About Us
Bishnu Maya Pariyar Foundation
The Bishnu Maya Pariyar Foundation's mission is to create a society where each member of our society should be able to live with dignity. The Foundation believes in equitable society where everyone is treated equal and can achieve financial freedom. The Foundation works with its partner organization in Nepal, ADWAN to empower the Dalit and marginalized community. Your participation and small donation will have profound positive impact.
The Foundation's founder is Dr. Bishnu Maya Pariyar, an award winning scholar, prolific social entrepreneur, and one of the most admired Nepali-American personalities. Her life-long passion to work for the upliftment of so-called Dalit or untouchable and marginalized people in Nepal has brought profound change in the community. Dr. Pariyar believes that nothing is impossible if you’re determined to overcome or achieve.
Dr. Pariyar is founding President of ADWAN (Association for Dalit Women's Advancement of Nepal), a rights-based Nepali organization which has supported more than 25,000 children and more than 125,000 Dalit and marginalized women and their family members in Nepal since 1998.
आत्मसम्मान Dignity Award
आत्मसम्मान Dignity Award is established by The Bishnu Maya Pariyar Foundation to encourage and applaud the tireless works of individuals to end the caste and gender-based discriminations. The award will also recognize the courage and willingness to end untouchability in our society.
The Bishnu Maya Pariyar Foundation's mission is to create a society where each member of our society should be able to live with dignity. The Foundation believes in equitable society where everyone is treated equal and can achieve financial freedom.
I believe in change in the society.
I am a social worker and development worker. I dream big and I work for under privileged women and children in Nepal and United States. If you believe in my work, please join the cause. Change is possible and we all can become an Agent of Change.
-Dr. Bishnu Maya Pariyar, Hon.DLitt.
Dr. Bishnu Maya Pariyar, Hon. D.Litt.
Introduction
Dr. Bishnu Maya Pariyar is award winning scholar, prolific social entrepreneur, and one of the most admired Nepali-American personalities. Her life-long passion to work for the upliftment of so-called Dalit or untouchable and marginalized people in Nepal has brought profound change in the community. Dr. Pariyar believes that nothing is impossible if you’re determined to overcome or achieve.
In 2015, the City of Louisville, Kentucky, USA honored September 27 as "Dr. Bishnu Maya Pariyar Day” by Mayor Greg E. Fischer for her outstanding social contribution as in 2013, Dr. Pariyar was conferred with honorary Doctor of Letters (D.Litt.) from her alma mater, Pine Manor College, MA, USA for her pioneer social contribution. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Social and Political Systems from Nepal and the USA and a Master’s degree in International Development and Social Change from Clark University, MA, USA.
Dr. Bishnu Maya Pariyar’s life-struggle story has been featured at higher education text book, ‘The Writer’s Mindset’ by Dr. Lisa Wright Hoeffner which was published by one of the world’s top publications, McGraw Hill in 2021. Dr. Pariyar’s story is featured between 591-594 pages.
In 2022, Dr. Pariyar’s life story has been included at State of Massachusetts’s Department of Education 7th grade curriculum in which it featured in 8 pages under Lesson-12: Untouchability and SDG 10.
Dr. Bishnu Maya Pariyar was born into a poor Dalit family of eleven children in a remote village in Gorkha District in Western Nepal. She grew up without access to electricity, sanitation, health care and vehicular roads. Her family lived as subsistence farmers, where the children’s labor was essential for the family’s survival. Going to school met with many obstacles; as a Dalit girl, Ms. Pariyar was considered “untouchable” and teased and excluded by other children. But she’s endured and overcome those challenges, earned her education and founded her social organization called ADWAN that became catalyst for change in the society.
Dr. Bishnu Maya Pariyar is founding President of ADWANNepal.ORG, a rights-based Nepali organization which has supported more than 25,000 children and more than 150,000 Dalit and marginalized women and their family members in Nepal since 1998.
Dr. Pariyar’s brain-child social integration organization, ADWAN aims to foster a measure of economic independence, to boost self-esteem, dignity and to instill solidarity among diverse community and build a sense of national pride. Through her dedication and passion for the marginalized and Dalit community-the 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.
Dr. Pariyar is AAPI Commissioner of New Jersey Governor Phill Murphy. Dr. Pariyar had served twice as Advisory Member of Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop's Diversity & Inclusion Board between 2015-2017 & 2017-2019. She has also served as Board Member of Employment & Training Board of City of Jersey City. Currently, she serves at Women Advisory Board of Jersey City. Mayor Fulop appointed her to make sure Jersey City’s minority community is not left behind while city strides for development in all sectors.
