Parishad”. Dasarathchand was
active in distributing pamphlets explaining the arbitrary Rana rule.
Rana government arrested him. He was physically tortured and asked
to apologize. But, he refused to do so. At last, Dasarath Chand together
with Gangalal Shrestha was shot dead on January 28, 1941 (Magh 15,
1997) at Shobha Bhagawati temple, Kathmandu.

4. Gangalal Shrestha: Gangalal Shrestha was a Nepalese revolutionary
who rebelled against the autocratic Rana regime. Rana government
was badly looking for him. Gangalal disguised himself as a monk and
began to live in a temple behind Swayambhu to escape the arrest. He
always remained in touch with other members of the Praja Parishad
to plan out next move against the Rana rule. Finally, Rana’s police
arrested him. He was kept in a prison cell with hands and feet shackled.
His shackles were never removed even while meeting with his family
members. His younger brother Pushpa Lal Shrestha broke into tears

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seeing his inhumane conditions. Gangalal was shot dead with Dasarath
Chand.
[Pushpa Lal Shrestha inspired by the sacrifice and struggles of his elder
brother dedicated his life to bring democracy in Nepal and continued
the fight for people’s rights. He founded the Communist Party of Nepal
in 1949 AD and played a key role in ending Rana rule.]
5. Shukra Raj Shastri: Shukra Raj Shastri was a renowned social reformer
and author of his own times. Shukra Raj Shastri was very active in the
democracy struggle against the Rana regime. He was arrested when
he was addressing a gathering of people against the cruel regime
of Ranas at Indra Chok, Kathmandu. He was sentenced to six years
imprisonment by the Rana regime for demanding people’s rights.
Finally, he was hanged on a tree by the side of the road at Pachali,
Teku, Kathmandu on 23 January 1941 (Magh 10, 1997).

Shukra Raj Shastri’s Photo Floral tributes at martyrs’ memorial (Shahid Smarak)

All parts of country, be it village, town or city, observe the martyr day
by garlanding the photos or statues of martyrs. Patriots sing the songs of
bravery in memory of our martyrs. People burn incense and candles on their
memorials. Debates and discussion on their contributions are organized
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throughout the country. Children and youth in school are encouraged to
participate in the events organized in memory of our martyrs.

Teaching Guideline

Share the biographies of our martyrs with students in the classroom so that they understand
the difficult political phases of Nepal. Let them do self-research to know more and more about
our martyrs and the reasons for which they were killed and how our society is indebted to
them. Tell them how to actually pay respects and tributes to our martyrs.

Words and terms you would like to know

Commemorate: to honor the memory of somebody or something in a ceremony
Overthrow: to remove a person or group of people from a position of power by force
Ruthless: having or showing no pity or mercy
Apologize: to say that you are sorry for something that has upset or inconvenienced somebody
else
Incense: the smoke or fragrant smell produced when incense is burned
Shackle: to restrain somebody or an animal using chains

Exercise
1. Read the news-report below and then answer the questions:

5 killed in Saptari police firing declared martyrs

Post Report, Kathmandu
May 17, 2017

The government on Wednesday has declared five victims of Saptari
incident as martyrs. The five persons were killed after police opened
fire at them. These martyrs were demanding their ethnic rights, due
representation in the democracy and the Constitution of Nepal. The
Deputy Prime Minister handed over Rs 1 million each to the kin and
kith of the victims amid a function organized in Rajbiraj today. Sanjan
Maheta, Pitambar Mandal and Birendra Mahato of Maleth, Saptari,
Ananda Sah of Praswani and Indra Dev Yadav of Madhepura, Jamuni
were killed in the police firing.

(a) Where do these 5 martyrs belong to? Name the district and the
martyrs.

(b) How did the Government of Nepal help these martyrs?

(c) Why were these martyrs killed?

(d) Who are martyrs? Why do we give so much respect to them?

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2. Prepare a brief description of the martyrs from your own village,
town and district.

3. What according to you are the ways to respect (honor) martyrs? Write
at least 5 points.

4. How do our martyrs inspire us? Write with examples.

5. How can we fulfill the dreams and aspirations held by our martyrs?

6. Collect photos, news, views and other stories related with martyrs
of Nepal. Make a album with magazine of news and views. Show to
your classmates and read portions of it.

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UNIT

7

Our Economic Activities

Lesson 1: Being Regular in Work
Lesson 2: Dignity of Work
Lesson 3: Realizing the Value of Money
Lesson 4: Production and Development in My District
Lesson 5: Our Economic Activities

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Lesson 1 Being Regular at Work

Can you imagine human life without work? Of course not. It is because
humans have both biological and emotional demands. Without meeting
those demands, human life will simply stop. Human beings have to be
on work continuously for both survival and achieving higher goals of
acquiring skills and serving others. All of us need to work for the betterment
of our health, education and earning wealth. No individual or family or
community can ever progress without being at work regularly. No matter
how old a person is, work is the only way out for being healthy, wealthy
and lively.

