Nepal loses one of its most inspiring nation-builders with the passing of entrepreneur and social advocate Shanti Chadha

KATHMANDU: Nepal has lost one of its most inspiring nation-builders with the passing of Shanti Chadha, entrepreneur, social advocate and founding President of the Federation of Woman Entrepreneurs' Associations of Nepal (FWEAN).

For more than four decades, she championed opportunities for women, helping thousands to build livelihoods and achieve independence through her leadership and work with organisations including the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), SCWEC, the Women Entrepreneurs’ Association of Nepal (WEAN), the South Asian Women Development Forum (SAWDF), WEAN Cooperative, MANUSHI and HASTAKALA.

As the driving force behind Nepal Woman Crafts, she created sustainable income opportunities for thousands of families and helped take Nepali craftsmanship to international markets.

Her career began at the age of 15 and spanned entrepreneurship, tourism, public service and global advocacy. She was known both as a builder of enterprises and as a mentor to generations of women, encouraging them to believe in their own potential.

A recipient of numerous national and international honours, Shanti Chadha remained committed to the belief that true progress begins at the grassroots, through empowerment, partnership and a spirit of giving back.

Her passing is an immense loss to Nepal and the wider South Asian community. Yet her legacy lives on - in every woman she empowered, every family she uplifted, and every life she inspired.