Welcome to the Upaaya Lab Podcast ! In this episode we will discuss Nepal’s history carries the legacy of women who rose above obstacles to lead with courage.In this episode, we explore two remarkable leaders:Queen Rajendra Laxmi (18th Century) — navigating palace conspiracies, facing power struggles with Bahadur Shah, ordering the execution of Bhairav Singh, and using cultural and religious rituals to secure legitimacy.Sushila Karki (21st Century) — Nepal’s first female Chief Justice and, in 2025, the country’s first female Prime Minister. Known for fearless judgments against corruption, resisting impeachment attempts, and leading the nation in the aftermath of the Gen Z movement.Despite being separated by more than two centuries, both women demonstrate one timeless truth:Leadership is not just about power, but about courage, integrity, and cultural grounding.How China’s Confucius Institutes use language and culture as soft power, even in top U.S. universities.How the Middle East uses religion, media, and tradition to build political influence.Why Nepal’s current politics struggles when it loses touch with cultural values.🎙️ This is the story of Two Women, Two Centuries, One Courage.Queen Rajendra Laxmi laid the path in the 18th century, and today Sushila Karki carries that legacy into the 21st.पालको इतिहासमा महिलाले देखाएको नेतृत्व साहसिक र प्रेरणादायी छ।यस एपिसोडमा हामी दुई असाधारण नारी नेतृहरूलाई सम्झन्छौं:रानी राजेन्द्र लक्ष्मी (१८औँ शताब्दी) — दरबारभित्रको षड्यन्त्र, भाइ बहादुर शाहसँगको सत्ता संघर्ष, भैरवसिंह थापाको मृत्युदण्ड जस्ता कठोर निर्णय, र धार्मिक संस्कारमार्फत वैधता खोज्ने शैली।सुशिला कार्की (२१औँ शताब्दी) — पहिलो महिला प्रधानन्यायाधीश र हाल नेपालकी पहिलो महिला प्रधानमन्त्री। भ्रष्टाचारविरुद्ध निडर निर्णय, इम्पिचमेन्टको सामना, र Gen Z आन्दोलनपछि देशको नेतृत्व।यी दुई कथाले एउटै सन्देश दिन्छन् — नेतृत्व केवल पद होइन, साहस, इमानदारी र संस्कृतिप्रति निष्ठा हो।__________________________________________________________________________साथै हामीले छलफल गर्छौं:संस्कृति र राजनीति बीचको गहिरो सम्बन्ध।चीनका Confucius Institutes — कसरी भाषा र संस्कृतिलाई soft power बनाएर अमेरिका लगायत विश्वका विश्वविद्यालयमा प्रभाव जमाइयो।मध्यपूर्व — सउदी अरेबिया, इरान, कतार, दुबईले धर्म, मिडिया र परम्परालाई राजनीतिक शक्ति बनाए।नेपाल — किन आजको राजनीति संस्कृतिसँग मेल खान नसक्दा असफल देखिन्छ।Disclaimer : Views are mine not of my employer