Mannu Bhandari

Pioneer in women's education in Nepal during the 19th century who defied societal norms to establish the nation's first girls' school

Mannu Bhandari (1835–1910) was a visionary educator and social reformer in Nepal who broke caste and gender barriers by founding Kasi Basnett School, the first institution in Nepal dedicated to female education. Born into the Newar community in Kathmandu, she witnessed the systemic exclusion of girls from education during a time when only 2% of Nepalese women were literate.

Defying opposition from conservative leaders, she used her inheritance to purchase land and construct classrooms in 1863. Her innovative teaching methods included bilingual instruction in Nepali and Newari, and a curriculum that integrated traditional arts with modern subjects like mathematics. By 1880, her school had produced over 300 graduates who became teachers, nurses, and community leaders.

Bhandari's legacy endures through the Mannu Bhandari Foundation, which continues her work in girls' education. Historians like Dr. Pratap Singh note her as a precursor to the women's rights movements of the 20th century. Her advocacy for girls' education predated similar movements in neighboring India by nearly two decades.