From Card-Playing Crusader to Trailblazing Mayor

HETAUDA |  As a teenager, Mina Kumari Lama never imagined she would one day lead a bustling metropolitan city. Her journey into leadership, however, began with a deck of playing cards.

Born in 1976 in Hetauda-11, Nawalpur, Mina grew up in a society where gambling was a common pastime for men. Some of her male classmates and even the elder men in her neighborhood would often gather to play cards, sometimes at the cost of their school lessons or daily responsibilities. Fascinated by the games, young Mina once found herself drawn into watching them, only to face the wrath of her teacher for arriving late to class. The scolding and the welt left by a stick on her hands stirred something deep within her—anger, defiance, and the determination to bring about change.

In a bold and unprecedented move, the teenage Mina launched a campaign to eradicate gambling in her village. With the support of frustrated women whose husbands were losing valuable time and money in card games, she would go around tearing up playing cards and dispersing gambling gatherings. Soon, whenever a gambling session began, the village women would ask, “Where is Mina?” They knew she was their ally in breaking the cycle of addiction and loss.

Decades later, that same fearless girl now serves as the Mayor of Hetauda Sub-Metropolitan City, the capital of Nepal’s Bagmati Province. Her leadership, determination, and deep-rooted activism have shaped her political journey, making her the only woman to hold a mayoral position among Makwanpur’s 10 local governments.

A Lone Woman in a Male-Dominated Arena

Despite Nepal’s progressive policies to encourage female participation in politics, women still struggle to secure leadership positions. In Makwanpur, the only other female local government leaders hold vice-mayoral or deputy chief roles: Sita Pulami Magar in Manahari Rural Municipality, Man Kumari Pakhrin in Makwanpurgadhi Rural Municipality, and Uma Bhlon in Indrasarovar Rural Municipality. The rest of the leadership positions in the district remain dominated by men.

Mina’s rise to political leadership was not an easy one. She first gained prominence in student politics, advocating for girls’ rights in education and sports. During the 1990s, she became actively involved with the All Nepal National Free Students’ Union (ANNFSU), an affiliate of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist). In 1989, she was elected as the president of ANNFSU at Makwanpur Campus, later serving as the district treasurer in 1993. She then rose through the ranks of the All Nepal Women’s Association, eventually becoming the district secretary and later the deputy secretary of the party’s district committee.

Her political influence grew, but when it came time to award election tickets, gender bias remained a hurdle. “Even after years in politics, female candidates are often overlooked for leadership roles,” she reflects. “In 2017, my party finally trusted me with the ticket for deputy mayor, and I won.”

During her tenure as deputy mayor, she built a reputation for hands-on leadership, working tirelessly for the rights of citizens and municipal development. This dedication convinced her party to nominate her for mayor in the 2022 elections.

Defying Expectations and Making History

The 2022 local elections proved to be a milestone in Mina’s career. After the split in the Nepal Communist Party, she aligned herself with the newly formed CPN (Unified Socialist) under the leadership of former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal. She became the candidate for the ruling coalition, which included the Nepali Congress, Maoist Center, and other parties.

She faced a formidable opponent in Ananta Paudel of the CPN-UML, the party that had historically dominated Hetauda’s mayoral seat. Yet, against the odds, she secured victory with 23,080 votes, surpassing Paudel’s 20,908. Her win not only shattered the UML stronghold in Hetauda but also solidified her position as one of Nepal’s leading female politicians.

A Mayor for the People

Mina’s leadership style remains deeply connected to her grassroots activism. As a deputy mayor, she spent years visiting households, listening to citizens’ concerns, and fighting for their rights. Now, as mayor, people come to her office with their issues, addressing her as “Madam Mayor,” “Didi” (elder sister), “Bahini” (younger sister), “Bhauju” (sister-in-law), or even “Daughter.”

She takes pride in making swift and lawful decisions. “Women in leadership bring a different approach,” she says. “We ensure transparency and efficiency. If something is legitimate, I approve it without unnecessary delays.”

Mina’s work ethic is relentless. She rarely takes breaks, often working late into the night to resolve municipal issues. “Being a mayor is vastly different from being a deputy mayor,” she admits. “As deputy mayor, I had responsibilities, but the final decisions weren’t on my shoulders. Now, every major decision rests with me, and I have to think carefully before acting.”

Paving the Way for Women and Economic Growth

One of her primary goals is making Hetauda a more women-friendly city. Under her leadership, the municipality is promoting women’s entrepreneurship by supporting locally made products and ensuring they reach international markets.

“Hetauda’s women are involved in everything—from making fermented vegetables like gundruk, which is now exported abroad, to producing Dhaka fabric and running garment industries,” she says. “We are proving that women are not just homemakers; we are economic contributors.”

Her administration is also prioritizing education, healthcare, drinking water, and sanitation. Under her leadership, Hetauda’s urban planning has become more structured, with a clear roadmap for sustainable development.

A Supportive Family, A Stronger Future

Mina acknowledges that balancing politics, education, and family life has been a challenge. She earned her Master’s degree in Sociology and a Bachelor’s degree in Law while raising two children.

“I was worried that marriage would put an end to my political career,” she recalls. “But I was fortunate to have a husband who supported my ambitions.” She married Sun Kumar Tamang, a businessman in Hetauda, in 1997. Despite working in different fields, he has always encouraged her political aspirations.

A Legacy in the Making

As she nears the third year of her tenure, Mina remains focused on fulfilling her promises. “Hetauda’s transformation is happening,” she asserts. “By the end of my term, I want people to see tangible results.”

With a vision of creating a “clean, productive, and prosperous Hetauda,” Mina Kumari Lama is not just leading a city—she is reshaping the narrative of women in leadership in Nepal. From a teenage activist tearing up playing cards to a mayor charting the future of a metropolis, her journey is nothing short of inspiring.