Dahal vows to make initiation to declare Yogamaya national luminary

Kathmandu, July 6: Chair of Communist Party of Nepal (CPN) and former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has said the country has started adopting the Marxism.
Speaking at a programme organised in the central capital today in the context of the Yogamaya Centenary Celebrations and the 78th Memorial Day, one of the chairs from the major ruling party claimed that the government would continue efforts to find out residues of feudalism and totalitarianism in the country and remove them so as to find a way towards transformations.

Describing Yogamaya as an epitome of the bravery of women in the country’s history whose voices for reforms and positive changes in the society were suppressed by the then tyrant rulers. Following in the footsteps of brave woman who fought for socio-cultural transformations in the society would help achieve positive changes, he added.
Yogmaya Neupane (1860-1941) was born in Bhojour (now the district in Province 1) in the eastern Nepal. She is remembered for her continuous reverberations and actions for social reforms and against injustice to the people in the then society, despite challenges and frequent threats. She represents the period when the country was ruled by the autocratic Rana Regime.

On the occasion, leader Dahal pledged to make his initiation to grant the status of a national luminary to Yogmaya.
Also speaking on the occasion, Province 1 Chief Minister Sherdhan Rai stressed the need of establishing a separate Ayurved University in the commemoration of Yogmaya and declaring her the ‘national hero’.
Terming her as a revolutionary woman, the Chief Minister said she raised her strong voices against women violence, caste-based discrimination and social misconducts hugely pervasive in the then Nepalese society.
Also speaking on the occasion, former minister and lawmaker Pampha Bhusal was of the view of remembering the contributions of Yogamaya to social transformations by this and future generations.

Similarly, lawmaker Dr Dila Sangraula said sacrifice, contributions and battle that made and fought by Yogamaya and her followers should be highly valued and institutionalized.
Former minister Asta Laxmi Shakya sought proper recognition to contributions of Yogama for social justice and truth.
Yogmaya and her 67 followers committed mass suicide by jumping into the Arun River on July 5, 1941 as their protests against the apathy of then ruler Juddha Samser to address their 26-point demands meant for social reforms.(RSS)