At the age of 17 Dilli Bahadur Chaudhary began his lifetime of work as an organizer for the socially, politically and economically deprived people of Nepal.
In 1985 Dilli organized, along with 15 youth, a club called MisritCharpate. A group of Tharu Indigenous youth created a movement to improve inadequate programs and services. Between 1985 to 1990, Mr. Chaudhary was able to unite around 300,000 members into the organization. Administration of autocratic Panchayat regime had accused him of being traitor at that period. Their efforts in introducing literacy, income generation, and advocacy were recognized by the funders. By 1991 they formalized their efforts by creating BASE (Backward Society Education) which still, today, upholds its vision “first sight on education” with mass coverage in rural and marginalized areas. The literacy rate among Tharu Indigenous people increased due to formal and non-formal literacy campaigns led by Mr. Chaudhary. More than 350,000 women, men and children have become literate.
BASE founder president, Dilli led the Kamaiya (bonded laborer/slaves) movement and in 2000, this enormous activist effort led to the outlaw of bonded labor altogether, essentially “freeing” over 200,000 people. These kamaiyas were then socially and economically empowered. Despite difficult circumstances, Mr. Chaudhary was able to organize Indigenous and marginalized women forming more than 800 saving credit women groups in mid and far west regions. Currently in the Nepal Government Minister of Labor and Employment, Dilli helped bring forth a National Action Plan for the Elimination of Child Labor (2018).
