Dr Pariyar conferred prestigious award in Nepal

DIGNITY REPORTER-KATHMANDU:

The prestigious Human Rights award of the country ‘Karmayogi Badri Pahadi Samajsewa Puraskar 2080 BS’ has been conferred to noted social worker and Dr. Bishnu Maya Pariyar.

A Nepali-American Pariyar, who resides in New Jersey, USA, is an internationally acclaimed activist working in the fields of human rights, social justice and empowerment. 

The prestigious prize having a purse of NPR 110,000, established in the name of a noted social worker and human rights defender Badri Pahadi, who is also the founding chair of Human Rights and Peace Society (HURPES) Krishna Pahadi, is awarded annually.

Former Chief Justice Shushila Karki conferred the award to Dr. Pariyar amid a function on April 21 here in Kathmandu.

Speaking at the function Dr. Pariyar said she would spend the prize money for the sake of deprived children and women. “I received many such awards abroad but this one which I received in my motherland means a lot to me,” Pariyar said. “This award has encouraged me to further excel my ongoing fight for social justice and human rights.”

Through her dedication and passion for the marginalized and Dalit community so-called low-caste or untouchable people, Dr. Pariyar has overcome tremendous obstacles of gender, caste discrimination, and poverty in Nepal as well as challenges that emerged because of socio-economic inequality and exclusion. 

Pariyar was awarded the Perdita Huston Activist for Human Rights Award by United Nations Association of the USA, Washington DC in recognition of the life and work of outstanding advocacy for women’s rights in the developing world.

In 2006, she was also a recipient of Bridge Builder 2006 by Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, which recognizes grassroots leaders in the international development and community organizing.

In 2007, World Bank Family Network, Washington DC awarded her Margaret McNamara Memorial Award which is awarded to women committed to improving the lives of women and children in their home countries.

Dr. Pariyar was conferred with an honorary Doctor of Literature (D.Litt.) from her alma mater, Pine Manor College, MA for her pioneer social contribution.

In 2015, the City of Louisville, Kentucky, United States announced “Dr. Bishnu Maya Pariyar Day” on September 27 to commend her struggle for women’s rights and domestic violence in Nepal as well as in the USA.

Dr. Bishnu Maya Pariyar’s life-struggle story has been featured in a higher education textbook, ‘The Writer’s Mindset’ by Dr. Lisa Wright Hoeffner which was published by one of the world’s top publications, McGraw Hill in 2021. 

Pariyar is the founder and president of the Association for Dalit Women's Advancement of Nepal (Adwan), an organization active in the field of rights.

Pariyar’s brain-child social integration organization, ADWAN aims to foster a measure of economic independence, boost self-esteem, dignity and instil solidarity among diverse communities and build a sense of national pride.

Addressing the function, former Chief Justice Karki said she was happy knowing the success of Pariyar. “Education and awareness in the society was essential to ensure social justice and human rights,” she said.

Last year, the award was conferred to Mithai Devi Biswokarma.