In the year 2020 and 2021, as Coronavirus devastated the community in the United States and around the world, Dr. Pariyar has been in forefront of COVID-19 pandemic relief assistance program to needy Nepali and South Asian American community and international students. She has tirelessly led efforts to directly help hundreds of families and F1 students from Nepal and South Asia to receive day-to-day essentials such as masks, medicines, groceries and provided counseling to victims of domestic and sexual violence. Without her steadfast leadership, expertise and prompt and just collaboration, community would be left behind and greatly impacted. Dr. Pariyar’s role as Hudson Speaks’ South Asian Initiative Coordinator, NRNA ICC Executive Member and Nepali American community’s leading figure, she has been able to bring together local government and social organizations together to create coronavirus awareness and provide access to resources available for the most needy and vulnerable people in the United States and Nepal. Dr. Pariyar’s organization, ADWAN had also spear-headed the COVID-19 pandemic relief assistance efforts in rural Nepal.
Dr. Pariyar had also played pivotal role to have historic Nepal Flag Raising Ceremony (2017) and (2021) in Jersey City Hall, New Jersey, USA which is first not only in the United Sates but entire world; TPS (Temporary Protection Status) City of Jersey City Council Resolution for Nepalis living in the United States in 2015 and 2018. Dr. Pariyar has also been successfully bringing two countries closer as Emissary of Sister City between City of Jersey City and Nepal’s Indrawati Rural Municipality since 2019.
Dr Pariyar has more than one and a half decades experience as case manager, domestic violence and family advocate working with HUDSON Speaks Against Sexual Violence, Jersey City, NJ; ASIAN TASK FORCE AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, Boston, MA and NEPONSET Health Center, Boston, MA, and HarborCov, Communities Overcoming Violence, MA, USA. Through her work, community approach and tireless dedication she has been able to help hundreds of domestic and sexual violence victims from South Asian American community. Dr. Pariyar has given cultural sensitivity training to local officials, police and law enforcement officers in Boston, MA and Jersey City, New Jersey, USA.
Dr. Pariyar currently serves as Election Committee Member and Executive ICC Member of Non-Resident Nepalis Association (NRNA) International Coordination Council 2019-2021. Dr. Pariyar has also served Executive ICC Member of NRNA ICC (2019-2021) and was the first Chair of Women Empowerment Task Force of NRNA ICC (2014-2015). She is also founder of NRN Women Fund, a collective investment company of Non-Resident Nepali women from around the world and Vice Chair of All Ladies League New Jersey Chapter for Business Networking, USA. 2019-present; Co-Chair, NRNA ICC Children Welfare Task Force, Non-Resident Nepalis Association (NRNA) Internal Coordination Council; Board Member, Inspiring South Asian American Women, USA; Main Representative to UN for Beyond Beijing Committee (BBC) Nepal. She is actively involved with the United Nations NGO Committee on the Status of Women (CSW), New York and served as Co-Chair of Consultation Day 2018.
Dr. Pariyar has participated in over 50 national and international conferences as a keynote speaker, guest speaker and panelist. Dr. Pariyar had been invited to lecture at Harvard University, Clark University, Pine Manor College, Brandeis University, Boston University and other prestigious institutions. She has been invited as a panelist and speaker at national and international conferences including at UNIFEM, AMNESTY International, and The World Bank Family Network Forum.
Dr. Pariyar’s over two decades’ tireless grassroot social works have been applauded worldwide. She has been awarded with more than 40 national and international recognition, award, citation, proclamation for her outstanding work for Nepali people and diaspora community including The Bridge Builder Award from Harvard University, Perdita Hudson Human Rights Award by United Nations Association of USA, Dr. Ambedkar Award by Association of International Dalit Organizations, Margaret McNamara Memorial Award by World Bank Family Network, Pauline Tompkins Award, Women’s Leadership Award and President Cup Award from Pine Manor College, and Social change Fellow from Clark University.
