Nepalese women who led their Way
Nepal is notorious for its discrimination against women in almost every aspect of life. The literacy rate for females is significantly lower than it is for males. Despite there are remarkable Nepali women who found a way to make their mark in the country. The following women show how Nepali female leadership broke the barrier and made footprints for others to follow.
Angur Baba Joshi
The First Nepali woman who went abroad for education and The First Nepali Female Principal . She is the first Nepali woman to get an LLB from Banaras and a BL from Oxford University.
Joshi was a Nepali social activist widely renowned as a progressive figure in Nepal’s education system, particularly for her role in women’s empowerment in education with education policies and schemes.
Anupama Khunjeli
Anupama Khunjeli became the first Nepalese woman CEO in bthe banking sector of Nepal. Anupama’s appointment to the top post in one of the class A banks of Nepal is seen as the landmark announcement and also as an inspiration to Nepalese women community looking for careers in the banking sector.
Anuradha Koirala
Anuradha Koirala is a Nepalese social activist and the founder of Maiti Nepal – a non-profit organization in Nepal, dedicated to helping victims of sex trafficking. She was appointed as 1st Governor of Bagmati Province from by the Government of Nepal.
Koirala has been awarded 38 national and international awards in recognition of her courageous acts and achievements furthering the cause of children’s and women’s rights. Some of the national and international awards include; Prabal Gorkha Dakshin Bahu Medal- Nepal 1999, Trishaktipatta Award 2002, Best Social Worker of the Year Award- Nepal 1998, Queen Sofia Silver Medal Award 2007 etc. She was also declared CNN HERO OF THE YEAR in 2010.
Banira Giri
Banira Giri was the Nepali first woman to receive Phd from Tribhuvan University. She was a Nepalese poet and novelist, best known for her novels such as Karagar, Nirbandha and her poetry collections such as Jiwan: Thayamaru, Euta Jiundo Jung Bahadur, etc. She received the Sajha Puraskar for her novel, Shabdatit Shantanu, becoming the first woman to win the prize in 1999.
Bhuwan Chand
Bhuwan Chand is known for being the first female actor in Nepali feature films. She made her debut with the film ‘Aama’. Chand is better known as the first Nepali Heroine. Besides ‘Aama’, she has made an appearance in other popular movies such as ‘Maha Maya’, ‘Jiwan Rekha’, and more. Chand is also a Kathak dance student and is a gem in Naachghar. She is one of the most popular dancers there and has won several prizes with her dance as well. Thapa began enhancing her skills at a really young age and got quite the fame because of her skills.
Bidya Devi Bhandari
Bidhya Devi Bhandari is the second President of Nepal, elected in 2015. She is the first woman to hold the position of President in Nepal. She was the vice-chairperson of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist) and chair of the All Nepal Women Association before winning the presidential election on 28 October 2015. She was elected as President in a parliamentary vote, receiving 327 votes out of 549 and defeating Kul Bahadur Gurung. In 2016, Forbes placed her 52 in their list of the world’s 100 most powerful women. She previously served as the Minister of Defence of the government of Nepal and was the first woman in Nepal to hold that post. She was also the minister for Environment and population in 1990s.
Chaitmaya Dongol
Chaitmaya Dongol is the first Nepalese woman to join the Police Force of Nepal. Chaitamaya Dangol retired from the ASI post in BS 2039 after serving in the Nepal Police for almost 32 years despite disagreements from her family .
Dwarika Devi Thakurani
Thakurani was elected to parliament in the first democratic election of Nepal, held in February 1959. She was a candidate from Constituency No. 66, Dadeldhura District for Nepali Congress. Following the election, she was also appointed deputy minister of Health and Local Self-governance on 27 May 1959 in the BP Koirala cabinet. She was the only woman elected to the parliament (out of 15 that ran) as well as cabinet. This made her the first Nepali woman to the parliament and the first Nepali woman minister.
Jhamak Ghimire
The talented writer was born with cerebral palsy and could neither speak nor use her hands or even sit comfortably. She, however, overcame the challenge and vigorously got herself writing with her left foot.
She has bagged several awards for her works. Ghimire has won Madan Puraskar (a popular award given to the writer in Nepali literature) for her autobiography, Jeevan Kaanda ki Phool published in 2010. Likewise, Ghimire was awarded by Kabita Ram Bal Sahitya Prativa Puraskar in 2015, and Aswikrit Bichar Sahitya Puraskar in 2016 as well.
