Page 4 - BPW-UK - E-news - Edition 103 - June 2022
P. 4
Besides meeting BPW members and the
exceptional speakers such as Prime Minister,
Minister, First Lady of Iceland and many others,
my attention was grabbed by the first woman
National Police Commissioner of Iceland,
Sigridur Bjork Gudjonsdottir.
This is not something we see in the news
often and the fact that ever since I could call
someone my role model, I grew up admiring the
first lady Brigadier General of the Nepalese Army
Dr. Radha Shah. Women in official uniform in a
male dominated occupation is a challenge and
needs more attention if we really want to see
equality not just in the board room of commer-
cial companies but also in our government insti-
tutions.
The fact that after her appointment how
she focused on the implementation of protection of women and children rights de-
creased the numbers of various acts of violence in her area is something which
proves that if we really want to make this world a safer place for women then we
need more women in uniform like her.
Being born and raised in Nepal and experiencing first hand so many disasters
taking place whether it’s a national disaster or civil war all I have seen is that wom-
en and children were the most vulnerable and what is going on in Ukraine is an ex-
ample that no matter what background we come from we women are physically un-
safe whenever there is any conflict or disaster.
I hope in the near future we see more women in uniform not just advocating
but also implementing and monitoring women's safety so that we can be whoever
and wherever we want to be and I will continue my advocacy for women in uni-
form wherever there is an opportunity.
Neelima Basnet
The Chief of Army Staff Prajwalla Sumshere Rana paused after pinning the first star on the shoulders
of Dr Radha (Shah) KC, and said to her: "I am proud you've
become a Brigadier General and made history." Hear. Hear.
Radha then shared a glass of bubbly with other new generals-
all of them men, except her. In fact, Gen KC has become the
first-ever woman to earn stars in the Royal Nepal Army.
The career of Brigadier General Dr Radha, a pediatrician
with the RNA, began with a scholarship to study medicine in
1968. She was the only woman among four Nepalis chosen to
do so at the Armed Forces Medical College at Pune in India
from where she graduated and joined service as a Lieutenant.
She went on to become the first female Colonel, and two
weeks ago the first Brigadier General.
Nepali TIMES—May 2002
General dynamic- Nepali Times
