“Mina Shrestha: The First Woman to Enter the Watch Repair Profession in Nepal—A Life Story Shaped by Struggle, Labor, and Persistence”
A Message That Opened the Door to Memories
A simple Facebook message received while returning from a Prime Television program made Mina Shrestha pause and reflect for a long time.
After a short interview clip was posted, someone had written:“Mina Shrestha is a hardworking and honest woman. She worked for many years repairing and assembling watches in the Attariya area. She is the first woman in Nepal to enter the watch repair profession.”
Reading the message, she stopped for a moment.She felt a mix of happiness and surprise.Because she had never introduced herself as “the first” or as someone “special.”For her, that work had simply been a way to earn a living.Yet the message raised a question—
Is society only now beginning to recognize the struggles of that time?
Attariya: Where the Struggle With Time Began
Attariya in Kailali was once just a small trading center.It did not have the level of activity it does today.It was there that Mina Shrestha opened a small shop called “Mina Watch Service.”
The shop was modest.A few tools,some broken watches, and a simple table. Opening that shop
was not an ordinary decision.At that time, for a woman to choose such a profession was considered unusual.
Watch Repair: Not a Choice, but a Path of Struggle
Mina Shrestha did not decide to repair watches out of personal interest or hobby. The decision emerged from circumstances.The responsibility of supporting a household, the desire to become self-reliant,and the determination not to depend on others—all of these pushed her to learn a skill.
Watch repair was not easy.It required precision, patience,and sustained concentration. But she learned.She practiced.She made mistakes.And she corrected them.
The Reality of Opening a Shop as a Woman
Once the shop opened, challenges followed.Customers were often skeptical.
Some refused to hand over their watches.
Some asked to see a man instead.Even when there was no open insult, the lack of trust was clearly visible.Surviving in such an environment
required inner strength.Mina Shrestha had that strength.
A Six-Month Guarantee: A Way to Earn Trust
She made a decision—to offer a six-month guarantee on watch repairs.It was a risky decision.But it made a difference.Customers slowly returned.The shop began to gain recognition.The guaranteewas not a promotional tactic;it was an acceptance of responsibility.
A Meaning Beyond a Profession
For Mina Shrestha,watch repair was not just employment.It was self-respect.It was practice in standing on her own feet.She says:“I did not only repair time,I was building my future.”
2046 (1990): A Year That Changed Direction
The year 2046 holds significant importance
in Nepal’s political history.That same year,Mina Shrestha’s life also entered a new phase.Political awareness increased.Concern about social injustice deepened.She began to think—
My struggle should not remain confined to my shop alone.
The Difficult Decision to Leave Profession and Domestic Security
Entering politics was not easy for her.She had to leave her business.She gave up a stable income.
She stepped away from domestic security.It was an emotionally difficult decision.But she made it.
Struggle Continued in Politics
Politics was a different field,but the struggle felt familiar.Here too,being a woman was a challenge.Speaking was harder than listening.
Yet she did not give up continuity.
A Long Journey Within the CPN-UML
Within the CPN-UML,she worked in various roles. Sometimes as a grassroots worker,
sometimes as an organizer.Success did not come quickly.But she remained patient.
The Journey to the Provincial Assembly
After many years,her struggle received recognition.Mina Shrestha became a member of the Koshi Provincial Assembly.For her, this position was not a reward, but a responsibility.
Speaking in the Assembly
When she speaks in the assembly,she finds herself in a different space.Yet she never forgets her past.Her experience is the experience of workers.Of the poor.Of women.
Continued Commitment to Social Service
Beyond politics,her social engagement continues.For women, laborers,and marginalized communities,she remains actively involved.
Attariya and the Watch Shop: Foundations of Life
Even today,Attariya and that small shop remain safely preserved in her memory.That place made her self-reliant. From there, she moved forward.
The Value of Struggle
Mina Shrestha’s life is not a story of grand speeches. It is the accumulation of many small struggles. She stands as proof—struggle makes people capable.
Conclusion
Mina Shrestha’s story is not a story of exaggeration.It is a story of patience, labor, and persistence.The journey from a small watch shop
to public life was not easy.But it was possible.
Author: H.B. Tamrakar (Journalist)