Additionally, she wrote much heart-winning poetry in her works such as Sankalpa, Aaphnai Chita Agni Shikhatir, Manchhe Bhitraka Yoddhaharu, and Quaati. With her efforts in writing and an inspiring story of continuing life, she motivates all to never let physical disability be an excuse and keep working on towards your aim.
Koili Devi
The first lady lyricist and composer of Radio Nepal and popular singer Koili Devi was awarded with Radio Nepal’s Best Musician Award, Subha Rayabhisek Padak, Gorkha Dakshin Bahu V, Chinnalata Music Award, among others. Mathema is also remembered for her lyrics and compositions. She has composed popular songs like “Jahi ra juhi phul mala gansi duwaile launla” and “Jindagi bhari nachuttine gari saino jodaunla”
Lamu Amatya
Lamu Amatya was the first Nepalese trained–nurse. She received her nursing degree in 1954 and started working in 1956. In 2017, the Ministry of Health and Population of Nepal certified and declared her as the first Nepalese nurse posthumously.
Laxmi Sharma – The Button Lady
Laxmi Sharma is a Nepali entrepreneur. She is credited as the first woman to drive an auto-rickshaw and went on to establish the first button factory in Nepal. Sharma was married at a young age, after getting a divorce she worked as a housemaid for sixteen years. Though she was harassed for being a woman driver, she went on to open Laxmi Wood Craft Udhyog, a company that made buttons. The buttons were exported to Germany, Switzerland, Zambia, Denmark and the USA.
Mira Rai
An internationally awarded runner Mira Rai from Bhojpur is a well-known personality in Nepal. When she was 14, she decided to leave her home to join the Maoist rebels when they came recruiting in her village. Since she was a minor, she was unfit for integration into the Nepal Army when the party joined the peace process and, hence, was discharged. After returning home, she dreamt of doing something that could support her family. So, she travelled to Kathmandu to chase her career in karate and running.
Her journey as a runner started in 2014, when she won the 50 km ultra trail race unprepared, without carrying food, water, and she was not even wearing running clothes. Rai appeared in a lot of overseas competitions and fortunately won many of the awards as well.
She has made her country proud in many international arenas. Her major achievements include Ben Nevis Ultra Race completion (2017). It was her 2nd ultra trail race, in which she stood first and continued her position in Barro Sky Night race, Mont-Blanc 80-km race (King of the Hills race). Additionally, her profile also includes some of the world’s most challenging trail races, and passing them all with a great win has led Nepal to stand proud to have a powerful lady like her.
Onsari Gharti Magar
Onsari Gharti Magar was one of the fighters who were involved in the first attack against the state during the Holeri incident when the then CPN-Maoist introduced armed conflict in the country. Born on November 14, 1977, at Jankot VDC of Rolpa, Gharti had begun her political journey from the student wing of the CPN (Unity Centre).
In 1995, Onsari married her neighbour and CPN-Maoist leader Barshaman Pun, who helped her take big strides in her political career. The year she got married, she was involved in the attack by her party on a police post at Holeri. She went underground after the attack.
She led the party-led fronts at different places, became the party’s central committee member in 2003 and a politburo member of Unified CPN-Maoist a decade later.
She was the speaker of parliament of Nepal from 2015 to 2018.
Parijat
Bishnu Kumari Waiba, popularly known as Parijat is a Nepalese writer and poet. She is best known for her novel Shiris Ko Phool for which she won the Madan Puraskar, becoming the first woman to receive the award. Shiris Ko Phool has been adapted in the literature curriculum of some colleges in some English-speaking countries like United States, England etc. She published multiple novels and wrote many poems and stories in her lifetime.
Pushpa Basnet
Pushpa Basnet is a social worker and the founder/president of Early Childhood Development Center and Butterfly Home, non-profit organizations, in Kathmandu, Nepal. Her organization works to strengthen the rights of children living behind bars with their incarcerated parents
Her efforts have led her to get recognition internationally. Basnet was awarded the CNN Hero of the Year 2012 for her efforts and dedication to work for children.
She started her career at the age of 21 and got a residential house for the kids in 2007. Then, she provided the children with care, school enrolment, free meals, and medical care. Basnet has proven her potential and dedication towards the country and is always standing to strengthen the rights of children living behind bars.
Pasang Lhamu Sherpa
The national hero Pasang Lhamu Sherpa was the first Nepali woman to successfully climb Mt Everest. She had always dreamt about climbing Everest, and only after her fourth vigorous attempt, she was able to make it. Unfortunately, she lost her life during the descent due to the hard weather conditions. Sherpa surpassed all the social barriers to climb up various other mountains including Mont Blanc, Cho Oyu, Mount Yalapic, Pisang Himal, and others. She still continues to inspire women with her courage and determination.
