Bidya Devi Bhandari facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bidya Devi Bhandari
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| विद्यादेवी भण्डारी | |
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Bhandari in 2019
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| 2nd President of Nepal | |
| In office 29 October 2015 – 13 March 2023 |
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| Prime Minister | KP Sharma Oli Sher Bahadur Deuba Pushpa Kamal Dahal |
| Vice President | Parmanand Jha Nanda Kishor Pun |
| Deputy Prime Ministers |
See list
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| Preceded by | Ram Baran Yadav |
| Succeeded by | Ram Chandra Poudel |
| Minister of Defence | |
| In office 25 May 2009 – 6 February 2011 |
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| President | Ram Baran Yadav |
| Prime Minister | Madhav Kumar Nepal |
| Preceded by | Ram Bahadur Thapa |
| Succeeded by | Bijay Kumar Gachhadar |
| Minister of Population and Environment | |
| In office 25 March 1997 – 7 October 1997 |
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| Monarch | King Birendra |
| Prime Minister | Lokendra Bahadur Chand |
| Preceded by | Prakash Man Singh |
| Succeeded by | Prakash Man Singh |
| Member of the House of Representatives | |
| In office November 1994 – April 2008 |
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| Preceded by | Daman Nath Dhungana |
| Succeeded by | Jhakku Prasad Subedi |
| Constituency | Kathmandu 2 |
| In office January 1994 – August 1994 |
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| Preceded by | Madan Bhandari |
| Succeeded by | Man Mohan Adhikari |
| Constituency | Kathmandu 1 |
| Member of the Constituent Assembly / Legislature Parliament | |
| In office 21 January 2014 – 28 October 2015 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
Bidya Pandey
19 June 1961 Mane Bhanjyang, Bhojpur, Kingdom of Nepal (present day Mane Bhanjyang, Ramprasadrai Rural Municipality, Bhojpur, Koshi Province, Nepal |
| Political party | Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist) (until 2015) |
| Spouse |
Madan Bhandari
(m. 1982; died 1993) |
| Children | 2 |
| Parents | Ram Bahadur Pandey (father) Mithila Pandey (mother) |
| Education | Bidhdhodaya Higher Secondary School, Bhojpur |
| Alma mater | Tribhuvan University (BA) |
Bidya Devi Bhandari (Nepali: विद्यादेवी भण्डारी; born 19 June 1961) is a Nepali politician. She served as the second president of Nepal from 2015 to 2023. A president is the head of a country.
Bhandari is the first woman to become president in Nepal. Before becoming president, she was a leader in the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist). She also led the All Nepal Women's Association. From 2009 to 2011, she was Nepal's Minister of Defence. She was the first woman to hold this important job. In 1997, she was the Minister of Environment and Population. She has always worked hard for women's rights and protecting the environment in Nepal.
In 2016, Forbes magazine listed her as one of the world's 100 most powerful women.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Bidya Devi Bhandari was born on June 19, 1961. Her birthplace was Mane Bhanjyang in Bhojpur, Nepal. Her parents were Ram Bahadur Pandey and Mithila Pandey.
She finished her school education in Bhojpur. Later, she went to college in Biratnagar, Morang. Her journey into politics started when she joined a student group that supported leftist ideas. In 1980, she became a member of the Communist Party of Nepal (Marxist–Leninist).
Political Journey
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Bhandari was interested in politics from a young age. She joined the Youth League of the Communist Party in 1978. From 1979 to 1987, she was in charge of a student organization in Eastern Nepal. Her official political career began when she joined the Communist Party in 1980.
While studying at Mahendra Morang Adarsha Multiple Campus, she was elected treasurer of the student union. She also led the women's section of a trade union group called GEFONT. She continued this role until 1997. That year, she became a central committee member of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist).
Joining Parliament
Bhandari was first elected to Nepal's parliament in 1994. This happened in a special election after her husband, who was also a politician, passed away. She won the election in the Kathmandu–1 area. She defeated a former prime minister, Krishna Prasad Bhattarai.
Later in 1994, she was elected again in the general election. This time, she won in the Kathmandu–2 area. She served as the Minister for Environment and Population in 1997.
She was re-elected from Kathmandu–2 in the 1999 general election. In 2008, she lost an election but was later chosen to be a member of the Constituent Assembly. This assembly was formed to write Nepal's new constitution.
Minister of Defence
From 2009 to 2011, Bhandari served as the Minister of Defence. She was part of the government led by Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal. She was again chosen to be a member of the Constituent Assembly in 2013.
Her influence in her party grew stronger. She was elected as the vice-chairperson of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist). She was re-elected to this position later. Many people saw her as a close supporter of the party chairman, KP Sharma Oli.
Becoming President
In 2015, Nepal got a new constitution. After this, Bidya Devi Bhandari was elected as president. This happened through a special election in the parliament on October 28, 2015. She won against Kul Bahadur Gurung.
With this victory, she became Nepal's second president. More importantly, she became the first woman to hold the highest office in the country. She was re-elected as president in 2018.
Family Life
Bidya Devi Bhandari was born in Manebhanjyang, Nepal. She was married to Madan Bhandari. He was a well-known communist leader in Nepal. Sadly, he passed away in a car accident in 1993.
Bidya Devi and Madan Bhandari had two daughters. Their names are Usha Kiran Bhandari and Nisha Kusum Bhandari.
See also
In Spanish: Bidhya Devi Bhandari para niños
