Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke on ‘Mann Ki Baat’ on Sunday. In the 135th episode of this programme, he explained in detail how the endangered ‘Hargila bird’, which was once considered a bad omen, has now become the identity of the villages of Assam. He praised the efforts of thousands of rural women, known as ‘Hargila Army’, for the conservation of this species. The Prime Minister said that despite playing an important role in keeping nature clean, this bird has been a victim of misconceptions for a long time.
Prime Minister Modi said in ‘Mann Ki Baat’, ‘A bird named ‘Hargila’ is found in Assam. This is a rare bird, which plays an important role in keeping nature clean. However, it has been considered inauspicious in some parts of Assam for a long time. People did not like to see this around them. Often the trees where Hargila nested were also cut down. Just imagine, the bird that helps in cleaning the environment has become a victim of people’s fear.
What does the name Hargila mean?
Actually, the name Hargila comes from the Assamese language words ‘Har’ and ‘Gila’, in which Har means bone and Gila means swallowing. Due to their huge height of 1.5 meters, black color and eating bones, the Hargila bird was widely considered impure and inauspicious.
Rural women changed people’s perspective
The Prime Minister said that women worked to change the public perception towards birds by spreading scientific awareness in local communities. He said Purnima Devi Burman took the lead in changing long-standing misconceptions about the bird by connecting with local women and spreading scientific awareness.
Explained facts based on science
PM Modi told that when biologist Purnima Devi Burman saw the deeply rooted misconceptions in the minds of people, she resolved to change them. He talked to the women and explained facts based on science. Gradually women started joining this campaign. Then a big change started. The bird which was once considered a bad omen and was driven away, started becoming the identity of the villages. Thousands of rural women came forward to save ‘Hargila’. Today they are known as ‘Hargila Sena’.
The Prime Minister said that this initiative demonstrates how awareness and community participation can help in protecting biodiversity as well as changing long-held social beliefs.
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