MA 2nd Year (English) Nepal Studies: INTRODUCTION SYL.LECTURE - 2 MA 2nd Year (English) Nepal Studies: INTRODUCTION Min Pun, Ph.D. Associate Professor of English Tribhuvan University, PN Campus

Paper IX REGIONAL AND POSTCOLONIAL STUDIES Nepal Studies (Regional Studies) Postcolonial Studies

“Literature” and “Studies”: Definitions Students are often confused with the terms like “literature” and “studies” The term “literature” refers to pieces of writing such as poems, novels, short stories, essay, plays, etc. The term “studies” refers to works produced by the scholars that include diverse areas such as history books, books about culture, travel documents, science books, geography books, art books, including literature books. For example, “Nepali literature” and “Nepal Studies”

What Is Regional Studies (Area Studies)?

What Is Regional Studies (Area Studies)? Regional/Area Studies is a study of a particular geographical area. It is an interdisciplinary field of study that is based on geographical, national and cultural regions. After the World War II, the US felt it necessary to respond to the external threats such as from the emerging Cold War and decolonization of Asia and Africa. The US scholars suggested their government to invest in international studies such as Regional/Area Studies. So Regional/Area Studies emerged as an academic foreign policy of the US government

2. Regional or Area Studies SOME EXAMPLES American Studies European Studies Asian Studies African Studies Russian Studies Canadian Studies Chinese Studies Indian Studies Nepal Studies etc. 12/7/2017

What Is Nepal Studies? Nepal Studies is a part of Regional/Area Studies that focuses on the academic practices of the country of Nepal. It is a newly emerged discipline that studies literary and cultural texts in relation to social, political and historical contexts.

NEPAL STUDIES Contents of the Course Unit 1: History, Politics and Culture Unit 2: Nepali English Writing Unit 3: Nepali Literature in Translation Unit 4: Mythology and Folklore Unit 5: Multicultural Nepali Texts Mythology = a collection of myths (ancient stories), belonging to people and their origin, history, deities, ancestors and heroes. Folklore = the traditional beliefs, legends, customs, etc., of a people; lore (knowledge) of a people.

6. Framework of the Course NEPAL STUDIES Introducing Nepal Nepali Writings Theorize and Express Multicultural Nepali Texts Nepali Literary and Cultural Texts in Social, Political and Historical Contexts (Unit 1) Nepali Writing in English Nepali Literature in Translation Mythology and Folklore (Unit 2, 3 & 4) Theoretical discussion Multicultural Texts (Unit 5)

Distribution of the Course Distribution of Units Unit 1. History, Politics and Culture Min Pun Unit 2. Nepali Writing in English Unit 3. Nepali Literature in Translation GB Thapa Unit 4. Mythology and Folklore Min Pun & GB Thapa Unit 5. Multicultural Texts (Theory & Practice) Distribution of Days Min Pun Sunday, Monday, Tuesday GB Thapa Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 12/7/2017

MA 2nd Year Class Routine - 2074

Jang Bahadur in Europe INTRODUCTION The book Jang Bahadur in Europe (English version) was translated by John Whelpton from Jang Bahadurko Belait-Yatra (a Nepali version travel account by an anonymous writer) Published in 1983 and introduced by Rishikesh Shaha. Whelpton has also attached a comprehensive background to the book, dealing with the context for the book.

The book looks in depth at the background to the mission, including the changing pattern of Nepal’s relations with British India (first phase from 1769 to 1850). The book also describes Jang Bahadur’s own rise to power amidst the intrigue and violence of the 1840’s (Kot Massacre on 14 September 1846). Jang Bahadur reached Britain on 25 May 1850.

Dr. Min Pun Associate Professor, Department of English Tribhuvan University, PN Campus, Pokhara minpun@gmail.com minpun@pncampus.edu.np www.minpun.com.np www.pncampus.edu.np