Nani Maiya Dahal

Nani Maiya Dahal was an independent Nepalese politician and the member of parliament from Kathmandu constituency in the Panchayat parliament from 1981 to 1985 (2038 BS-2042 BS). She is known for defeating the candidates of Rastriya Panchayat during the Panchayat system in Nepal. Her win is considered to be a symbolic protest of citizens of Kathmandu, mainly youths, against the status quo and vote of rejection of Panchyaat system.

After her win, a huge rally was organized to symbolize the protest against the panchyat system.

Biography At the age of 10, Dahal was the chief of Tribhuwan Village Development Scheme. At the age of 29, she became the village assistant chief (उपप्रधानपञ्च) of Jorpati, Kathamndu. At that time, Maniram Chalese was the chief.

As the assistant chief, she is credited with management of food distribution in Salt trading centre. During panchayat era, the salt trading organization was responsible for distributing major household items such as salt and oil in all parts of Nepal. She also took part in female rights activism, such as assisting the raped victims. She was among the few female candidates who won the election. Because she was an independent candidate, she was considered to be a spy of the Nepali Congress.

She was also a poet and composed a few poems.

She died on February 11, 2025 at the age of 92.