Who Is Purnima Devi Barman, conservationist on Time's women Of Year 2025

Purnima Devi Barman, an Indian biologist and wildlife conservationist, has been named among Time magazine’s Women of the Year 2025. She is the only Indian woman in the list, which honors 13 leaders working toward a better and more equal world.

Who is Purnima Devi Barman?

Barman, 45, was deeply moved in 2007 when she received a call about a tree being cut down in Assam, home to a family of greater adjutant storks, a species often disliked due to its scavenging nature. Witnessing the destruction of their habitat, she felt a strong connection between the birds and her twin daughters. This moment sparked her mission to protect the species.

Born in Assam's Kamrup region, Purnima Devi Barman attended Gauhati University for her Master's degree in Zoology, specialising in Ecology and Wildlife Biology. While researching for her PhD in 2007, Barman saw a tree owner cut down a greater adjutant nest. Realising the stork was disliked for its looks and scavenging habits, she paused her PhD to educate locals on its ecological importance.

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A post shared by Purnima Devi Barman (@storksister)

At the time, there were only about 450 greater adjutant storks left in the region. Today, thanks to Barman’s efforts, their population in Assam has increased to over 1,800. In 2023, the bird’s conservation status improved from “endangered” to “near threatened” under the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) classification.

Building ‘Hargila Army’

To protect the storks, Barman founded the ‘Hargila Army,’ a grassroots movement of about 20,000 women dedicated to conserving the species. They protect nesting sites, prevent tree cutting, rehabilitate injured birds, and hold baby showers to celebrate newborn storks. The movement has expanded beyond Assam to other parts of India and Cambodia.

She has worked as a Senior Wildlife Biologist at Aaranyak, leading its greater adjutant conservation project. She is also the Director of WiNN (Women in Nature Network) India and a member of the IUCN Stork, Ibis, and Spoonbill Specialist Group.

Barman’s efforts have saved a species and empowered local women. The Hargila Army members have turned conservation into a livelihood by weaving and selling textiles decorated with stork images. Barman wears traditional dresses featuring stork motifs created by these women.

Barman has received numerous awards. In 2017, she was honoured with India’s highest civilian award for women, the ‘Nari Shakti Puraskar,’ by former President Ram Nath Kovind. She also won the prestigious Whitley Award, known as the ‘Green Oscar,’ presented by Princess Anne of the United Kingdom. Her work has been featured by National Geographic India, and a documentary titled The Stork Saviors by Vijay and Ajay Bedi won the Best Short Film award at the Naturale Film Festival in Germany in 2021.

Time magazine’s Women of the Year list highlights individuals addressing global issues like gender-based violence, climate change, and women’s rights. Barman’s inclusion in the 2025 list recognises her contributions to wildlife conservation and women’s empowerment.

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