Tulasa Maskey Pradhan, aged 79, passed away peacefully on Monday, January 20 at her home in Hurst, Texas. She will be reunited with her husband of 29 years, Robin Kumar Pradhan. Unlike many of the local community, their marriage was a love match, not an arrangement created by their families.
Tulasa was born on December 30, 1945 in the small, remote village of Therathum in the hills of eastern Nepal, to parents Purna Bahadur Maskey and Hem Kumari Pradhan. She grew up in the village and was known as "Maiya" to her parents and those older to her. At age 14 she moved to Kathmandu with a few other young girls to study under a rural development program. Upon finishing high school, she attended college and became active in local politics, advocating for women's rights during a time where women were limited in their political freedom. Her focus included activism to address issues such as domestic violence, discrimination, and access to education for women.
During the height of the Panchayat period, which was a party-less political system established in 1960 by King Mahendra, Tulasa became heavily involved in women's organizations. She became a notable figure in Nepal, advocating for gender equality, education and empowerment programs, economic development projects, community mobilization, as well as collaboration with international organizations including UN Women and The World Bank. Her leadership and contributions to key initiatives within the Nepal Ministry of Women, Children, and Senior Citizens (MoWCSC) and other have created an awareness about women's issues and mobilized support for legislative changes that benefit women.
Tulasa was very outgoing and sociable; she enjoyed a large social circle and active social life. Tulasa easily built relationships with others and frequently attended social events, gatherings, and activities. It was during one of these activities in college that Tulasa met her would-be husband. They resided in Kathmandu for over two decades.