She was also awarded 2021 NJ-11 Heroes award by U.S. Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (link), COVID-19 Hero award 2020 by New York City, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams; COVID-19 Champion award 2020 by United Sherpa Association, USA and Humanitarian of the World; Women of Action award 2019 by City of Jersey City; International Women's Day Award 2018 by The Society of Foreign Consuls in New York, USA; Community Service Award 2018 by South Asian American Outreach Community (SACO), New Jersey, USA; Nepal Samman (Jewel of Nation) award 2011 by Sagarmatha Foundation, Kathmandu, Nepal and Solute to the Heroes Award 2010 by Association of Nepali in America (ANA) and several commendation letters from various Nepali and international organizations from around the world.
Updated: April 5, 2024
नेपाली सुपरिचित सामाजिक अभियन्ता डा. विष्णुमाया परियारको जिवनी र कार्य
नेपाली सुपरिचित सामाजिक अभियन्ता डा. विष्णुमाया परियार राष्ट्रीय र अन्तर्राष्ट्रीय पुरस्कार विजेता विद्वान, प्रख्यात सामाजिक उद्यमी, र प्रशंसनीय नेपाली-अमेरिकी व्यक्तित्व हुन्। नेपालमा तथाकथित दलित वा छुवाछुत र सीमान्तकृत जनताको उत्थानका लागि काम गर्ने उनको जीवनभरको समर्पणले समुदायमा गहिरो परिवर्तन ल्याएको छ। जित वा हासिल गर्ने दृढ संकल्प छ भने असम्भव केही छैन भन्ने विश्वास डा. परियारको मान्यता छ ।
Nurturing Young Minds Equality
नयाँ पुस्तालाई समानताको शिक्षा
नेपाली सामाजिक अभियन्ता डा. विष्णुमाया परियारको जातीय छुवाछूत विरूद्ध र महिला सशक्तिकरण तथा बालबालिका शिक्षाको साढे दुई दशक लामो जीवन संघर्षको कथा अमेरिकी राज्य मासाचुसेट्सका हाल ४० डिस्ट्रिक्टका १५० विद्यालयका ३० हजार विद्यार्थीहरू अध्ययन गरिरहेकाछन् । अमेरिकाको मासाचुसेट्स राज्यको शिक्षा विभागले राज्यस्तरको कक्षा-७ को पाठ्यक्रममा “Lession-12: Untouchability and SDG 10” (पाठ-१२: अछुतपना र दीगो विकास १०) शिर्षक अन्तर्गत आठ पेजको लामो पाठ्य सामाग्रीमा डा. परियारको जीवनकार्यसंग सम्बन्धि विषय Taking Action to Reduce Inequality: The Work of Bishnu Pariyar, Unit 7.1; Lesson 16; UN Sustainable Goal 10: Reduced Inequality समावेश छ । यो पाठ्यक्रम सन् २०२२ मा मासाचुसेट्स राज्यको शिक्षा विभागले प्राईमरी सोर्सको सहकार्यमा तयार पारी राज्यस्तरमा लागू गरेको हो।
विभेद रहित समाजको कल्पना गर्नु हाम्रो नियती हो भने भावी पुस्ताको न्युनतम हक हो। संयुक्त राष्ट्र संघले आफ्नो दीगो विकासको लक्ष-१० मा Reduced Inequality (असमानताको न्यूनिकरण) भन्दै सन् २०३० सम्ममा आर्थिक असमानताको साथसाथै जात, जाति, धर्म, लैंगिक, उमेर र असक्तताको आधारमा हुने असमानता घटाउने प्रतिवद्दता गरेकोछ।
