Kathmandu: Deputy Speaker Indira Ranamagar has highlighted the unparalleled role of Yogmaya, the forerunner of the women’s movement, in the history of Nepal and beyond. Speaking at a ‘Yogmaya Memorial Day’ event organized by the National Women Commission in the federal capital on Sunday, Ranamagar emphasized that Yogmaya’s courage and the social movement she initiated during the autocratic Rana regime serves as an inspiration for the current generation.
According to National News Agency Nepal, Deputy Speaker Ranamagar pointed out that the freedoms of speech, writing, and association were inconceivable during the Rana era, yet Yogmaya led a significant social reform movement for women’s rights and empowerment. She urged the present generation to learn from Yogmaya’s efforts to realize women’s rights. Ranamagar also stressed the need for public awareness campaigns, including door-to-door initiatives, to ensure the effective enforcement of laws to eliminate violence, injustice, and discrimination against women in Nepali society. She reaffirmed that the social transformation and empowerment initiated by Yogmaya remain relevant today, underscoring the importance of equal participation of women in all state structures.
National Assembly member Jayanti Devi Rai echoed Ranamagar’s sentiments, acknowledging Yogmaya’s crucial role in social and religious reform. Rai also noted Yogmaya’s efforts in combating class and caste discriminations within Nepali society.
Yogmaya was a pioneering reformist woman who launched a movement in an eastern district of Nepal during the oppressive Rana regime. Although her movement had been long overlooked, its significance is gradually gaining recognition in Nepali society and politics, particularly following major recent literary works. Activists now regard Yogmaya as a foundational figure in the women’s rights movement.