Shanti Karki is a sprightly old lady of 80, who has dedicated her life to social works.

She is also a Nepali Congress member, who had marched alongside the leaders like Ganeshman Singh, Krishna Prasad Bhattarai and Girija Prasad Koirala in different democratic movements.  

Recognising her contributions and hard works, the NC has named her the deputy mayoral candidate of Birgunj Metropolitan City in the upcoming local elections.

 Karki is possibly the oldest candidate vying in the local polls, but certainly not the inexperienced one. The works she has done to empower and educate Dalits, single women and poor children of Birgunj speak volumes of just what she can achieve, how formidable an opponent she might prove to other candidates come the day of election on September 18.

These days, Karki is busy attending election rallies and visiting the voters at their homes. Campaigning for election for her is not that hard of a work. She has spent all her life with people, working for the grassroots rights.

“As a party worker, I have never asked anyone for power or position. I did not ask for the party ticket to run in this election. The party chose me,” she said.

 Karki, who never married, had served 10 years in prison at different times for her involvement in the NC. During the Panchayat regime, when the NC was an underground political party, she and other party functionaries used to escort senior leaders to and from India and organise protests.

She is a seasoned freedom fighter and the champion of downtrodden. For her, the local elections is an opportunity to touch the lives of more people. “All my life I have worked for the people of Birgunj, and I intend to do the same until my death,” she said.

Karki dreams of ending dowry system and educating Dalit women and children if she is elected the deputy mayor of Birgunj.