South Asian Women who inspire us during Women’s History Month
In honor of #WomensHistoryMonth, DFP supporters are sharing the stories of South Asian women who inspire them. Have someone who’s story you would like to share? Email us at info@desisforprogress.org.
Rupi Kaur, poet
Rupi Kaur has become a household name for women of all races in the United States and Canada. She’s topped the charts with both of her books of poems — a two-time New York Times Bestselling author at the age of 25. My white female friends ask me if I’ve read her latest book — and for once, it’s not because Rupi is Indian and I am also Indian. It’s because her poems are genuinely good and relatable across color lines.
Rupi Kaur built an Instagram following of millions over the past few years, arguably reviving the field of poetry and making it accessible to a new generation of women. And most recently, she took all of these Instagram followers from all walks of life to her native home of Punjab — sharing photos of her with her turbaned Sikh father and gracefully normalizing the Sikh diaspora to millions of Canadians, Americans, and others.
But she also inspired a generation of western Sikhs, and South Asian women in general, whether to talk about their experiences with sexual violence or feel comfortable breaking social norms and pursuing passions in the arts.
Submitted by a DFP supporter.
Saru Jayaraman, attorney and labor organizer
Saru Jayaraman is the Co-Founder and Co-Director of the Restaurant Opportunities Centers United (ROC United) and Director of the Food Labor Research Center at UC Berkeley. After 9/11, together with displaced World Trade Center workers, she co-founded ROC, which now has more than 18,000 worker members, 200 employer partners, and several thousand consumer members in a dozen states nationwide.
Her work reminds us of the importance of intersectional organizing that doesn’t leave anyone in the community behind. She has helped thousands of people build community power, work to close the wage gap, and protect their rights.
Nominated by a DFP supporter.
Nisha Biswal, public policy expert
Nisha Biswal has a long career in public service, on Capitol Hill, at USAID, and most recently as the Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs in the U.S. Department of State. Throughout her career she has navigated the complex world of public policy and her identity as a South Asian American and public servant, even when mistaken as a representative of the Indian government during a Congressional hearing.
She has used her platform and experience to speak out about the impact of the election and the Administration’s policies on immigrant communities. As President of the U.S.-India Business Council, she continues to help the community get more engaged in public policy.
Nominated by a DFP Supporter.
Priya Dayananda, government relations professional
Priya inspires DFP supporters due to her dedication to helping the community, from mentoring South Asians on the Hill to supporting South Asian interns and community groups.
Priya Dayananda is the Managing Director of Federal Government Affairs. She joined KPMG in 2006. The Office of Government Affairs is responsible for representing KPMG’s interests in all matters of public policy before the Federal and state governments and for assisting non-U.S. practices in achieving their government affairs goals. She advances the U.S. firm’s public policy agenda by communicating the firm’s priorities and positions to the Administration, Members of Congress, and Regulators. Over the course of 20 years, Ms. Dayananda has worked on Capitol Hill as a Senior Advisor to Members of Congress on the House Financial Services Committee and as a registered financial services lobbyist for 16 years. She is recognized by Politico as on of the “ Top 50 Politicos” in the United States. In the South Asian community, she is recognized as a trailblazer and key mentor in Washington.
Hear from Priya at the DFP Women’s History Month Panel “Desi Women Who Lead” — Wednesday, March 28 — https://dfpdesiwomenwholead.eventbrite.com/
Desis for Progress is proud to provide a space for community voices and members to write about various issues affecting the South Asian community. The opinions expressed in these original pieces belong to the author.
