Didi Protects Her Dreams and Serves the Public

Background

This year, the topic of self-defense, child safety and girls and women protecting themselves has been a priority for us. One thing that we had been thinking of doing, but had not been able to do so far was to involve local law enforcement into our program. The idea was to introduce our Bahinis to help our girls (and boys) feel more comfortable in interacting with law enforcement if they ever had to report something serious.

With that in mind, we were glad to welcome Gyanmanjari Sharma, Chief Security Officer, Dakshinkali Municipality. She led a recent Didi program where she shared her personal and professional story. 

Learning ABCD 

Gyanmanjari Sharma was born in the current Salyan district of Karnali province in far western Nepal. She grew up in a large extended family of 7 aunts and uncles. Her family was middle class and struggled with finances because her father, whom she calls Baba, could not leave home for a job or profession because he cared for his seven younger siblings and his children. Gyanmanjari was the oldest among three sisters and a brother. Although the family struggled financially, they all studied in a government school (Bal Shiksha Mandir). She said to the surprise of our participants, “I did not even learn ABCD until the 4th grade.” It is not surprising that most remote area schools have similar problems. 

Leaving Home and Discovering a Path to Independence 

As the financial pressure continued, she left home after the 5th grade and moved in with her aunt, who was recently married in a new town. She studied more diligently in her new school. Gyanmanjari is very modest when she says that she was not an excellent student. She finished high school (10th grade) at the age of 14, passing the S.L.C. (School Leaving Certificate) examination, now known as SEE, with good grades.

As the eldest daughter, she felt a deep responsibility to ease her family’s financial burden. She began learning computer skills at her uncle’s institute. At a time when few people in the area had computer literacy, those skills quickly opened doors for her. She started earning Rs 300 ($3USD) a day by typing and teaching computers, which allowed her to cover her own college expenses. While studying Humanities at Salyan Polytechnic Campus, she also took on a teaching job at a school. Her mornings were spent at college, afternoons at school, and evenings working at a bank, upgrading records from manual to computerized systems. This period of her life reinforced the importance of having marketable skills and instilled in her a strong work ethic. She was helping Baba financially and was saving money to pursue graduate studies.

Pursuing Higher Education in Kathmandu

Determined to continue her education, Gyanmanjari moved to Kathmandu after completing her undergraduate studies. Kathmandu is a very big and busy city and life can be hard. Although the financial challenges persisted, she remained committed to her studies at Tribhuvan University. Because of her computer skills, she was able to find a job in the city. Every rupee she earned or received during this time was precious, and despite moments of self-doubt, she kept pushing forward. After completing her MA, she began preparing for civil service exams. Her father had wished to see her daughter in a high government job. To be able to get a government job, one must pass the very competitive Civil Service examination. So, she was preparing for the examination. She took some time off to visit her family during the Dashain festival which led her to an unexpected opportunity. 

Embracing a Career in Public Service

During a Dashain visit home, a family friend suggested that Gyanmanjari apply for a police inspector position. Although she initially hesitated, she decided to go ahead with the application. Her preparation for the civil service exams helped her in the written portion, and she began to see the possibility of making a name for herself in public service. The physical requirements for the Nepal Police were rigorous, but Gyanmanjari successfully met all the criteria. The training that followed was intense and demanding, pushing her to the limits of her endurance. However, her determination to succeed carried her through, and completing the training brought her immense joy and pride.

Today, Gyanmanjari serves as the Chief Security Officer (Police Inspector) in Dakshinkali Municipality. Reflecting on her journey, she recognizes the transformation from a young girl in Salyan to a dedicated public servant. Her story is one of perseverance, the importance of education and skills, and the fulfillment that comes from serving her country. Through her experiences, Gyanmanjari hopes to inspire others to pursue their dreams, no matter the obstacles they may face.

Engaging Scholars and answering questions

During the program, the Bahinis asked many questions, and here are a few:

Hira B.K.- What is something you are most proud of in your work as an officer on duty in Pharping?

Didi: There are many cases where we have been able to catch people committing crimes and bring them to justice, but one example in particular I am most proud of was  where our officers were successful in bringing  23 out of 26 missing young girls back home in the last two years.

Sushila – As a Police Officer, what advice would you give to us young girls?

Didi:  For your safety, I suggest basic good practices like avoid meeting people that you do not know well in private and if you do have to meet someone you do not know very well make sure you it is in a public place where there are other people and bring someone along with you for support. I also advise you all to protect yourselves on the internet and never give out your personal information or passwords to anyone or be overly active on social media. 

After her talk, Gyanmanjari answered many other questions from inquisitive girls. Gyanmanjari Didi states she was a police officer for 9 years. She goes on to explain the specifics of the training regime and explain how training for female and male officers were the same. Along with answers about her occupation, she provided the sisters with advice, specifically about social media and public safety.  

To wrap up the program, Gyanmanjari Didi states that it has been two years since she started serving in Dakshinkali municipality. She is proud to serve her country. 

Rukmini Foundation is honored to hear her story and believes her experiences will inspire some girls to become a police officer.  Also, she provided much needed safety awareness tips to our girls which might help to keep them safe.

Girl’s reaction after the program:

The program also included an award and recognition portion for those who excelled in the SEE examination. Gyanmanjari Didi handed out gifts to the SEE graduates, making them very happy and proud. All the new girls were provided notebooks as a gift. There were other engaging activities designed to enhance writing skills, communication skills, listening skills, fostering a supportive and empowering environment for all participants. For many, this must have been the first time seeing a Police Officer in the program.

Hira B. K., Grade 7 

“Hearing Didi’s story today, I learned that I need to study even more. We can achieve success only from hard work and dedication”.

Padma Shrestha, Grade 11

“It made me very happy meeting Inspector Gyanmanjari didi so closely and hearing her story.  I am very happy to learn that girls also can have a future in the Police Service. But one should be prepared to work very hard physically. I am very impressed and motivated to be a successful person like her someday.”

NOTE: For more photos of this wonderful mentoring program, check out this album on our Flickr page.