रामबत्ती चौधरी

Passionate about poetry, Tharu art and music, Rambati Chaudhary was born to a zamindar family in Udayapur, that holds a dignified role in establishing many schools in Terai. Despite having support and encouragement to receive an education, young and introverted Rambati was too shy to go to school. Being heavily influenced by her politically active father, Rambati stepped into politics in 2032 B.S., and this opened her doors to the outside world. Rambati, now 72, founded the very first women’s group called Diyo Mahila Samuha through which she began advocating for women’s rights and equality. Having 30 years of experience in politics and social activism, she currently serves as the chairperson of WOREC, Udaypur. Throughout her life, she has been continuously fighting to eliminate social norms that exclude women’s participation in Tharu culture and traditional practices.

रामबती चौधरी को जन्म उदयपुरको एक जमिण्डार परिवारमा भएको थियो। त्यस परिवारले तराइमा धेरै विद्यालय स्थापना गर्नमा मर्यादित भूमिका निर्वाह गरेको छ। शिक्षा हासिल गर्न सहयोग र प्रोत्साहन पाएतापनि जवान तथा अन्तर्दृष्टि भएका रामबती लाई स्कूल जान असाध्यै लाज लाग्थ्यो । राजनीतिमा सक्रिय बाबुबाट निकै प्रभावित भएर रामबती २०३२ सालमा राजनीतिमा प्रवेश गरेकी थिइन् । यसले गर्दा उनको बाहिरी दुनियाँको ढोका खुल्यो । अहिले ७२ वर्षकी रामबतीले महिला समूहको स्थापना गरेकी थिइन् जसको माध्यमबाट उनले महिला अधिकार र समानताको वकालत गर्न थालिन्। राजनीति र सामाजिक सक्रियतामा ३० वर्षको अनुभव बटुलेकी उनी हाल वोरेक, उदयपुरको अध्यक्ष पदमा कार्यरत छिन् । थारु संस्कृति र परम्परागत प्रचलनमा महिला सहभागिता नगराउने सामाजिक मापदण्ड हटाउन उनी जीवनभर संघर्षरत छिन् ।