Indian biologist Purnima Devi Barman features in Time’s Women of Year 2025 list

Indian biologist and wildlife conservationist Purnima Devi Barman, who is from the northeast Indian state of Assam, was named in the Time’s Women of the Year 2025 list.

The 45-year-old biologist became the only Indian to find a place on the list due to the role she played in wildlife conservation.

She is credited to have played a major role in saving one of the world’s most endangered storks.

Born in Kamrup region in Assam, Purnima is the founder of the Hargila Army.

It is an all-female conservation initiative protecting the greater adjutant stork.

She was awarded the Champions of the Earth Award in the Entrepreneurial Vision category, the UN’s highest environmental honour, in 2022.

In her career, 2017 remained significant, since in the same year she won the Whitley Award for her conservation efforts and the Nari Shakti Puraskar, the highest civilian award for women, presented by the President of India.

As per the Whitley Fund for Nature website, Barman had worked to save the greater adjutant stork whose numbers have quadrupled in Assam to more than 1,800.

“Hargila were always misunderstood and treated as a bad omen or a disease carrier. If I didn’t do something, we were going to lose this bird forever. So, I made it my mission to save them,” she was quoted as saying by Whitley Fund for Nature website.

“Magic happens when we involve communities. Hargila Army – it’s like a sisterhood network among the women,” said Purnima.