Dr. Purnima Devi Barman has won Wayfinder Award for the year 2026. With this recognition, she has once again brought global pride to Assam. She has been named one among the 15 global changemakers as recipient of this honour. This award recognises people who are creating real impact in science, conservation, education, technology and storytelling.
For UPSC, APSC and State PCS aspirants, her work is more than a news update. It is a strong case study of biodiversity conservation, women empowerment, community participation and sustainable development.
Why did Dr. Purnima Devi Barman win the Wayfinder Award?
Dr. Purnima Devi Barman won the 2026 Wayfinder Award presented by the National Geographic Society and Kia. The award honours bold changemakers from different parts of the world who are working to protect the planet.
She received this recognition for her long work in saving the Greater Adjutant Stork. This bird is locally called Hargila in Assam. Her conservation model is special because it does not depend only on experts or officials. Instead, it brings local women, families and villages into the centre of conservation.
Who is Dr. Purnima Devi Barman?
Dr. Purnima Devi Barman is a wildlife biologist and conservationist from Assam. She is widely known as the founder of the Hargila Army. She also works with Aaranyak, a well-known biodiversity conservation organisation based in Assam.
Her love for birds began in childhood near the wetlands and paddy fields of Assam. Later, she studied Zoology and focused her research on the Greater Adjutant Stork. However, during her fieldwork, she saw that the bird faced serious threats due to habitat loss, tree cutting and negative public perception.
This experience changed the direction of her life. She decided to protect the Hargila by involving the people who lived closest to its nesting sites. For her leadership in the conservation of Hargila (Greater Adjutant Stork), Purnima Devi Barman won the Wayfinder Award in 2026.
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What is the Wayfinder Award?
The Wayfinder Award is a global honour given by the National Geographic Society. It recognises changemakers who create strong impact in fields like science, conservation, education, technology and storytelling. Moreover, the award celebrates people who use bold ideas to protect the planet and solve real-world problems. In 2026, the Society honoured 15 such changemakers from across the world, including Assam’s Dr. Purnima Devi Barman for her remarkable conservation work.
What is Hargila (Greater Adjutant Stork)?
Hargila is the Assamese name for the Greater Adjutant Stork. The word roughly means “bone swallower”. The bird was once disliked by many villagers because it fed on waste and carrion. Its nests were also considered dirty by some people.
However, the Hargila plays an important ecological role. It helps to clean the environment by feeding on waste and decaying matter. It is also linked with wetland ecosystems and biodiversity conservation.
The Greater Adjutant Stork (Leptoptilos dubius) was earlier considered highly threatened. Conservation efforts in Assam, Bihar and Cambodia have helped improve its status. Today, it is often discussed as a successful example of community-based conservation.
Conservation Status of Greater Adjutant Stork:
- IUCN – Endangered
- Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 – Schedule I
What is the Hargila Army?
Hargila Army is a women-led conservation movement for the conservation of Greater Adjutant Stork. Dr. Purnima Devi Barman started this women-led conservation movement. With her efforts, at present, it has grown into a network of more than 20,000 women. These women protect nesting trees, rescue fallen chicks, spread awareness and promote respect for the bird.
Most importantly, the movement changed the image of the Hargila. Earlier, people saw it as a dirty bird or bad omen. Now, many communities celebrate it through folk songs, festivals, textiles and local traditions.
The Hargila Army also connects conservation with livelihood. Women create and sell traditional textiles with Hargila motifs. As a result, the movement supports both biodiversity and women’s financial independence.
Major Achievements of Dr. Purnima Devi Barman who won the Wayfinder Award?
- In 2026, Dr. Purnima Devi Barman won the Wayfinder Award. Before this, she received major honours. These include the Whitley Award, the Whitley Gold Award, UNEP Champions of the Earth Award etc.
- Dr. Purnima Devi Barman’s work has produced visible results. Nesting sites in Assam have received better protection. Thousands of saplings have been planted near nesting areas and wetlands. Many fallen chicks have also been rescued and rehabilitated.
- Her work helped turn a neglected bird into a symbol of Assamese pride. It also showed that conservation becomes stronger when local communities take ownership.
Conclusion
Dr. Purnima Devi Barman’s journey shows that conservation is not only about saving wildlife. It is also about changing public mindset, empowering local communities and building respect for nature. Moreover, Purnima Devi Barman winning Wayfinder Award will bring more global attention to Assam’s conservation efforts and the need to protect endangered species like the Greater Adjutant Stork. Her Hargila Army has proved that even a misunderstood bird can become a symbol of pride when people work together for a greater cause.
For UPSC, APSC and State PCS aspirants, her story is a strong example of community-led environmental governance from Assam.
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FAQ:
Purnima Devi Barman won Wayfinder Award for her remarkable work in conserving the Greater Adjutant Stork, locally known as Hargila in Assam.
Dr. Purnima Devi Barman is a wildlife biologist and conservationist from Assam. She is known for starting the women-led Hargila Army. Recently, Purnima Devi Barman won the Wayfinder Award in 2026.
Purnima Devi Barman won the Wayfinder Award, and this has brought global attention to Assam’s community-based conservation model.
The Hargila Army is a women-led conservation movement started by Dr. Purnima Devi Barman to protect the Greater Adjutant Stork.
Dr. Purnima Devi Barman is important for UPSC and APSC because her work connects biodiversity conservation, women empowerment and community participation
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