NewKerala.com

Key Points

The 'HARGILA' documentary tells an extraordinary story of environmental resilience and hope. Women from Assam's Dadara-Pasaria villages led a remarkable conservation effort to save the critically endangered Greater Adjutant Stork. Dr. Purnima Devi Barman's leadership transformed community attitudes towards wildlife protection. The film, now available on YouTube, celebrates the power of grassroots environmental activism and local ecological wisdom.

Key Points: Hargila Stork Dr Purnima Barman's Conservation Triumph

  • Critically acclaimed documentary highlights endangered species rescue
  • Women-led conservation movement in Assam transforms wildlife protection
  • Hargila stork rescued from near extinction through community efforts
  • Film recognized at multiple international film festivals
2 min read

'HARGILA-The Greater Adjutant Stork' documentary releases for public on World Environment Day

Inspiring documentary reveals how Assam's women saved endangered Greater Adjutant Stork through grassroots conservation efforts

"Local wisdom and community engagement can transform ecological challenges - Dr. Parthasarathi Mahanta"

Mumbai, June 5

On the occasion of World Environment Day, the makers have released the critically acclaimed 'HARGILA - The Greater Adjutant Stork' for public viewing on YouTube.

'HARGILA - The Greater Adjutant Stork' is a compelling short documentary directed by IPS and filmmaker Dr. Parthasarathi Mahanta.

The documentary highlights an extraordinary conservation success story led by the resilient women of Dadara-Pasaria villages in Assam, as per the press note by the documentary makers.

At the heart of this effort is Dr. Purnima Devi Barman, recipient of the prestigious Whitley Award, whose dedication transformed community attitudes and helped rescue the Greater Adjutant Stork from the brink of extinction.

Once listed among the top 20 most endangered species globally by the IUCN, the Greater Adjutant--locally known as Hargila--was nearly lost to habitat destruction and public apathy.

Through community-led conservation and grassroots mobilisation, particularly involving rural women, the bird's survival story became a symbol of ecological and cultural revival, as per the documentary, as quoted in the press release.

The documentary, produced by Mina Mahanta and Indrani Baruah, gained worldwide fame and has been officially selected and screened at nine international film festivals, including:

Mumba Short Film Festival INDIA, 2022.

S.O.F.A Film Festival (Animals, Wildlife, Environment, Conservation), 2022.

Delhi Shorts International Film Festival, 2022.

Tagore International Film Festival, 2022.

Goa Short Film Festival, 2022.

Pune Short Film Festival, 2022.

Wildlife Conservation Film Festival, 2022.

Jaipur International Film Festival, 2023.

Dada Saheb Phalke Film Festival, 2023.

Adding to its acclaim, 'HARGILA' was conferred a Special Mention in the National Film Awards 2022, recognising its powerful narrative, cinematic impact, and contribution to environmental awareness.

In celebration of World Environment Day, the film has been made available for public viewing on YouTube, allowing global audiences to witness this inspiring conservation journey.

You can watch the movie here,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMpJrkc7mK4

The documentary is a tribute to the power of collective will, local wisdom, and the role of women in redefining ecological stewardship.

- ANI

Share this article:

Reader Comments

A
Arjun K.
What an inspiring story! Dr. Purnima Devi Barman and the women of Assam have shown how grassroots efforts can make a real difference in conservation. This is exactly the kind of positive environmental news we need more of in India. 🌿 Kudos to the filmmakers for bringing this to light!
P
Priya M.
Just watched the documentary - it's truly heartwarming to see rural women taking the lead in conservation. The Hargila story reminds me of how traditional knowledge and modern science can work together. More power to these amazing women from Assam!
R
Rahul S.
While I appreciate the conservation effort, I wish the documentary had shown more about the challenges faced by the local community in balancing development and conservation. Still, a great initiative for World Environment Day!
N
Neha T.
Assam's biodiversity is truly incredible! This documentary makes me proud to be Indian - showing how our local communities are making global impact in conservation. The Hargila's comeback story is nothing short of miraculous. 👏
S
Sanjay P.
The fact that an IPS officer directed this shows how multidisciplinary our officers are becoming. Conservation needs this kind of diverse leadership. Hope more such films are made about India's ecological treasures!
M
Meena R.
As someone from Northeast India, I'm so happy to see our region's conservation success getting international recognition. The Hargila was part of our childhood stories - glad the next generation will get to see them too. Sharing this with all my friends!

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50