Sunita Viswanath (left), an Indian American Hindu environment activist, seen with Manizha Naderi at the Women for Afghan Women 12th anniversary on May 30, 2013 in New York City. (Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for Afghan Women)
The White House has chosen Indian American Sunita Viswanath as one of 12 faith leaders who will be honored as “Champions of Change” July 20 for their continuous efforts in protecting the environment and their communities from the effects of climate change.
The program was created as an opportunity for the White House to feature individuals doing “extraordinary things to empower and inspire members of their communities” in this endeavor, according to White House officials.
“These Champions have demonstrated clear leadership across the United States and around the world through their grassroots efforts to green their communities and educate others on the moral and social justice implications of climate change,” the White House said in a statement.
Viswanath, of Brooklyn, New York, has worked in women’s and human rights organizations for nearly 30 years. She is the co-founder and an active board member of the 14-year-old frontline women’s human rights organization, Women for Afghan Women.
In addition, Viswanath is co-founder and board member of Sadhana: Coalition of Progressive Hindus, “living and building a Hinduism that prioritizes social justice and upholding the Hindu principles of ekatva (oneness), ahimsa (non-violence) and sadhana (faith in action),” according to the White House.
She has been honored for her work with Sadhana to encourage Hindus to live out these principles by taking care of the environment.
According to a PTI report, Viswanath, who was born in Chennai, said her childhood was steeped in the ritualistic practice of Hinduism.
“I have always been secure in my identity as a Hindu. Growing up, I thought a lot about faith and religion, but I also had a very strong sense of social justice — what was fair,” she told PTI.
“I imbibed profound lessons of love and justice from my religious upbringing, from the stories we were told, the prayers we learned, the texts we read. I went on as an adult to devote my life to advancing social justice causes, particularly women’s human rights,” she added.
“If Hinduism cares deeply about all people and all living beings, then there must be an active, vocal Hindu movement for social justice and human rights today,” she noted, adding that a small group of like-minded individuals got together to explore this question, and Sadhana was born. One of the projects of Sadhana is Project Prithvi – a grassroots green project, which mobilizes Hindus, especially the youth, to live out the principle of ahimsa by taking care of the environment. Currently, they are working on a project to clean up specific beaches in Jamaica Bay, Queens, where Hindus worship.
According to IANS, Sadhana has officially adopted this beach, conducts regular clean-ups, and also does outreach through Hindu temples to advocate that Hindus worship in environmentally conscious ways, said a report on interfaithcenter.org.
Viswanath was a 2011 recipient of the “Feminist Majority Foundation’s Global Women’s Rights Award” for her work with WAW.
She lives in Brooklyn with her husband Stephan Shaw and their three sons — Gautama, Akash and Satya.