Sapana Roka Magar

Sapana Roka Magar (Nepali: सपना रोका मगर) is a Nepalese crematorium worker, who was selected as one of the 100 most influential women of 2020 by the BBC. She is involved in the cremation of abandoned bodies[1] from the street or mortuaries and arranges for them to be taken to hospital for post-mortem examinations. If the body remains unclaimed for more than 35 days, the cremation is performed according to Hindu rituals.[2]

Biography

Originally, Roka was from Myagdi District of Nepal.[3] She was born on 10 February 2002 as the youngest child of Jit Prasad Roka Magar (father) and Nanu Roka Magar (mother). At 14, she moved to Butwal where she moved in with a teenage boy against her parents' wishes. The relationship broke down in a few months and she became homeless.[4] In the streets, she became acquainted with Action for Social Change, an NGO, and began to work with them from where she operates the cremation and other social activities.[5]

She is also involved in feeding the homeless during the COVID-19 lockdown in Kathmandu.[6]

References
  1. "Nepal's Sapana Roka Magar among BBC's 100 inspiring women". My Republica. 24 November 2020. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  2. "BBC 100 Women 2020: Who is on the list this year?". BBC News. 23 November 2020. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
    - "१९ वर्षीय सपना बीबीसीको प्रभावशाली एक सय महिलाको सूचीमा". Janata Samachar (in Nepali). Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  3. "BBC features Nepal's Sapana Roka Magar on this year's 100 Women list". The Himalayan Times. 24 November 2020. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  4. "Social media elated by Nepali in BBC list". Nepali Times. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  5. "Nepal's Sapana Roka Magar, who provides Hindu funeral rites for unclaimed bodies, listed in BBC's 100 Women of 2020". Global Voices. 5 December 2020. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  6. "बीबीसीको प्रभावशाली महिलाको सूचीमा म्याग्दीकी सपना रोका मगर". Himalaya Television (in Nepali). Retrieved 7 December 2020.


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