Purnima Devi Barman: The Hargila Woman of Assam

Purnima Devi Barman is a well-known wildlife scientist from Assam, India, who has become famous for saving an endangered bird called the Greater Adjutant Stork, locally known as Hargila. Her inspiring journey shows how one person’s dedication can bring big change in society and nature. She is not only a scientist but also a social leader who has connected people, especially women, with nature conservation.

Early Life and Education

Purnima Devi Barman was born in Assam. From a young age, she loved nature and animals. Her grandmother played an important role in developing this love by sharing stories about birds and the environment. Growing up near the Brahmaputra River, she observed many birds and became curious about wildlife.

She studied at Gauhati University, where she completed her Master’s degree in Zoology with a specialization in Ecology and Wildlife Biology. Later, she started her PhD research in 2007. However, she paused her PhD for several years to focus on real-life conservation work in villages.

Turning Point in 2007

A major turning point in her life came in 2007. While doing her research in villages like Dadara and Pacharia in Assam, she saw a shocking incident. A tree with nests of the Greater Adjutant Stork was cut down, and many baby birds died.

This made her realize two important problems:

• People did not understand the importance of this bird
• The bird had a bad image because of its ugly appearance and scavenging behavior

Instead of ignoring the problem, she decided to take action. She left her PhD work for some time and started educating villagers about the importance of this bird.

About the Greater Adjutant Stork

The Greater Adjutant Stork is a large bird and is listed as endangered. There are only around 800–1,200 birds left in the world, and most of them are found in Assam.

This bird plays an important role in the ecosystem by cleaning waste and maintaining environmental balance. However, it faces many threats such as:

• Cutting of nesting trees
• Pollution
• Habitat loss
• Human misunderstanding

Hargila Army – A Unique Movement

One of the biggest achievements of Purnima Devi Barman is the creation of the Hargila Army.

The Hargila Army is an all-women group started around 2010. Today, it has more than 20,000 members, mostly rural women from Assam.

Main Work of Hargila Army:

• Protecting nesting trees
• Saving fallen baby birds
• Spreading awareness through songs, dramas, and festivals
• Teaching children about conservation
• Creating handicrafts with Hargila designs

This movement not only saved birds but also empowered women by giving them respect, income, and confidence.

Community-Based Conservation

Purnima Devi Barman believed that conservation is only possible when people are involved. So, she used simple and creative ways to spread awareness:

• Organized cooking competitions and village festivals
• Used local culture, songs, and dance
• Celebrated “baby showers” for birds like humans
• Introduced school programs for children

Because of her efforts, villagers who once hated the bird started protecting it.

Major Achievements

Her work has brought amazing results:

• Number of nests increased from 28 in 2007 to over 200 by 2019
• Assam now has the largest population of this bird
• No nesting trees are cut down anymore in many villages
• The bird has become a part of local culture

She also developed artificial breeding platforms and helped in rescuing injured birds.

Women Empowerment and Livelihood

Through the Hargila Army, thousands of women became financially independent. They:

• Weave traditional clothes with bird designs
• Make handicrafts
• Take part in eco-tourism

This helped improve their living conditions and reduced dependence on cutting trees or harming nature.

Global Recognition

Purnima Devi Barman’s work has been recognized all over the world. She has received many awards, including:

• Nari Shakti Puraskar (2017)
• Whitley Award (2017)
• UNEP Champions of the Earth Award (2022)
• Whitley Gold Award (2024)
• Named in TIME Women of the Year (2025)

These awards show how important her work is globally.

Challenges Faced

Even after success, she faces many challenges:

• Deforestation and urban development
• Climate change affecting bird habitats
• Lack of funds
• Some people still see the bird as a bad sign

But she continues her work with strong determination.

Future Goals

Her future plans include:

• Increasing bird population to 3,000 by 2030
• Expanding the Hargila Army model to other countries
• Creating conservation education centers
• Promoting eco-tourism

Conclusion

Purnima Devi Barman’s story teaches us that real change starts with one person’s effort. She turned a disliked bird into a symbol of pride and created a strong community movement.

Her work shows that:

• Conservation is not only about animals, but also about people
• Education and awareness can change mindsets
• Women can lead powerful environmental movements

She is a true inspiration for students, nature lovers, and future conservationists.

FAQs:

1. Who is Purnima Devi Barman?
Purnima Devi Barman is a wildlife biologist from Assam known for saving the endangered Hargila bird.

2. What is the Hargila Army?
The Hargila Army is a women-led conservation group working to protect the Greater Adjutant Stork.

3. Why is the Greater Adjutant Stork important?
It helps clean the environment by eating waste and maintains ecological balance.

4. What awards has she received?
She has received Nari Shakti Puraskar, Whitley Award, and UNEP Champions of the Earth Award.

5. How did she start her conservation work?
She started after seeing a tree with bird nests being cut down in 2007.