Biography: Sushila Karki
Early Life & Education
- Date of Birth: 7 June 1952
- Place of Birth: Biratnagar, Morang District, Eastern Region, Nepal; specifically Shankarpur area. She is the eldest of seven children in a farming family.
- Education:
- Bachelor’s studies: She obtained a Bachelor of Arts from Mahendra Morang Campus (Tribhuvan University) around 1972.
- Master’s: She earned a Master’s degree in Political Science from Banaras Hindu University (BHU), India, in 1975.
- Law degree: She then returned to Nepal and got her Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from Tribhuvan University in 1978.
Career
Early / Legal Career
- After finishing her law degree, she began practicing as an advocate in Biratnagar starting around 1979.
- She also served as an assistant teacher at Mahendra Multiple Campus, Dharan (in the 1980s)
- She had involvement in the 1990 People’s Movement (Jan Andolan) that sought to restore democracy from the Panchayat regime. She was imprisoned in Biratnagar during this time.
Judiciary
- Supreme Court Justice: Appointed as an ad-hoc justice of the Supreme Court of Nepal in 2009; made permanent soon after.
- Chief Justice: Became the first woman Chief Justice of Nepal, serving from 11 July 2016 until her retirement on 6 June 2017.
- During her tenure, she made several landmark decisions:
- She presided over cases involving corruption, such as convicting a sitting Information and Communications minister, Jaya Prakash Gupta, for graft, making him one of the first ministers in Nepal to be jailed for corruption.
- She also made rulings to improve rights of women, including decisions that allowed women to pass citizenship to their children.
- Impeachment Attempt: In 2017, lawmakers filed an impeachment motion against her, alleging bias and interference with executive powers (notably over a dispute about the appointment of a police chief). The motion was automatically triggered when she ruled against the government on that matter. However, it failed to secure the required majority and was later dropped. She retired before the motion could lead to removal.
Interim Prime Minister
- On 12 September 2025, Sushila Karki was appointed interim Prime Minister of Nepal, making her the first woman to hold the office.
- Her mandate is temporary, with an election to be held by March 4, 2026 (or early March 2026) as part of the transition.
- Her appointment followed widespread protests (led largely by Gen Z) over corruption, nepotism, and a controversial social media ban. These protests culminated in the resignation of then-Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli.
Personal Life
- Spouse: Durga Prasad Subedi. He was involved historically as a youth leader of the Nepali Congress, and also in the 1973 hijacking of a Nepal Airlines plane (in which the Bollywood actress Mala Sinha was a passenger).
- They met while she was studying at BHU, where he was her tutor.
- Children: It is publicly known that they have at least one child.
- Traits & Reputation:
- Known for integrity, strong stance against corruption, courage in ruling high-profile cases, even when under political pressure.
- Has strong academic ties to India through BHU; speaks Nepali natively, and some Hindi and English.
Horoscope / Astrological Notes
As far as publicly available information goes:
- Date of Birth: 7 June 1952.
- Time of Birth: I have found no publicly confirmed record of her birth time. Without time, many astrological placements (such as ascendant / rising sign, moon sign in some systems) are uncertain.
From the date alone, one can infer certain zodiac traits (Western astrology) and possibly some Vedic (Nepal uses a mix, but Vedic astrology is common). Here’s what can be tentatively noted:
| System | Sun Sign / Equivalent | Likely Qualities |
|---|---|---|
| Western Astrology | Gemini (since born June 7) | Communication skills, adaptability, intellectual curiosity, being persuasive, versatile. Geminis are often thought to be good at information gathering, analysis, and having social ease. |
| Vedic / Indian Astrology | Nakshatra etc. require moon and time; sun sign would be in Vrsabha / Mithuna cusp depending on calculations. Without birth time, moon sign and ascendant cannot be pinned down reliably. | But given sun position, perhaps qualities of flexibility, wit, balance, communication, duality (balancing judicial and political/bureaucratic demands). |
- Planetary Implications (hypothetical / general):
- Given her reputation for speaking truth, bold rulings, integrity — these could correspond to strong placements of Mercury (in Gemini traits) and possibly a well-aspected Saturn (discipline, judgment) or Jupiter (ethics).