त्यसैगरी, सन् २०२१ मा डा. विष्णुमाया परियारको जीवन कहानी विश्वव्यापी कलेज पाठ्यपुस्तकमा प्रकाशित छ। विश्वविद्यालय र हाईस्कूलका विद्यार्थीहरूको पाठ्यपुस्तक प्रकाशनमा विश्वमै अग्रणी मानिने अमेरिकी प्रकाशक म्याकग्रो हिलले डा. लिसा राईट होफ्नरद्वारा लिखित ‘दि राईटर्स माईण्डसेट’ (The Writer’s Mindset) पुस्तकमा डा. परियारको जीवन संघर्षको कहानी प्रकाशन गरेको छ। उक्त पुस्तकको ६९२ पृष्ठ मध्ये डा. परियारको कहानी पृष्ठ ५९१-५९४ बिच चार पृष्ठहरूमा समावेश गरिएकोछ। यसरी नेपाली व्यक्तित्वको कहानी विश्व प्रसिद्ध पाठ्यपुस्तकमा प्रकाशित भएको ईतिहासमै पहिलो पटक हो।
उनको यो पाठ्यपुस्तकमा समावेश कहानी यस अघि अमेरिकी संघीय सरकारको पिस कोरले आफ्नो वेबसाइटमा प्रकाशन गरेको थियो।
विश्वमै अग्रणी मानिने म्याकग्रो हिल पब्लिकेसनको पाठ्यपुस्तकहरू अमेरिकामा मात्र हैन विश्वको १००+ (सय बढी) मुलुकहरूका हाईस्कूल, कलेज र विश्वविद्यालयहरूमा पढाईन्छ। सन् २०२० को डाटा अनुसार हाल यो पब्लिकेसनको ४३ लाख बढी सशुल्क पाठ्यपुस्तक किन्ने विद्यालय, विश्वविद्यालय, विद्यार्थीहरू र प्रोफेसरहरू छन् भने यसका ११ सयभन्दा बढी शिक्षण संस्थानहरू विशेष प्रयोगकर्ता छन्।
अमेरिकामा डा. विष्णुमाया परियार डे" घोषणा
राष्ट्रीय र अन्तर्राष्ट्रीय ४० बढी पुरस्कारहरूबाट सम्मानित डा. विष्णुमाया परियारलाई सन् २०१५ मा उनले समाजमा पुर्याएको योगदानको कदर गर्दै अमेरिकाको केन्टुकी राज्यको लुईभिल शहरका मेयर ग्रेग ई फिसरले प्रोक्लेमेसन पत्रद्वारा सेप्टेम्बर २७ तारिखलाई "डा. विष्णुमाया परियार डे" घोषणा गरिएको छ । यसरी जिवित नेपाली व्यक्तित्वको नाममा दिवस (डे) घोषणा गरेर विदेशीभूमिमा सम्मान गरिएको यो पहिलो ऐतिहासिक दिन हो ।
विश्वमै पहिलो पटक अमेरिकि शहरमा नेपालको झण्डोत्तोलन
सन् २०१७ को जुन ३० तारिख अमेरिकाको न्यू जर्सी राज्यको जर्सी सिटी सहर आफ्नो सिटी हल भवनको ताज छानामा नेपालको झण्डा फहराउने विश्वमै पहिलो अमेरिकि शहर बनेको थियो । जर्सीसिटी सहरकी तत्कालिन डाईभर्सिटी र ईन्क्लुसन वोर्डकी सल्लाहकार डा. विष्णुमाया परियारको पहलमा उक्त ऐतिहासिक झण्डोत्तोलन समारोह सम्पन्न भएको थियो। सोही जर्सी सिटी नगरले दोश्रो ऐतिहासिक झण्डोत्तोलन समारोह पनि डा. परियारकै पहलमा सन् २०२१ को सेप्टेम्वर २० तारिख नेपालको झण्डा फराएको थियो।
त्यसैगरी, अमेरिकाको जर्सी सिटी शहर र नेपालको ईन्द्रावती गाउँपालिका बिच सन् २०१९ को जनवरी २४ तारिख सिस्टर सिटी बनाउन दुई मेयरद्वारा आठ बुँदे ऐतिहासिक सम्झौता पत्रमा हस्ताक्षर गरिएको थियो। यि दुई शहर र गाउँपालिका बिच हुने औपचारिक रूपमा सिस्टर सिटी बनाउन जर्सी सिटी काउन्सिलद्वारा सन् २०१८ को डिसेम्वर १९ तारिख ऐतिहासिक काउन्सिल रिजोलुसन पारित गरिएको थियो। जर्सी सिटी मेयर स्टेभन फुलपकी सल्लाहकार तथा दुई शहर बिचकी ईमिसरी (विशेषदूत) को डा. विष्णुमाया परियारको पहल र नेतृत्वमा यि दुई शहर बिच सिस्टर सिटी बनाउन सफल भएको थियो। अन्य मुलुकको शहरसंग सिस्टर सिटी बन्ने ईन्द्रावती गाउँपालिका विश्वमै नयाँ नेपालको पहिलो गाउँपालिका हो।