Kshiring resides in Gombo Danra of Rasuwa district. He regularly goes
to attend his school except in sickness or unexpected cases of emergency.
His parents are poor and therefore they work on the farmlands for earning
wages. Kshiring helps his parents in household work every day. He cleans
up the cottage and looks after younger brother and sister. He informs a
doctor in a village in case his parent falls sick. He is very active boy and
generates confidence in others because of his dedication towards the work
he does. Our personality and character builds up only by means of work
we do. He performs very well in his study and passes his examination
with distinction. He is good in sports as well as drawing. His drawing
sketches have won prizes in Rasuwa district exhibition. Look at his one
such drawing here:

Kshiring drawing of elephant, tree and a bird

Pema is a neighbour of Kshiring and she studies in the same class. Pema
never likes Kshiring’s habit of doing a lot of work besides study. She
always advises Kshiring to avoid other works. She thinks that students
must not do any other work except studying the school books. She loves to
140 Nova Social Studies And Creative Arts Grade-4 >>

study Social Studies and she wants to be lawyer. Kshiring disagrees with
Pema’s view on being a student. According to Kshiring, students should
be cooperative in one’s own house. They should help parents and relatives
whenever they require help inside or outside house. This develops a sense
of responsibility in a student to understand the emotion and situation inside
the house. Kshiring’s commitment towards both study and parents is no
doubt admiring. neighbours and teachers praise Kshiring for his good habit
of working hard. Not only his study, Kshiring is good at sports, drawing
and performing household chores. He loves science subject and wants to
become doctor. Pema has now understood the Kshiring’s message. She no
longer criticizes Khiring for doing different works apart from his school
study. Yes, a habit of hard work regularly is a key to open the door of
success in life.

Teaching Guideline

Motivate the students to work regularly every day on study and other work which develops
their knowledge, life skills and positive experience. Tell them not to be distracted by difficulties
in life and teach them how to focus on their study and a work in hand. Teach them to recognize
good work of others and develop empathy and respects for those who are helpful to them. Work
with the students while planting trees, cleaning school campus, distributing relief materials to
victims of natural disasters and so on.

Words and terms you would like to know

Dedication: the quality of being devoted or committed to something
Distinction: excellence in quality or talent

Exercise
1. Pema wants to be advocate and Kshiring loves to study science.

What are your favorite subjects? What you would like to do when
you become adult?

2. Do you help your family members, relatives or friends? If not, why
not and if you really do help them then what kinds of help these are?

3. You should different skills in life. Apart from study the course
book regularly, you should learn singing, dancing, playing musical
instruments, storytelling, playing sports and games, cooking,
learning how to deal with guests and strangers etc. How many of
such skills are you developing or planning to develop? What are the
constructive hobbies you have?

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4. Are you regular at work or not? If not, make a perfect routine from
morning to evening mentioning everything right from time of
sleeping, getting up in the morning, morning breakfast, school time,
play time, study time, helping relatives and parents etc. In case you
are regular at your work, make a list of works you are regular at and

the work you do not do regularly.

Works I am regular at Works I am not regular at

5. Tick ( √ ) the right statement and cross ( X ) the wrong ones.
(a) Students should not get engaged into any other skill development
exercises except study of course book.
(b) Every student should work on developing as many as life skills and
other qualities according to one’s own capacity and convenience.

(c) To be laborious, curious and regular at work is a bad quality.
(d) Those who are hardworking, punctual, humble and compassionate

are liked by all of us.
(e) We must do whatever we can in case guardians of our home fall

sick or they need some help from us.
(f) If one of my classmates is good at sport or music then he or she

should be driven away from there to study only course book.

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6. What do you see in the following pictures? Describe the details
shown inside.

A B

A ....................................................................................................................

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B ....................................................................................................................

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143<< Nova Social Studies And Creative Arts Grade-4

Lesson 2 Dignity of Work

No work is big or small. Work is a work full of value and it has its own
dignity. Life without work is like a garden without flowers. Doing work
with devotion and commitment is just like a flower with colour and
fragrance. As all the flowers, birds and animals have their own beauty and
importance, every work we do has its own worth, value and dignity. A
man who is committed to his work is a man with dignity. A work having
a worth of dignity improves the quality of life of others. A work not only
sustains the life of a doer but also gives inner satisfaction.

Manpreet’s parents are farmers and they work on their farmland. They are
devoted to their farming of growing vegetables and fruits. Their farmland
produces green vegetables like cauliflowers, cabbages and tomatoes. Fruits
like oranges and apples are grown in plenty and distributed throughout
the country. All the family members are involved in one way or other. For
example, Manpreet watches out the farmland against animals and intruders
in her spare time. Her elder brother helps by sprinkling insecticides and
spreading manures in the farmland. This is how all the family members of
Manpreet live with honor and comfort.

Roshan is Manpreet’s classmate. Roshan’s father runs a general store. His
mother also supports him in running the shop. His uncle is a teacher in a
village school and he gives remedial classes to weak students. His aunty is
a health assistant in a local hospice. Bikas’s village is full of different kinds
of work. People from different economic backgrounds such as potters,
gardeners, farmers, cobblers, traders, teachers, soldiers and doctors live
together.

Tailor Handicraft artist Potter

Ranjan’s father is a potter and his pottery shop is very popular in his
neighbourhood. As a potter he makes vase, mud pots, clay utensils and
various other useful items for our households. People in Ranjan’s village

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