Overview
The Central Department of History (CDH) at Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Kathmandu, has been part of the university since its establishment in 1959. Its first class began in 1960 with six graduate students and four faculty members. The department awarded its first Ph.D. degree in 1973 and has continued its work in history teaching, research, and historical scholarship.
Its academic focus includes the history of Nepal as well as regional and international fields of modern history. The department also maintains a history library and a historical manuscripts archive for academic and research use. Its activities cover classroom teaching, research, field-based academic work, publications, and advanced study through a course-based M.Phil./Ph.D. program.
Quick Highlights
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Institution: Central Department of History (CDH)
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University: Tribhuvan University
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Location: Kirtipur, Kathmandu
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Established: 1959
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First Class: 1960 with six graduate students and four faculty members
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First Ph.D. Awarded: 1973
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Academic Unit: Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
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Faculty Members: Twelve
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Advanced Program: Course-based M.Phil./Ph.D. program
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Academic Resources: History library and historical manuscripts archive
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Journal: The Voice of History, a peer-reviewed history journal
History and Academic Development
The Central Department of History was established with the inception of Tribhuvan University in 1959. Formal teaching began in 1960 with an inaugural group of six graduate students and four faculty members.
From its early years, the department focused on expanding historical literacy and strengthening the study of history in response to national and international academic needs. A significant academic milestone came in 1973 when the department awarded its first doctorate degree.
Over the years, the department has contributed to the development of historians, teachers, researchers, and faculty members associated with historical scholarship in Nepal. Its academic community has also contributed to history writing, research, publications, public discussion, and the broader study of Nepal's historical experience.
The department operates under the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences of Tribhuvan University. Its academic work covers undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate study. It also runs a course-based M.Phil./Ph.D. program in collaboration with the Dean's Office, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences.
Academic Vision
The department approaches history as a field that connects knowledge of the past with an understanding of the present and consideration of the future. Its academic vision places emphasis on systematic historical study, critical inquiry, and the construction of historical knowledge.
History is treated as a discipline concerned with past events, human actions, institutions, societies, and their consequences. The department seeks to prepare students who can examine historical questions critically and develop an informed understanding of historical processes.
Its academic orientation also emphasizes a distinct intellectual foundation in the diverse fields of modern history. Through teaching and research, students are expected to strengthen their historical knowledge, analytical ability, and capacity for independent inquiry.
Mission
The Central Department of History bases its academic mission on the relationship between knowledge of the past, understanding of the present, and consideration of future developments.
Teaching, learning, research, and academic activities inside and outside the classroom are intended to help students develop critical knowledge of historical events and their consequences. The department also seeks to prepare students to examine contemporary challenges through an informed understanding of historical change.
Its mission connects historical knowledge with responsible citizenship, critical thinking, and the ability to interpret social and global developments through historical perspectives.
Objectives
The department's objectives include:
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Preparing capable human resources for the broader development of Nepal.
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Providing higher education in national and global history.
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Familiarizing students with the past and its legacies through teaching, research, and extension activities.
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Studying the history of Nepal in regional and global contexts.
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Developing the skills required for critical and independent historical scholarship.
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Conducting research in history, culture, and tourism.
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Contributing to the study and promotion of Nepal's history, culture, and traditions.
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Engaging faculty members and students in empirical and timely research across diverse fields of modern history.
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Supporting the creation and development of historical knowledge through academic research.
Fields of Study
Graduate students work with faculty members across several areas of modern history. Major geographical fields include:
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Nepal
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India
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SAARC
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The Far East, including China, Japan, and Korea
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Modern Europe
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Modern USA
The department's academic work also includes cross-cutting methods and areas of historical inquiry. Students may engage with gender history, digital history, oral history, archival science, peace and conflict, human rights, social inclusion, and social movements.
This combination of geographical and methodological study allows students to examine historical questions from different perspectives while maintaining a strong connection with modern historical research.
Focus on the History of Nepal
A central area of the department's academic work is the history of modern Nepal, supported by the study of ancient and medieval historical backgrounds.
Faculty research extends across different areas of history, including political, socio-economic, ethnic, diplomatic, international, and trans-Himalayan history. Research interests also cover India, China, Europe, and the United States.
This range of fields supports comparative and regional approaches alongside the study of Nepal's historical development.
Faculty and Human Resources
The Central Department of History has twelve faculty members. Their academic interests cover several branches and geographical areas of history.
Areas of expertise include political history, socio-economic history, ethnic history, diplomatic history, international history, trans-Himalayan history, and the histories of India, China, Europe, and the United States.
Faculty members contribute to academic work through teaching, research, books, articles, research reports, public commentary, media interviews, and scholarly discussion. Their work also supports the supervision and academic development of graduate and postgraduate students.
History Library
The department maintains its own history library to support teaching, study, and research. Its collection includes reference books related to history as well as periodicals, dissertations, journals, and research reports.
The library also contains rare and valuable reference materials connected with historical study. These resources support faculty members, students, researchers, and others engaged in historical scholarship.
The departmental library forms an important part of the research environment, particularly for students working with historical literature, academic publications, dissertations, and specialized reference materials.
Historical Manuscripts Archive
In addition to its library, the department maintains a historical manuscripts archive. The archive provides materials relevant to the study of the modern history of Nepal.
Faculty members, students, historians, and researchers can use these manuscripts as resources for historical inquiry. The archive also supports research that depends on documentary and archival approaches to understanding Nepal's historical development.
The presence of both a history library and a manuscripts archive gives students access to published scholarship as well as historical source materials within the department's academic environment.
Research and Historical Scholarship
Research forms a major part of the department's academic activities. Faculty members and students engage in research across several fields of modern history and related areas.
The department's research interests include history, culture, tourism, political developments, socio-economic change, ethnic history, diplomacy, regional relations, and international history.
Graduate and postgraduate students are also encouraged to engage in empirical research and knowledge creation. Their academic work can involve archival materials, oral sources, digital approaches, and other historical methodologies connected with their areas of study.
Learning Beyond the Classroom
Graduate and postgraduate students, including M.Phil. and Ph.D. scholars, participate in field-based academic activities in collaboration with faculty members and the department head.
These activities connect classroom learning with research, curriculum-related work, and professional academic development. Students also take part in research and other academic activities associated with the department.
Field-based engagement supports the department's broader emphasis on research practice and historical inquiry beyond classroom instruction.
Publications
The Central Department of History has a record of academic publication in the field of history. Faculty members produce research books, scholarly articles, and research reports covering different historical disciplines.
The department publishes The Voice of History, a peer-reviewed journal devoted to historical scholarship. The journal forms part of the department's academic publication activities and provides a platform for work related to history.
Publication activity complements the department's teaching and research functions by supporting the circulation of historical scholarship and academic discussion.
Academic Orientation
The department combines the study of Nepal's history with wider regional and international fields. Its academic orientation includes both geographical specialization and methodological approaches to historical research.
Students can engage with the history of Nepal alongside India, the SAARC region, East Asia, Europe, and the United States. They may also work with themes such as gender, social movements, human rights, social inclusion, peace and conflict, oral history, archival science, and digital history.
This academic framework connects historical knowledge with research practice and critical examination of political, social, cultural, diplomatic, and regional developments.
