1. Study of History at University Level, challenge and Opportunity
1. Objectives:
a. To prepare a paper for national seminar on the above mentioned title
b. To make academic discussion on the theme
2. Methods:
Primary data and secondary sources have been used. Empirical experiences have been
analyzed; discussion of the topic with some experts has also been done.
3. Design:
Definition of history, current situation of study of history at university level in Nepal, challenges
and opportunities have been discussed in this paper. Conclusion with generalized concept of
the title has been given in which the knowledge ends up.
4. Definition of history:
The word history ultimately comes from Greek iotopia (historia) meaning "Enquiry,"
"Knowledge from inquiry or "judge". The Greek word was borrowed into classical Latin as
historia, meaning 'investigation, inquiry, research, account, description. Written account of past
events, writing of history, historical narrative recorded knowledge of past events, story and
narrative.
History was borrowed from Latin (possibly via old Irish or old Welsh) into old English Stær.
(history, narrative story), but this word fell out of use in the late old English
period.(http://en.wikipeda.org).
While undertaking more searches to find more about history
History is a narration of the of the events which have happened among mankind, including an
account of the rise and fall of nations, as well as other great changes which have affected
political and social conditions of the human races. –John. J.
History not used is nothing, for all intellectual life is action, like practical life and if you don’t
use the stuff well, it might as well be dead. – Arnold J. Toynbee, April 17, 1955 NBC. Television
Broadcast.
History is and should be a science …. History is not the accumulation of events of every kind
which happened in the past. It is the science of the human societies. Fustel de Coulenge.

2. The first foundation of all history are the recitals of the fathers to the children , transmitted
afterwards from one generations to another , at their origin they are at the very most probable,
when they don’t shock common sense, and they lose one degree of probability in one generation.
Voltaire. (1694-1778 AD)’ The Philosophical Dictionary translated, 1924 by H. I. Woolf.
History is a dialogue between the present and the past. Edward Hallet Carr. What is history?
New York: Vintage Books.
5. Current Position of Study of History at University Level in Nepal:
Student’s enroll in humanities and education are few in numbers. Among other several
departments, department of education History has also been undergoing a situation in which
students seeking admission for Master’s level is discouraging. (Shrestha, B: 1).In central
department of History in humanities where the writer visited last week was informed as there are
about five students admitted in semester system. Outside Kathmandu in Birgunj, Biratnagar,
Pokhara that formally run post graduation level have no admission of history. In bachelors some
of the campuses have few but some have no one student at present. From Mahendra Ratna
Multiple Campus Ilam 29 students in bachelors third year are studying). But there are adequate
students in bachelor level who are studying functional paper no 316, History of Tourism and
development (Functional paper).
Teaching of history where small numbers of students are performed in less priority. Either
routine is allocated in the last period or in the pre first. Students themselves are found to have
been employed either in school or offices. Attendance of student is not taken due to being
optional for requirement. So they demand to implement status quo mostly and less attention is
given in teaching learning partly. Policy of attraction focusing to the weak and low profile
subject is a must, but this has not been done rather been neglected by ourselves. Lecture notes of
decades long is taken into class rooms and delivered to the students, this is ineffective pedagogy
in this subject comparing to its nature and character.
“Teachers are found to have been employed in other part times jobs. So, they are irregular in
teaching performance. Salary should be released to the campus teachers as they sign in official
attendance and overtime should be given if they work (OT)” has a concept has hacked the
academic institution. Academic performance like reading, writing, publishing, organization of
the program like seminar, workshops, paper writing comment, report writing are the activities
that generate knowledge and hones the capacity of both the students and teachers. These
activities are very limited in practice in center but not done in out of Kathmandu valley. But in
spite of doing these activities how can a teacher be academic? How can the student of history
become as a new herald? Without learning history how can a citizen be patriot and nationalist?
How can a man contribute as a planner in National Planning Commission without being study of
Geography? Question raised by key speaker Prof. Dr Hira Bahadur Maharjana, the VC of the

