Shailaja Acharya facts for kids

Shailaja Acharya (Nepali: शैलजा आचार्य) (1944 – 12 June 2009) was a brave Nepali leader. She was a revolutionary, a politician, and a diplomat. She made history as the first Nepali woman to be a Minister of Water Resources. She was also the first Nepali woman to become a Deputy Prime Minister.

Who Was Shailaja Acharya?

Shailaja Acharya was a very important person in Nepal's history. She fought for democracy and helped bring big changes to her country. She was known for her strong beliefs and for always standing up for what was right.

Early Life and Family

Shailaja Acharya was born in 1944. Her mother, Indira Acharya, was also a brave woman. She took part in the democratic revolution of 1950. Indira was one of the first four Nepali women arrested by the old Rana regime government. Shailaja had a sister named Madhu Bastola and a brother named Pradeep Acharya.

Shailaja was part of the famous Koirala family. Many of her relatives were important leaders in Nepal. Her uncles, Matrika Prasad Koirala, BP Koirala, and Girija Prasad Koirala, all became prime ministers. The famous Bollywood actress Manisha Koirala is her niece. Shailaja never married. She studied science and earned an Intermediate of Science (I.Sc.) degree.

Fighting for Democracy

Shailaja Acharya started her political journey as a student. She believed strongly in democracy. This meant that people should have the right to choose their leaders.

Standing Up to the King

In 1961, the King of Nepal, King Mahendra, took power from the elected government. He put the prime minister, BP Koirala (Shailaja's uncle), in jail. Shailaja was only a teenager then. To show her protest, she bravely waved a black flag at King Mahendra. For this act, she was arrested and spent three years in prison. She spent a total of five years in jail during the time when the king ruled without democracy, known as the Panchayat System.

Life in Exile

After being released from jail, Shailaja went to India. She lived there for nine years. During this time, she continued to fight for democracy in Nepal. She worked with other Nepali leaders who were also in India. She helped organize young people and spread awareness about the need for democracy. She even helped gather supplies for a possible armed fight. She also published a newspaper called Tarun to share political ideas.

In 1976, Shailaja returned to Nepal with BP Koirala. But as soon as they landed at Tribhuvan International Airport, they were arrested. They were taken straight to jail.

A Leader in a New Democracy

In 1990, democracy was brought back to Nepal. This was a big moment for the country. Shailaja Acharya became a senior leader in the Nepali Congress party. She even became the party's vice-chair.

First Woman Minister and Deputy PM

After democracy returned, Shailaja was elected to parliament twice. She won in 1991 and again in 1994. In 1991, she became the Minister for Agriculture. She held this job until 1993. She later resigned because she believed there was corruption in the government.

In 1997, she made history again. She became the first woman Minister for Water Resources. Then, in 1998, she became the first Nepali woman Deputy Prime Minister. This was a very important role.

Later, when King Gyanendra again suspended democracy, Shailaja continued to support the idea of a "constitutional monarchy." This meant she believed the king should still have some power, even if her party disagreed. In 2007, she was appointed Nepal's ambassador to India.

Helping Others: Philanthropy

Shailaja Acharya was also involved in many charity works. She helped organizations that focused on empowering women. She created the Krishna Prasad Koirala guthi (a type of trust or foundation) to honor her grandfather.

She also helped start the Shailaja Acharya Polytechnic Institute. This institute was built in a rural village in her home area of Morang. It was named after her because of her help in setting it up. She donated land for the institute. She also worked to make sure the institute could provide skills training to poor women and girls.

Later Years and Legacy

In her last years, Shailaja Acharya faced health challenges. She was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2007. She passed away from pneumonia on June 12, 2009, at the age of 65.

Her body was displayed for public viewing at the Nepali Congress Party Headquarters. She was honored with a gun-salute by the army. She was cremated at Pashupati Aryaghat. The parliament also expressed its sadness over her death.

Remembering Her Contributions

Shailaja Acharya is remembered as an inspiring person. Leaders have called her a "rebellious personality" and someone who always fought for democracy. She was praised for standing up against corruption, even when she was in power.

She was the first, and for a long time, the only Nepali woman to become a deputy prime minister. Her cousin, Sujata Koirala, became the second woman deputy prime minister in 2009. Her brave act of showing a black flag to King Mahendra in 1961 is seen as a key moment in Nepal's fight for freedom and democracy.

Today, there are awards and scholarships named after her. The Shailaja Acharya Memorial Journalism Award is given in her honor. The Shailaja Acharya Adarsha Samaj promotes her ideals. In her home area, the Shailaja Acharya Memorial Scholarship Fund helps deserving students.