Assam’s Purnima Barman named “Woman of the Year” by Time magazine

Dr Purnima Devi Barman, a wildlife biologist from Assam, has been included in the Time Magazine 2025 “Women of the Year” list. Dr Purnima Devi Barman is among the 13 women across the globe to be included on the Time Magazine list.

These women have been included in the list for their contribution in identifying a problem related to women and finding a solution to it to create a better, more equitable world.  

Dr Purnima Devi Barman and her Conservation effort 

A two-time Whitley Gold Awardee (2017 & 2024), Dr Purnima Devi Barman, was recognised for her effort in conserving the endangered bird, Hargila or Greater Adjutant Stork and its wetland habitat.

Dr. Barman mobilised the local people, especially women and children, to protect the Hargila bird and its ecosystem in Assam. 

The local population saw Hargila birds as dirty and unwanted as they fed on the decaying organic matter. People used to destroy the bird's nest on trees to get rid of the birds, and the population dropped to less than 450 in the state.

Dr Barman worked to change people's perceptions of birds and founded the Hagrila Army of Stork sisters, a group of mainly local women who protected the birds' nesting areas.

Her efforts led to a sharp increase in the population of Hargila birds in the state, which now numbers around 1800.

Women Included in the Time Magazine Women of the Year 2025

Following is the list of women included in the Time Magazine “ Women of the Year” 2025 list.

• Dr Purnima Devi Barman of  India.
• Nicole Kidman - Hollywood movie star. She is an Australian.
• Jordan Chiles - American Gymnast
• A’ja Wilson-  American basketball player
• Laufey Lin Bing Jonsdottir, famous as Laufey -  Iceland’s singer, songwriter and musician.
• Olivia Munn - American actress who works  for breast cancer awareness
• Raquel Willis- American writer and editor
• Gisèle Pelicot of France- Raising awareness about rape victims. 
• Anna Sawai- Japanese actress and singer
• Amanda Zurawski - American Reproductive rights activist.
• Fatou Baldeh- Led a movement against female genital mutilation in Gambia.
• Claire Babineaux-Fontenot-  She is the CEO of Feeding America. Feeding America is the largest non-governmental organisation in America, and it runs more than 200 food banks in the country to provide food to the hungry.
• Laura Claire Modi -  She is an Irish American and CEO of Bobbie company, which makes baby food modelled after mother's milk.

Time Magazine is an American media company that was established in 1923.

The New York-based media company started as a weekly news magazine. It is now a global multi-media company.

Purnima Devi Barman gets the  'Green Oscar' Whitley Gold Award 2024