3. Tribhuvan University (2072. 2. 29) in recently conducted program. These questions are
gesticulating as satire to social scientist rather than the pure scientist.
Current position of Nepal in good governance in world ranking is in 146 (TI Report of 2014).
We have not been able to create respect for women, children and elderly people where as we feel
proud to be land of Buddha, and the natal home of Virgin daughter Sita of Nepali Janaka. Second
richest country of the world but have not supply water in free of charges. Nature has been given
free but man earned costly why? We have not conceived such issue through scholarly research
mind. Has it not been due to the lack of knowledge of history? Do we know who we are and
what our history is? What have we been transforming to the fore coming generation? Is there
adequate ground of teaching and learning environment in history at the University Level? Are
our successors confident and competitive to confront with other competitors in global forum in
terms of history? If not what types of human resource production did we produce in past period?
As there were more students in past times, research in the local, regional, and issues would be
done. But this trend is decreasing now due to less numbers of students being in history subject at
university.
After 1990 the end of cold war has emerged a new concept that is Globalization, Privatization
and the Privatization (LPG model). This has given set back to study of such subject in Nepal.
Students demanded subjects that could develop skill, knowledge and innovation, and make them
able to provide job. Marketable, sellable and job hunting subject slogan brought challenges to
such subjects in Nepal. Study of population, sociology, environmental science, conflict
management and social work drew the attention of students which sabotaged the history.
Opening of the Post Graduation in local level seems to be another set-back.
Current there is no certificate level so, there is no history subject to be studied in certificate level,
without being at intake there cannot be in bachelors and master degree.
Study of history does not make able to create jobs as a wrong concept among the students.
Teaching learning as in interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary and trans-disciplinary approach has
not been adopted in history though, it was in practice in Europe and Western University before
1990.
Public service commission of Nepal has not pursued the history subject in its curriculum as it
was pre 1990. There has been change in PSC courses in Nepali in which there is no subjective
course of history. In both first and second papers, in course contents logical writing answers
and problems solving components are approved and are in practices. (Google search Public
Service Commission Nepal). One paper is of general knowledge -GK. “In officer level or in
helping assistance level there has been the nature of the activities procedural works like report
writing, analysis, and justification cause and effect assessment. There should be place one
paper compulsory subjective in PSC (Gorkha patra. 2072. 3.1 ) Loksewa Ayyog in Nepal.( it

4. signifies the values of social science like history). The medium of exam are both Nepali and
English. Viewing current trend of PSC the course of MA and BA does not seemto be matching
with this provision. The course should be conformity to this situation in Nepal.
Stale and old pedagogy in teaching and learning of history
Low uses of the modern technology in teaching and learning practices
Lack of the adoption of the recent trend of history in Nepal as research based methods and
approach (analytical, descriptive, critical, cultural, longitudinal, case study, core disciplinary,
inter-disciplinary, and trans-disciplinary).
Challenges have come over study of the history at University level in Nepal from both outside
and within. So this should be immediately response. As Arnold Toynbee hits us “Challenges and
responses are the two sides of a coin”. Hit the iron when it is hot.
6. Ways:
Set up demonstration site of the successful examples of history attract the tourist all over the
world. Teach history as its natural features. Adopt recent trend in teaching and learning
approaches. Review the imperative state policies in Public Service Commission (PSC) both in
junior and senior level. Exert manipulation in government policy level for the studies of history
in university level are immediate ways of solutions for making this subject attraction to study
history at university level.
Conclusion:
History is a subject that deals on past, makes a way connecting with future in present time. It
deserves the paternal discipline that feeds data to all subjects. Study of history makes man
nationalist, patriotic, revolutionary and advance where as discard makes them slave and serves.
Due to global and local phenomena the study of history at university level has been dissuading.
Challenges have come from within and outsides that can be responded. Multiple ways of
solutions are referred which shall be implemented by concerned institution.
Reserence:
Shrestha B. ‘Participation of Students in Master’s Level History Education’. in HISAN. History
Association of Nepal. 2013. p.1.
Edward Hallet Carr.1971. What is history? New York: Vintage Books.
Unpublished Report of Program, organized by the PIO, Tribhuvan University TU, Kirtipur, and
University Grant Commission UGC, date 2072. 2.29
Guragain Basu Dev. Date: 2072. 3.1 Aajako Loksewa Ayyog in Gorkha patra. p. 7.

5. Transparency International TI Report of 2014.
Web sites Visited:
e. http:// mail.Google.com> What is history?} date: 6/ 18/ 2015
http//en.wikipedia.org//
(Google search Public Service Commission Nepal)