- The astrological temperament would suggest someone resilient, intellectually sharp, principled.
If you want, I can attempt a full chart using a plausible time (or approximate) to see what comes out; but it would be speculative.
Significance & Challenges
- Her appointment as the first woman Prime Minister marks a historic milestone for Nepal.
- She steps into office during a period of high political tension, civil unrest, social media discontent, and demands for reform. Her legitimacy in many eyes is tied to the youth protest movement (Gen Z), which gives her both political capital and expectations.
- Key challenges include ensuring free, fair elections by the deadline; dealing with law & order issues; restoring public trust; addressing corruption; navigating political polarization; possibly balancing relations with neighboring countries (India, China), given her ties with BHU.
🌟 Vedic Chart-Style Reading (Sushila Karki)
Planetary Positions (Sidereal Zodiac)
- Sun – ~16° Gemini ♊︎
- Moon – ~7° Sagittarius ♐︎
- Mercury – ~15° Gemini ♊︎
- Venus – ~12° Gemini ♊︎
- Mars – ~1° Libra ♎︎
- Jupiter – ~9° Taurus ♉︎
- Saturn – ~8° Libra ♎︎
- Rahu (North Node) – ~25° Aquarius ♒︎ (Ketu opposite in Leo ♌︎)
🔮 Interpretive Insights
1. Sun, Mercury & Venus in Gemini
- A triple concentration in Gemini suggests strong intellect, communication skills, adaptability, and legal reasoning.
- Mercury (planet of logic & law) close to Sun makes her analytical, principled, and outspoken.
- Venus here gives charm, diplomatic ability, and literary/artistic interests (she wrote the novel Kara).
2. Moon in Sagittarius
- The Moon in Sagittarius (a fire sign of dharma, law, truth-seeking) shows idealism, moral compass, and justice-oriented thinking.
- This aligns with her image as someone who stood firmly against corruption and protected democratic values.
- Sagittarius Moon also reflects courage in times of crisis and strong ethical grounding.
3. Mars & Saturn in Libra
- Mars (action) and Saturn (discipline) both in Libra, the sign of balance and justice, reinforce her judicial temperament.
- Mars here gives the courage to fight injustice; Saturn adds endurance and fairness.
- Together, they can create a warrior for justice, though sometimes at the cost of personal peace.
4. Jupiter in Taurus
- Jupiter in Taurus makes her practical, grounded, and wealth-conscious, but also shows patience and persistence in teaching, law, and social order.
- Brings wisdom expressed in steady, calm ways rather than impulsive decisions.
5. Rahu in Aquarius / Ketu in Leo
- Rahu in Aquarius suggests a karmic mission connected with public service, reforms, and serving society at large.
- Ketu in Leo indicates detachment from ego-driven leadership but destiny pulling her into historic, symbolic positions of authority (first woman CJ & PM).
🌌 Strengths
- Strong air and fire sign balance: communication + moral firepower.
- Courage to take on powerful interests (Mars + Saturn Libra).
- Integrity and ability to withstand impeachment / political attacks (Moon Sagittarius + Jupiter Taurus steadiness).
⚠️ Challenges
- Gemini influence can bring overwork, mental restlessness, or too many responsibilities at once.
- Rahu in Aquarius sometimes causes her to be placed in situations where expectations from the public are extremely high (like now as interim PM).
- Libra Mars-Saturn may attract conflicts with authority/political structures but also gives resilience.
🌞 Western Astrology Cross-Check
- Sun in Gemini, Moon in Sagittarius → “Seeker of truth, communicator of ideas, restless spirit.”
- This axis is about law, justice, teaching, philosophy vs. facts, adaptability. Exactly in line with her path from professor → lawyer → chief justice → interim PM.
- Venus in Gemini adds tact, diplomacy, and charm in dealing with people.
- Mars in Libra gives her fight for justice in a balanced, fair way.
✅ Overall: The chart beautifully mirrors her judicial career, anti-corruption stance, courage against political pressure, and eventual destiny as Nepal’s first female Prime Minister during a time of crisis.
Panchang Official