Reclaiming Nature: The Story of the Hargila Army | Dr. Purnima Devi Barman | TEDxAIIMSBhubaneswar

Quick Overview

Dr. Purnima Devi Barman mobilized over 20,000 women into the 'Hargila Army' to transform the perception of the endangered Greater Adjutant Stork, locally called Hargila, from a bad omen to a cultural icon, resulting in the bird's local population increasing from 400-450 in 2007 to over 1800 in Assam, leading to its IUCN down-listing from Endangered to Near Threatened.

Key Points: Dr. Purnima Devi Barman founded the Hargila Army, comprising over 20,000 women, who integrate the conservation of the Hargila bird into local traditions and livelihoods. The Greater Adjutant Stork, or Hargila, was once treated as a 'bad omen' or 'disease carrier' in Assam, leading to persecution, but the movement successfully converted it into a 'cultural icon and pride.' Conservation success is quantified by the increase in nesting colonies from 27 nests in 2007 to over 300 nests in the working villages, and the bird population growing from 400-450 to over 1800 in Assam. A key strategy involved connecting with women through cooking competitions and celebrating the bird's breeding with a 'Baby Shower' or 'Gotbharaai' ceremony, linking the bird's life cycle to human rituals. The Hargila Army empowers women economically as they weave the bird's motif into traditional Assamese textiles like the Gamosa, which they sell globally, demonstrating that 'our passion becomes fashion.' The impact includes rescuing over 500 baby birds that fell from nests and ensuring that since 2010, 'not a single tree has been cut down' in the project areas. The overall message is that saving one species saves a complex ecosystem, encapsulated by the chant: 'Hargila's victory is our victory. When nature wins we win.'

Context: Dr. Purnima Devi Barman shares the story of her dedication to conserving the Greater Adjutant Stork, locally known as Hargila, in Assam, India. She recounts pausing her PhD to address the persecution of these majestic birds, which were feared as carriers of disease or bad luck, especially after witnessing a man cut down a nesting tree housing nine nests in 2007, an event that ignited her maternal instincts and mission to change community perception.