Call for research on ‘reformer’ Yogmaya

Kathmandu, May 15

Renowned writers, women rights activists and social workers from home and abroad today stressed on conducting further research on Yogmaya Neupane, who is considered as the first Nepali woman social reformer and woman rights activist.

Speaking at an interaction organised by Universal Language and Computer Institute today, Prof Govinda Man Singh Karki said, Yogmaya fought against political and social discrimination during the Rana regime.

“She led a movement for change. Although many books have been written on Yogmaya, we still need more research on various aspects related to her life and the movement she led.”

Kabita Chapagain, writer of Yogmaya’s biography ‘Yogmaya Shaktipith Tapobhumi’ said she published the book at her own expense. “It costs me around Rs 200,000 to publish the book but I did it just to spread Yogmaya’s messages and her contribution to Ashrams.”

She further said that social and political reforms during Rana Regime was a far-fetched but Yogmaya led the revolution for it. “People who are staying in Ashrams must know about this revolutionary woman who fought for humanity her entire life,” she said.

Barbara Nimri Aziz, an American Anthropologist and researcher, who has also written a book ‘Shakti Yogmaya: A tradition of Dissent in Nepal’ said that Yogmaya and Parijat were the sources of inspiration for a new political awakening.

Uttam Prasad Pant, programme coordinator, said Yogmaya led a ritualistic collective suicide to protest against the social injustice on July 5, 1941 during the Rana regime.

According to the speakers, Yogmaya was a religious leader, women rights activist and poet based in Bhojpur.