At Onlinekhabar, we do not talk about women’s issues only on March 8. Gender equality and participation have always played a crucial role in shaping our personal, family, social, and national lives.
Despite this, women as a group have often been treated as a separate category. Biologically, nature has created men, women, and other genders equally, yet social structures and cultural norms have placed women—rich or poor, urban or rural, educated or uneducated—under some form of discrimination.
Over 115 years ago, female textile workers in the US started a movement demanding equal pay and workplace rights. Over time, this movement expanded to include political rights, as women in many countries were denied the right to vote or be elected.
Today, women’s rights have evolved through various struggles and interactions, extending beyond traditional gender issues to include intersectionality and diverse sexual identities.
It is no longer just a privileged-class discussion but also a matter of rights, struggles, and celebrations for marginalised communities and women from all backgrounds.
In this sense, the idea of being a woman is no longer limited to the fight for equality—it has been legally recognised as a fundamental right under Nepal’s constitution. The law ensures gender rights, coexistence, and women’s participation in all areas of society.
Thus, Onlinekhabar’s initiative is not just about celebrating women’s struggles, empowerment, and achievements, but also about making the meaningful presence of Nepali women in politics, society, culture, sports, science, and entrepreneurship visible in the public domain.
To achieve this, we initially compiled a list of over 150 women, with the help of our newsroom, experts, and sources from across provinces, districts, municipalities, and the diaspora.
This preliminary list was then presented to a selection committee, which finalised the 50 most influential women based on their contributions and impact.
What ‘influential’ means in our selection
Some may associate influence with power or authority. However, this list is not about women who have gained prominence through political or social power alone.
Rather, these 50 women have made it onto the list through their intelligence, talent, dedication, and perseverance, overcoming obstacles to create new opportunities and achievements.
This selection is not limited to any specific group or class. We have tried to study every segment of Nepali society, ensuring that diverse voices are represented. We proudly present these 50 names to our readers.
Through this initiative, we want to send a clear message:
Despite challenges and negative indicators, there are rays of hope in Nepal. Change is happening, and many women are leading the way. They are illuminating the future of Nepal and challenging the narrative that nothing is changing or will ever change. Instead, they prove that transformation is happening and that people are contributing in their own fields.
This list is a reflection of that progress.
Here is the list of 50 Influential Women of Nepal:
1. Bindabasini Kansakar
She has been actively advocating for policies to support not just acid attack survivours but all burn victims, emphasising the need for systemic change over individual financial aid.
2. Bhagyashree Chaudhary
A former tea seller from a poor family, Bhagyashree’s dedication and persistence helped her become a member of parliament within just two years.
3. Sushila Badi
Despite Nepal’s constitution prohibiting discrimination against indigenous and minority communities, it persists in practice. Sushila is among the few who have risen from this background to become a provincial assembly member.
4. Renu Dahal
Before the 2017 local elections, Bharatpur Metropolitan City was mostly inactive. Over the past seven years, Mayor Renu Dahal has led its transformation.
5. Dolma Maya Gole
At 14, she took up arms for social change. Today, Dolma Maya leads Mahankal Rural Municipality in Lalitpur, an area often referred to as the “Karnali of Lalitpur.”
6. Rekha Sunar
From building gravel roads, drainage systems, and electricity poles to installing taps and tubewells, she has led meaningful development projects in impoverished communities.
7. Mitra Kumari Pariyar
A Dalit woman leading Ward No. 13 of Gorkha Municipality, an area predominantly controlled by higher-caste groups.
8. Dr Binda Pandey
She played a key role in influencing Prime Minister Oli’s decisions and advocating for political reforms.
9. Mina Aryal
As the Chief District Officer of Tehrathum for 11 months, she set a precedent by ensuring no one seeking government services was turned away due to a lack of documents.
10. Sarita Dawadi
She is the youngest secretary in Nepal’s government and the first woman in history to hold this position from the engineering sector.
11. Basundhara Khadka
While officers in neighbouring districts were transferred due to poor disaster management, SP Basundhara Khadka was praised for her exceptional leadership during floods and landslides.
12. Somana Khadka
Although visually impaired, Somana has sharp memory and intelligence. Denied school admission initially, she later completed a master’s degree.
13. Dr Nilam Thakur
Initially, genetic testing was an unknown field in Nepal. Through her dedication, Dr Nilam has elevated it to a high-profile medical discipline.
14. Dr Reeta Gurung
For three decades, she has helped restore sight to thousands, witnessing countless emotional moments of parents seeing their children for the first time.
