Meet Saraswati Nepali, a fearless advocate hailing from the remote district of Baitadi in Nepal. She emerged as a relentless champion of Dalit rights and justice, driven by her early encounters with discrimination during her school days.
In August, Sarswati Nepali was recognized as a 2023 global anti-racism champion at an awards ceremony in Washington, where she received the accolade from the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken.
In her youth, Saraswati was forced to dash home, a grueling 25-minute journey, just to quench her thirst because the oppressive caste system forbade her from drinking from the same taps, cups, or buckets as her fellow students. This injustice struck a chord in her heart. However, it was a pivotal moment in her tenth year of schooling that truly ignited her lifelong commitment to the cause. On that fateful day, she returned home thirsty, only to find no water to drink. Dalits like her faced the arduous task of fetching water from distant sources or enduring endless waits to access water from upper-caste taps, as they were forbidden from handling the taps or ponds themselves. This day, her mother waited in vain for hours, unable to secure water.
This profound experience fueled Saraswati Nepali’s determination to stand up for her rights and those of her fellow Dalits. Since that moment, she has dedicated her entire life to the struggle for Dalit rights and justice in Nepal, garnering global recognition along the way, including a recent anti-racism award from the US State Department.
Dalits constitute at least 13% of Nepal’s population, yet despite the country’s legal framework prohibiting caste-based discrimination, they continue to face daily abuse and prejudice.
Saraswati Nepali’s advocacy extends beyond water rights; she successfully lobbied for a separate tap for Dalit students at her school. As the president of the Dalit Society Development Forum, she has also campaigned tirelessly for equal access to religious temples and the eradication of haliya, a bonded labor system prevalent in the far-western region of Nepal. This practice was finally abolished in Nepal in 2008.
Yet, despite her two decades of advocacy, Saraswati recognizes that only 30% of the necessary changes have been achieved. The remaining 70% demand continued dedication and effort. Her vision now extends to empowering Dalits through education and economic opportunities, enabling them to assume leadership roles in society and actively participate in the implementation of the law. Her pledge is unwavering: she will continue the fight for equal rights until her last breath.