Nirmala Devi
A Muzaffarpur artisan who trained women in Sujni embroidery and won the craft a GI tag, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2025.
Sujni is a Bihar tradition of quilting and embroidery that tells stories in thread. Nirmala Devi has spent her life protecting it and helping women earn from it. In 2025 she was named for the Padma Shri in the field of art, from Bihar [1].
Women and thread
Nirmala Devi was born on 15 August 1947 [2]. Money troubles meant she could not finish school [2]. She has since trained countless women in Sujni embroidery, giving them an income and independence [2]. She heads the Bhusura Mahila Vikas Samiti in Muzaffarpur, which helps women artisans show their work around the world [2].
A GI tag
One of her most important achievements was winning a Geographical Indication (GI) tag for Sujni embroidery in 2007, protecting the craft’s identity and the rights of its artisans [2]. Her work has been displayed in museums in Bihar, Mumbai and London [2].
She received a national award in 2003 and a state award in 2007 [2].
Sources
- [1] Padma Awards 2025: list of awardees — Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. Accessed 11 October 2026.
- [2] Padma Awards 2025: citation for Nirmala Devi — Padma Awards, Government of India. Accessed 11 October 2026.
Last updated . First draft prepared with AI assistance; reviewed and fact-checked by a person before publishing. Report a correction
