President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday bestowed the prestigious Padma Shri upon Assam’s Parbati Barua during the civil investiture ceremony held in New Delhi.
President Murmu Confers Padma Shri To Assam’s Parbati Barua For Wildlife Conservation Efforts
Parbati Barua was honoured with the Padma Shri in recognition of her exceptional work in the field of social work, particularly for her pioneering efforts in elephant conservation and wildlife preservation.
Born on March 14, 1953, Barua exhibited an early passion for elephants and the wilderness, defying societal norms and breaking gender barriers.
Her journey began at the age of 14 when she successfully domesticated her first elephant in the forests of Kachugaon, Assam.
Beyond her remarkable achievements in elephant taming, Barua has been instrumental in mitigating human-elephant conflicts across Assam, Kerala, West Bengal, Uttaranchal, and Uttar Pradesh.