Jogesh Deuri
An Assam silk scientist who promoted eri silk, set up Bodoland Silk Park and launched Eri Day, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2026.
Eri is a silk of north-east India that can be spun without killing the silkworm, which is why it is sometimes called “ahimsa silk”. Jogesh Deuri has spent his career championing it. In 2026 he was named for the Padma Shri, from Assam [1].
A silk scientist
Deuri was born on 1 May 1961 in Assam [2]. He took an MSc from Gauhati University and a postgraduate diploma in sericulture from the Central Silk Board’s institute at Berhampore, and trained in cocoon technology in Liaoning, China [2]. He later earned a PhD from USTM in Meghalaya [2].
He worked for more than thirty years in the sericulture department and retired as director of sericulture for the Bodoland Territorial Council [2].
Eri and muga
Deuri modernised traditional eri rearing, notably by rearing the silkworms on tapioca (cassava) plants [2]. He led the setting up of the Bodoland Silk Park at Kokrajhar, with a cocoon bank, spinning mill, printing, knitting and pupae-processing units [2]. In 2013 he played a leading role in setting up what his citation calls the world’s first wild muga silk sanctuary [2].
In 2019 he started Eri Day, marked on 1 May [2]. He has represented India in more than 25 countries [2]. The Government of Assam gave him the Assam Gaurav award in 2023 [2].
Sources
- [1] Padma Awards 2026: list of awardees — Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. Accessed 11 October 2026.
- [2] Padma Awards 2026 investiture ceremony brochure: citation for Jogesh Deuri — Press Information Bureau, Government of India. Accessed 12 October 2026.
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