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POWERHOUSE GLOBAL MAGAZINE (PGMAG)
INTERVIEW WITH:
DR. BISHNU MAYA PARIYAR (DBMP) PGMAG: Dr. Bishnu, you are welcome to today's interview. DBMP: Thank you for having me. PGMAG: Please briefly introduce yourself to our readers. DBMP: My name is Bishnu Maya Pariyar. I am the Founding President and Chief Patron of Association of Dalit Women’s Advancement of Nepal (ADWAN). ADWAN enables rural Dalit women repressed by their caste and gender to claim their rights and live in dignity. Our mission addresses the root causes of gender and castebased discrimination by organizing women from different castes, building solidarity, and offering access to training and savings and loan activities. ADWAN's bottom-up approach directly focuses on the UN Sustainable Development Goals of women's empowerment, gender equality, poverty reduction and universal education. I also served as the Advisory Member of Diversity and Inclusion Board of Mayor Steven M. Fulop of Jersey City, New Jersey, United States. I am also Emissary of Sister City between City of Jersey City and Nepal’s Indrawati Rural Municipality. PGMAG: As a well celebrated leader with over 40 National and International awards, what is your driving force to keep making a difference in the world?
26 JANUARY 2021
DBMP: I belong to a Dalit caste family in Nepal. Dalits are still treated as untouchable people which is inhuman and against the law. I faced intense discrimination and prejudice when I was growing up. Once I asked my dad why I am different than other children? My dad used telling me you need to educate and fight against this inhuman system. Yes, the love of my family always solaced me and helped me to fight against most inhumane discrimination. Had my dad not supported me and all other sisters, we would not have been so much successful in life despite all the hardships that life posed on us. My dad gave me courage and zeal to fight against this discrimination when I was growing up, during all the stages of my life. Inhumane discrimination shattered my concept of humanity. However, the words of my dad had left an indelible impression on my mind. All
