Bhimkumari Budha Magar Becomes Proportional Member of Parliament After Long Political Struggle

  Kathmandu. Bhimkumari Budha Magar of Rolpa, who became active in political movements in her adolescence, has crossed many turns of struggle. She entered politics through rural class struggle and became active in political activities since 2047 BS.

In the 2051 BS mid-term election, the Communist Party of Nepal (Mashal) became the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) through unity. The Maoist party, which had a policy of boycotting elections, was preparing to go to the people's war. Clashes and conflict situations arose in various places in Rolpa. Budha fearlessly faced various clashes in Korchabang, Rolpa.

According to the party's directive, she started writing slogans like 'Boycott the election' on the walls of her house. At that time, she had to endure beatings from Congress activists. During the election boycott, she was accused of booth capturing in Jinabang. She went underground since 2051 BS. She is a warrior who went underground even before the Maoist people's war began.

Bhimkumari Budha Magar, who has had a long political struggle and dedication, got the opportunity to become a proportional member of parliament from the Nepali Communist Party in the elections held in February. When asked, 'You also went to war before, and now you have reached parliament. How do you feel?', she was asked.

'I am also one of the women who initiated the people's war. We went to war because we wanted to change the system of the country, for the liberation of oppressed classes, castes, regions, and genders in this country, for their rights in every matter, when it was not possible in an unjust, peaceful manner. After the 10-year people's war and the 19-day people's movement, we brought a republic to this country. We brought it into the constitution. We have been continuously working to change the condition of the people,' she said.

Bhimkumari, who has reached parliament for the first time, is learning new things. She likes to call herself a person who has always been the voice of the oppressed classes and the common people. 'We went to the people's war with their voices, with the motto of freedom or death,' she said during a recent meeting, 'Our life is a life of profit. I am working on how to address the issues of health, education, employment, food, shelter, and clothing for our class.' She said that she would continue to put pressure on the government regarding how it brings its plans.

Bhimkumari recalled that she set out with a gun on the first night of February 1, 2052 BS. She fought continuously for 10 years and also participated in the 19-day second people's movement. She is continuously active in the party. She is a central committee member of the Nepali Communist Party and is in her 50s.

She recalled the past 30 years ago when the condition of women was difficult. 'At that time, the belief was that women should not study. Daughters did not receive inheritance. We were in a unitary, dynastic, autocratic state system,' she says, 'Women were living bound by the chains of complete slavery. We sought liberation from that.'

According to her, ordinary women felt that fate and destiny had given them this. But conscious women like Bhimkumari argued that this was discrimination by the state. After that consciousness came, they started to push the state. They went to the people's war. They fought for women's rights. They survived bullets many times in the war. She says she is now living a life of profit.

Bhimkumari is in the Education, Health, and Information Technology Committee under the House of Representatives. She says she will play a constructive role. People are dying without getting treatment. Children from oppressed communities are not getting to study. Education is expensive. Government schools are very disorganized. She has seen all this.

'Education should be free, accessible to all,' she says, 'Employment should be created in this country. I will continue to be the voice for indigenous communities, Dalits, Madhesis, Muslims, and backward classes and communities.'