15. Sanam Doka Sherpa
Once a poor student helped by an American trekker, she now educates over a thousand students.
16. Pashupati Kunwar
Even as a child, she recognised Chhaupadi (menstrual exile) as a harmful practice. She grew up to become a leading voice against it.
17. Salma Khatun
She never expected the difficulty of gaining societal acceptance as a female leader. However, she overcame barriers and became a role model in politics.
18. Rebika Sahane
Nepal’s first female heavy vehicle driver, Rebika also runs an orphanage for abandoned and disabled children.
19. Nirmala Sharma
A journalist who raised two daughters while managing a demanding career, she is now the first female president in the 70-year history of Federation of Nepali Journalists.
20. Pabitra Majhi
As chairperson of the school management committee, she has led the transformation of Janajagriti Basic School in Sarlahi.
21. Sujal Bam
Born deaf, Sujal became the first hearing-impaired contestant in Miss Universe Nepal and finished as the fourth runner-up.
22. Sharada Chand
A victim of domestic violence due to her inter-caste marriage, she has now become a leading advocate for women’s rights.
23. Sita Pokharel
Known as “Sita Aama,” she has raised over 300 children in her orphanage.
24. Anjana KC
Using a wheelchair, she actively advocates for disability rights and infrastructure reforms while inspiring many disabled individuals.
25. Rubi Khan
In a legal case in Nepalgunj, she successfully challenged the government five times to fight for justice against violence.
26. Urmila Chaudhary
A former Kamalari (indentured servant) for 12 years, her journey to freedom and success has been recognised globally.
27. Subina Shrestha
A documentary filmmaker who has brought global attention to the plight of women affected by Nepal’s armed conflict.
28. Sneha Shrestha
She has dedicated herself to rescuing and caring for stray animals in Nepal.
29. Mamata Shrestha
Raised by her grandmother after her father abandoned her at birth, she has now become a government prosecutor.
30. Ibsal Sanjyal
A 21-year-old folk singer from Kalikot, she has helped spread the traditional Deuda music of Far-West Nepal to a national audience.
31. Annu Chaudhary
A musician preserving Tharu culture and bringing it to mainstream Nepali music.
32. Thinle Lhamo
Her live-action performance at 6,000 meters in the Himalayas gained international fame, making her a rising star in cinema.
33. Kumari Lama
A professor, essayist, and feminist activist passionate about addressing issues of oppression and discrimination.
34. Mithila Devi
She transformed the ancient Mithila art form from a mere wall and floor decoration into a commercial enterprise.
35. Palesha Goverdhan
A para-athlete, she has achieved unprecedented success in Nepali sports.
36. Puja Mahato
Her journey from Delhi to Nepal’s U-19 Women’s Cricket World Cup was shaped by her family’s struggles and perseverance.
37. Rajani Shrestha
Initially, she joined the gym to regain her health but later became a top-level bodybuilder, winning national and international medals.
38. Goma Khanal
Returned from abroad to start a non-profit sanitary pad business, advocating for menstrual hygiene as a national agenda.
39. Bhawana Pulami Magar
Once a pig farmer, she is now a leading entrepreneur from Nepal’s Far-Western region.
40. Poonam Kumari Agrawal
She dreamed of being a doctor but instead became a successful organic fertiliser entrepreneur, benefiting Nepal’s agriculture.
41. Purnima Shrestha
She set a world record by summiting Mt Everest three times in 13 days.
42. Lakpa Sherpa
Despite never attending school, she gives motivational talks at Harvard and Yale on Himalayan life and culture.
43. Alisha Shrestha
Starting with just two laptops in a rented room, she now runs one of Nepal’s top tech firms with 150 employees.
44. Subhasini Shrestha
Despite being physically disabled, she is making digital technology accessible for visually impaired and intellectually disabled individuals.
45. Sanjita Nepal
The first female General Secretary of Nepal’s Chartered Accountants Association, she now aims to be its first female president.
46. Sita Adhikari
She has spent 15 years empowering women through entrepreneurship in Chitwan.
47. Dr Nirmala Phuyal
Her research on Nepal’s Timur (Sichuan Pepper) has gained international recognition.
48. Manisha Dwa
An astrophysicist from Pokhara, she is actively engaged in astronomy and space science.
49. Pabita Dhungel
A vision scientist, she has won multiple awards for her research in the US.
50. Yamuna Bhattarai
Her net worth surpasses $500 million, with businesses spanning liquor, real estate, and solar energy in the US.
These 50 women exemplify resilience, leadership, and transformation in Nepali society.