Rama Singh
First news anchor in Nepali Television history and also first captain of National Women Soccer.
Singh started her journey in football in 1983 as the captain on Nepal’s women football’s bagmati team. At the 1986 Asian Cup, she captained Nepal as it made its international debut. She later represented Nepal at the 1989 and 1999 Asian Cup.
Singh started her career as a news anchor of Nepal Television in 1986. She is known to be the first news anchor in Nepali Television history. Before entering the television field, she was actively a part of broadcasting media in Radio Nepal since she was 5 years old through her father B.B Singh.
Rakshya Rana
Rana got her training from Hoffman Pilot Center in Broomfield, Colorado for her private pilot license. She then moved to Addison, Dallas, Texas where she completed the rest of the training and obtained her FAA commercial Pilot license with Multi-Engine and Instrument Rating in April 1988. It took her 11 months in total to complete the course. She received her license on 20 May 1992. Rakshya Rana is the first Nepali female pilot even though she had an American license initially.
Ranu Devi Adhikari
She was the first female singer of Radio Nepal. She used to sing revolutionary songs like “Jaago Nepali” on radio Nepal, to ignite fire in the hearts of the Nepalese people during the times of oppression.
Satyabhama Mathema
Satyabhama Mathema is the first women judge of Nepal. She is one of the founders of Palm Shelter Home which used to provide education to the children of prisoners. The other founders are Sukanya Waiba and late Parijat. She has published her prose, poetry in Nepali as well as Newari.
Shailaja Acharya
Avharya was a Nepali revolutionary, politician and diplomat. She was the first Nepali woman Minister of Water Resources, and the first Nepali woman deputy prime minister of Nepal.
Shanti Malla
Shanti became the first Woman Civil Engineer of Nepal when she passed out from Jadavpur University, India in 1966. She was the only woman among 124 students in her batch. She continued to remain the only woman engineer of Nepal for next seven years.
Despite getting limited opportunities, Shanti did most of her opportunities whenever she got one. She did a brief stint at the Gandaki Anchal Agricultural Development Project for two and a half years, based in Tanahu; she was also involved in the Singha Durbar renovation project as well as the Birendra International Convention Center Project. Shanti was also associated in the design of the Agricultural Bank at Ram Shah Path.
Sony Rana
Sony Rana is Nepal’s first woman pilot with Nepalese aviation license. She obtained her aviation license from Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal on 29 March 1991 under license number 119. She is also the first Nepali female pilot of the Boeing jet. The CAAN also published a statement on 22 May 2016 declaring Sony Rana as the first Nepali woman pilot to hold the Nepalese civilian license.
Sushila Karki
The former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Nepal and the only woman to have held the post, Karki became Chief Justice on 11 July 2016.
Initially, she worked as an assistant teacher, then became a senior advocate in 2007. She got appointed as an ad-hoc justice in the Supreme Court (2009), and became a permanent justice in 2010.
She also became an award-winning author of the 2011 paper “Gender Equality and Justice in Nepal: A Bird’s Eye View”. Nepal is honoured to have such a vigorous lady that could bring a huge change in the country and have encouraged women to step out of their household work and bring a change in society.
Sushila Singh
Also known as Shilu Singh was the first female justice of the Supreme Court of Nepal. On 22 May 2020, Singh died at the age of 81.
Uma Devi Badi
Uma Devi Badi is a Nepali human rights activist and a strong local leader. She became a Provincial Assembly member in Sudurpaschim in 2017. She has also been leading the Badi movement, under which she has been actively protesting for the recognition of community rights, including the end of untouchability and prostitution, as well as citizenship and land ownership issues. Uma has been working to change the system and give a better living to all people in Nepal.
In the 2004 Badi protest, when their demands were not considered, Uma Devi led the protest to the next level after removing her clothes from her top half and hanging them at the gate of Singhadarbar, and other women followed her. On September 10, 2007, the government finally agreed to work towards her demand for the Badi community.
Usha Nepal
Initially a teacher, Usha started working at the Women’s Training Center in Lalitpu r before being transferred to Dhankuta. Usha became the first Chief District Officer of Nepal in 1989 and later also became the Election Commissioner in the year 2006.
Yankila Sherpa
Yankila Sherpa is best known as a Tourism expert. She is the chief advisor in the Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) and the vice president of the Trans Himalayan. Sherpa has been awarded as the outstanding women entrepreneur of Nepal by the international summit held in Delhi, India in the year 2000.
