Nepal is reaching new heights daily, and many influential personalities inspire millions. In this male-dominated Nepali society, women need to fight a lot to make way. After struggling with family, society, and oneself, a woman reaches heights. Yes, men also have their own struggles but in a male-dominated society, women go through a lot more. Despite different hardships and struggles, many women stand equal to men and even do better than many men around. In a country where the president is female, we have many other influencing personalities as well. In the article today, I am listing the names of the most influential women in Nepal in 2022.
Table of Contents
Bidhya Devi Bhandari
There is no way I will list the names of the most powerful women in Nepal and miss our president’s name. The first lady president of Nepal, Bidhya Bhandari, is the wife of the then Prime minister Madan Bhandari who died in a Car Accident in 1993. After the death of her husband, she successfully joined politics coming to present time when she is the president of country. Many powers are vested within the president making her one of the most influential women in the country.
Recently she has been receiving criticism for making improper use of the status. Citizens protested when they had to stop for around an hour during the president’s travel. It caused a lot of inconvenience, and the public really criticized this activity. But there I no denying that she is the inspiration for many Nepali women, in fact, women all over the world, that you can achieve anything you want in this male-dominated society. She has shown the way to many girls following their dreams.
Anuradha Koirala
She is the first CNN Hero award holder from Nepal. Anuradha Koirala is the name behind Maiti Nepal. She is the founder and director of Maiti Nepal, a social institution that helps victims of sex trafficking live everyday life. The organization provides counseling, habitat, and skills to become independent to all the victims. It also rescues many girls from becoming one through various programs and activities it does. For the victims, she trains them until they can face society and live independently.
The victims stay in Maiti Nepal as long as needed, and with the organization’s help, they return to society. She is one of the inspirational women who are not just herself successful but doing amazing things for many women out there. She received the CNN Hero award in 2010 for her work. Her work and dedication have gained many appraisals and appreciation. She is one woman all Nepali women look up to.
Pushpa Basnet
Pushpa Basnet is the CNN Hero 2012. She is a social worker and founder of the Early Childhood Development Centre (ECDC) and Butterfly Home. It is a non-profit organization based in Kathmandu. Pushpa Basnet did her graduation from St Xavier‘s academy and comes from a well-to-do family. Instead of choosing another attractive field, she started working for the welfare of kids whose parents were in prison. She realized these kids needed a guardian in their life and thus started butterfly home. At a very young age, she is the mother of many children in the butterfly home. Her organization works for those children’s rights, education, and care. Her beautiful job has received many appraisals, awards, and recognition, including the award of CNN Hero 2012. She is one of the most influential women in Nepal right now.
Bhawani Rana
Bhawani Rana is the present president of FNCCI. She joined FNCCI in 2007 as a member and later became the president. She was born in Kathmandu in a non-business family, but she grew to become a business leader. Bhawani Rana is one of the few women in Nepal who held high government positions. She worked with US Embassy before joining FNCCI. She even runs a hotel in Nepalgunj. In a country like Nepal, it is tough for girls to make their way up to the top. Bhawani Rana is truly an inspiration to all women out there.
Sushila Karki
Sushila Karki, born on June 7, 1952, in Biratnagar, is Nepal’s first female chief justice. She became the head of the judicial system with the recommendation of prime minister K.P Oli. She became chief justice on July 11, 2016. She is one of the fairest chief justice we have ever had. She is well known for her zero tolerance for corruption. She did remarkable jobs throughout her tenure.
Her only aim is to make the judicial system as fair as possible. But an impeachment motion was submitted in the Parliament against Sushila Karki that lowered her reputation. However, later, it was withdrawn due to public pressure and an interim order by the Supreme Court ordering the Parliament not to proceed with the motion. She always stood firm, and the public was always there to support her. She truly is an inspiration to many Nepali women.
Bidhya Chapagain
Bidhya Chapagain is a Nepali Journalist. More than that, she is a perfect example that women can do anything they wish to. She remained the host of The top-rated show Sajha Sawal where she connected locals with the representatives of the government. The public could speak of their dissatisfaction and problems directly with representatives via Sajha Sawal. She received excellent feedback for running the show successfully. But she quit the program in 2020 and co-founded a show called Herne Katha, where she would portray unheard stories from rural life in Nepal. Their problems, everyday struggles, and everything is portrayed in the program. This program is also doing very well these days.
With over a decade long experience in television, media, and newspaper experience she now stands as an inspiration for many. She was born and raised in a middle-class family in Gothatar, Kathmandu. She dreamed of becoming a journalist and is living her dreams to the fullest.