जर्सी सिटी शहरद्वारा सन् २०१५ र २०१८ मा काउन्सिल प्रेसिडेण्ट रोलाण्डो लाभारोको सवल नेतृत्व र डा. विष्णुमाया परियारको तत्परतामा अमेरिकामा रहेका नेपालीहरुको लागि नेपालमा गएको महाभूकम्पले उनीहरूको नेपालमा रहेका परिवारमा पर्न गएको क्षतिको निम्ति राहत पुर्याउन टिपिएस (TPS) सुविधा दिलाउने सम्बन्धी काउन्सिल रिजोलुसन पारित गरिएको थियो। टिपिएस रिजोलुसन सन् २०१५ र २०१८ मा पास गर्ने जर्सी सिटी एक मात्र अमेरिकी शहर हो ।
अमेरिकाको न्यू जर्सी राज्यको गभर्नर फिल मर्फीद्वारा गठित पहिलो एशियन अमेरिकी र प्यासिफिक आईल्याण्डर आयोग (AAPI Commission) मा नेपाली अमेरिकी सुपरिचित सामाजिक अभियन्ताडा. विष्णुमाया परियारसहित २८ जना व्यक्तित्वहरू मनोनित गरिएकोछ। यसरी कमिसनर नियुक्त हुने डा. परियार एक मात्र नेपाली हुन्। गभर्नर मर्फीले सन् २०२१ को नोवेम्बरमा एएपिआई कमिसनको स्थापना गरेका थिए भने मे महिना एएपिआई सम्पदा महिनाकोरूपमा मनाईने अवसर पारेर उक्त नियुक्ति गरेका हुन्। गभर्नर मर्फीले एशियन अमेरिकी र प्यासिफिक आईल्याण्डरहरूको जनसंख्या न्यूजर्सी राज्यमा अमेरिकाभरमा तेश्रो ठूलो संख्या रहेको उल्लेख गर्दै राज्यको विविधतामा एएपिआई समुदायको मुख्य भूमिका रहेको बताएकाछन्। उक्त एएपिआई आयोगले राज्यमा एएपिआई समुदायको सामाजिक र आर्थिक हक हीतको निम्ति नीति निर्माण गर्ने र गभर्नर र राज्य सभामा वार्षिक प्रतिवेदन प्रस्तुत गर्ने जिम्मेवारी दिईएकोछ।
यसैविच, गभर्नर मर्फीले न्यू जर्सी राज्यको K-12 विद्यालयहरूमा सन् २०२२-२३ शैक्षिक सत्रदेखि अनिवार्यरूपमा एशियन अमेरिकी र प्यासिफिक आईल्याण्डरबारे पठनपाठन गरिने कानून पारित गरेका थिए। एएपिआई समुदायबारे पाठ्यक्रममा पढाई अनिवार्य गर्ने राज्यहरूमा ईलिनोई राज्यपछि न्यू जर्सी राज्य दोश्रो अमेरिकी राज्य बनेकोछ।
जर्सी सिटी सहरको मेयर स्टिभन फुलपको विविधता र समावेशी वोर्डकि पूर्व सल्लाहकार रही सकेकी डा. परियार हाल जर्सी सिटी सहरको महिला सल्लाहकार तथा रोजगारी र तालिम कमिटीको सदस्य रहेकीछिन्। जर्सी सिटी सहरको महिला आयोगको गठन सन् २०२२ को जनवरी २६ मा काउन्सिल प्रेसिडेंट जोयस वाटरम्यानको नेतृत्व र डा. परियारको पहलमा गठन भएको हो।
डा. परियार हाल अमेरिकाको न्यू जर्सी राज्यको जर्सी सिटीस्थित केयर पोईन्ट हेल्थ अन्तर्गत हड्सनस्पिककि वरिष्ठ प्रोग्राम डाईरेक्टरको रूपमा कार्यरत छिन्। हड्सन स्पिक न्यू जर्सी राज्यको हड्सन काउण्टीमा साढे छ लाख जनसंख्यालाई यौन हिंशा विरूद्ध गैरसरकारी र सरकारी सहकार्यमा आकस्मिक सहायता प्रदान गर्ने मुख्य संस्था हो।
एड्वानले स्थापना काल सन् १९९८ देखि हालसम्म २५ हजार बढी बालबालिकाहरू र डेढ लाखभन्दा बढी दलित र सिमान्तकृत तिनका परिवार र जनतालाई शिक्षा, स्वास्थ्य, आर्थिक सशक्तिकरण, दीगोकृषि, सामाजिक जागरण, संचेतना, कानूनी प्रशिक्षण लगायतका विविध क्षेत्रहरूमा योगदान पुर्याउँदै आएकोछ। एड्वानकी संस्थापक अध्यक्ष डा. परियार हुन्।
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2010 - present
2010 - present