Yogmaya Neupane

Yogmaya Neupane
Yogmaya Neupane
योगमाया न्यौपाने
	Portrait by anonymous artist, 2017
Born	1867; Majhuwabesi, Nepaledada, Bhojpur, Nepal
Died	5 July 1941 (aged 74); Arun River, Bhojpur, Nepal

Yogmaya Neupane (Nepali: योगमाया न्यौपाने) (1867–1941) was a religious leader, women's rights activist and poet based in Bhojpur district of Nepal.^[1] Yogmaya is considered to be among the pioneer female poets in Nepal with her only published book of poems, the Sarwartha Yogbani (Nepali: सर्वार्थ योगवाणी) considered to be her most notable contribution.^[2]

Yogmaya's poems are set around the time when Nepal was ruled by the Rana regime and when India was ruled under the British raj. Her style, characterized by the cultural and political oppression of the time was distinctly original and courageously outspoken. Despite putting a significant focus on the Hindu religious context as a religious leader, her poems and activism themes heavily revolved on female and minority rights in the region, which appealed to a lot of people around the time. In her later years, her activities were heavily monitored by the government and her works were banned by the authorities under the command of the Rana rulers and despite the persecution of her group, she is notable for opting to remain in Nepal and spending her last days around her birthplace in Eastern Nepal. It is also regarded that Yogmaya founded the first organization of Nepali women, the Nari Samiti for women's rights in 1918, which was considered to be the main lobby behind the abolition of the sati in Nepal in 1920.^[3]

Yogmaya's activism begun after she declared renunciation and returned to Nepal. With the authorities increasingly harsh towards Yogmaya and her group of supporters, as well as, unwilling to reform their brutal and corrupt approach to governance, Yogmaya and 67 of her disciples committed the biggest mass suicide (Jal-Samadhi) in Nepali history by jumping into the Arun River in 1941.^[4] In January 2016, the Nepal Government issued a postage stamp recognizing her contributions.

^ Bhandari, Lekhnath (2013-07-13). "Courageous Reformer "साहसी सुधारक"". Article in Ekantipur. Date confirmed by the Yogamaya Shakti Pith Tapobhumi Bikash Tatha Vikas Sanstha. Retrieved 2016-03-31 – via Kantipur Daily.^{[permanent dead link]}
^ Nadeau, Kathleen M.; Rayamajhi, Sangita (2013-06-11). Women's Roles in Asia. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 9780313397493.
^ "In focus: Yogmaya, who gave her life fighting Rana atrocities". kathmandupost.ekantipur.com. Retrieved 2016-03-31.
^ Pandey, Binda (2011). Women Participation In Nepali Labour Movement. Nepal: GEFONT-Nepal. p. 21. ISBN 978-99933-329-2-3.

[:0-1] Bhandari, Lekhnath (2013-07-13). "Courageous Reformer "साहसी सुधारक"". Article in Ekantipur. Date confirmed by the Yogamaya Shakti Pith Tapobhumi Bikash Tatha Vikas Sanstha. Retrieved 2016-03-31 – via Kantipur Daily.^{[permanent dead link]}

[2] Nadeau, Kathleen M.; Rayamajhi, Sangita (2013-06-11). Women's Roles in Asia. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 9780313397493.

[3] "In focus: Yogmaya, who gave her life fighting Rana atrocities". kathmandupost.ekantipur.com. Retrieved 2016-03-31.

[:1-4] Pandey, Binda (2011). Women Participation In Nepali Labour Movement. Nepal: GEFONT-Nepal. p. 21. ISBN 978-99933-329-2-3.

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