Bidhya Devi Bhandari made history on Thursday by assuming the presidential post of the country. While many consider this to be a breakthrough in Nepali politics, equally many opine that there's nothing to be happy about her being appointed to a ceremonial position.
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We talked to few young people about their take on the matter, and what positive difference they think the new president will bring to the country.
Ronit Manandhar, 22Graduate
The appointment of a woman politician as the president of Nepal is an achievement. I don't know much about her political background and I'm not in a position to judge whether she was the most deserving candidate for the post, but then which leader is perfect anyway? I strongly feel that electing her was a good decision and I'm positive that she will make a difference. I hope she'll focus in empowering women and prove herself as a strong leader championing women's rights, because there are enough people in the government to do other things like work towards solving the issue of blockade.
Sangeeta Maharjan, 23
Graduate
Even though we, the public, didn't have much say in the presidential election, I feel electing Bidhya Devi Bhandari as Nepal's president was a smart move. Being a woman herself, I firmly believe she will contribute well for the whole feminist movement. People aren't sure if she can do much from the ceremonial position, but I believe that she, being the head of the state, has the power to have her influence over decisions and give her advice to policymakers, which is definitely an achievement for women. And while she does this, I'm sure she'll always prioritise women's rights. I hope she'll be a proactive president and not disappoint us by just being an idle figure.
Shanta Raj Khanal, 22
Student, Nepal Engineering College
Bidhya Devi Bhandari, I believe, is the most deserving representative of women in this country. Being the wife of late Madan Bhandari, she carries the same charisma and vision as that of her husband. Her being given this post is a great achievement. However, we must not forget that her tenure is only that of two years, which is very little time to make significant difference. For now, I hope she brings a concrete solution to the current political standoff. Adding onto, she should also give priority to the agendas of women.
People made a big issue regarding her statement about 'women exercising enough rights in Nepal and that feminist movement here is an unnecessary imitation of western values,' doing rounds in social media. I feel she said so because in her life she ended up struggling a lot as a single woman. She had to play the role of a father in her house and make a mark on her own, which must have been a tough endeavor in a patriarchal society as ours. I'm quite sure the report didn't carry her complete statement though. If we dig more, every leader, every person, has flaws. Let's just be positive that Bhandari will fulfill her duties well.
Seema Poudel, 19
Student, Ganesh College
Compared to her male leaders, I find Bidhya Devi Bhandari including other female leaders, a bit passive. But we can't really blame her because men have always been on the forefront of Nepali politics. She must have something substantial to be elected in this position. I'm not sure if this is one of her responsibilities, but as the head of the state, I guess her first priority should be to help end this crisis and then move forward to dealing with other issues.
Shyam Thapa, 25
Student, Sankardev College
A thing that I don't particularly like is Bidhya Devi Bhandari being endorsed as the 'first female president.' Why are we so engrossed in her being a female? She is as deserving as her opponents. I believe being too preoccupied with her being a woman further divides the gender dichotomy. Having some 30 years of political experience, Bhandari is certainly an apt president for this nation. As the president of Nepal, she should focus on ending the fuel turmoil for it's getting more difficult every other day. Next, she should work towards implementing the reconstruction efforts of the government.
Karuna Tamang, 18
Student, Advanced Engineering College
To be honest, I wasn't much impressed with her speeches. I felt she wasn't that charismatic a leader and she failed to inspire me. Nonetheless, a woman president is one milestone achieved. We don't know yet whether she will end up doing something substantial, but let's hope for the best. I feel, given the status quo, she should first work on improving our ties with India so that this deadlock is sorted out.
