Who is Purnima Devi Barman, featured on TIME's list
What's the story
Assam-based wildlife biologist Dr. Purnima Devi Barman has made it to TIME's Women of the Year 2025 list. She is the only Indian woman to be honored with the recognition for her remarkable contributions to conservation.
Dr. Barman is widely known for her work in protecting the endangered greater adjutant stork or Hargila and for setting up an all-women conservation group called "Hargila Army."
Conservation impact
Barman's conservation efforts uplift women and wildlife
Dr. Barman's unique approach to conservation combines wildlife protection with women's empowerment, creating a sustainable community-driven movement.
Her work has greatly improved the status of the greater adjutant stork from "endangered" to "near threatened" under the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Further, her initiative has changed the lives of local women by engaging them in sustainable businesses.
Grassroots movement
Hargila Army: A force for conservation and community development
The Hargila Army, started by Dr. Barman, consists of around 20,000 women who protect stork nests and educate others on conservation.
This grassroots movement has spread beyond Assam to other parts of India and even to Cambodia.
The initiative also helps local women earn a livelihood through sustainable businesses such as making textiles with stork-themed embroidery.
Personal journey
Barman's journey from Assam to global recognition
Born near the Brahmaputra River in Assam, Dr. Barman was inspired by her grandmother's teachings about nature.
She pursued a Master's degree in Zoology from Gauhati University and started her conservation work in 2007.
Her efforts were triggered when she saw locals destroying stork nesting sites due to superstitions.
"Feeling their heartbeats moved her," TIME quoted, marking this as the start of her mission.
Accolades
Barman's conservation work earns prestigious awards
Dr. Barman's conservation work has also won her several prestigious awards, including India's Nari Shakti Puraskar in 2017 and the UN's Champions of the Earth Award in 2022.
In 2024, she was awarded the Whitley Gold Award for her contribution to biodiversity conservation.
Her inclusion in TIME's Women of the Year 2025 list puts her in the company of global personalities like Nicole Kidman and Gisele Pelicot.