Why History is a very important subject!

History Education and Sustainable Development 

To define sustainability – it means to configure a civilization or human activity so that its members and economies are able to meet their needs and express their greatest potential in the present, while preserving it for the future generations. Sustainable Development Education ensures the future generation’s ability to do the same by not exceeding the regenerative capacity of everything that is around us.

Sustainable development has become a matter of concern after people world across started realizing the damage that the Earth had suffered – from wars and social disharmony to global warming. What can we sustain as we develop? This question should be asked often to remind us of how we can contribute. What do we need to sustain as we educate our children? What can we save for the future generations?

As History scholars, we understand that the teaching and learning of History as a subject will always play an important role in Sustainable Development. What the world has been able to preserve and what it possesses now is practically through the knowledge of History. It is through History Education we understand the importance of all sorts of values and have been able to retain them so far.

Even the UNESCO emphasizes that Education for Sustainable Development is mainly to preserve the achievements of the past. This is what History Education aims to do. Every culture teaches a way in which sustainability is expressed differently. The discipline of History in the process of dealing with various cultures that educate us on how we can sustain something of value – be it Cultural, Political, Economic or Social.

Perhaps the first and foremost thing that we need to continue teaching and upholding is the age old values of ancient Bhutan. We have a rich past that teaches us everything from integrity to unity. It helps us understand strong social values. When we teach about the Duar Wars, as Bhutanese we are filled with a sense of pride that our ancestors put aside their differences and came together in unity to repel the British forces. They were successful in certain areas. We can only build the self discipline of a child and teach them the values of patriotism, loyalty, integrity and unity through such knowledge of the past.

With the teaching of Zorig Chusum and topics alike, we are able to sustain past knowledge that has preserved our art of providing basic necessity. If at all Bhutan receives no imports of materials, Bhutan will not go hungry or naked. The Bhutanese will be wearing the most intricately designed clothes and eating very organic food from the most expensive types of dapa and phop. The tradition of Zorig Chusum helps us realize that we do not have to choose artificial products. We take from nature and everything harmoniously goes back to nature. This not only sustains a culture, it sustains our environment too.

What is the most important thing for a country? Is it material wealth or is it the citizens? While most would say both, one would easily choose a good citizen to be the most valuable possession of a nation. How then are we able to become good citizens? Consciously or not, we all remember our history classes that explained to us the need to become responsible citizens. From casting a vote to serving one’s nation with integrity, we have at one time or the other promised to always remain loyal. Our teachers have taught us what our Fundamental Rights are, but they have instilled in us our fundamental duties. Had it not been for this subject, perhaps one would be more focused on becoming a wealthy citizen and not a good one.

The system of governance and a comparative study of different types of governments have helped us appreciate the types of governments we have been living with. Citizens get to improve on the system of governments that result in good governance. What we have now is something the Bhutanese have always harmoniously enjoyed – the Chhoesi Nyiden system of governance to Monarchy to Democracy. When we study about other governments in the world, we just grow to appreciate what we have. We learn to value what we possess – culturally, politically, economically and socially.

As scholars of History, we will always value the idea of happiness and how ultimate happiness can be achieved through learning and understanding a past so rich in everything it possesses.

History Department

Rinchen HSS