German traveler turned cow-shelter founder receives Padma Shri for social work
Friederike Irina Bruning, who arrived in India in 1978 and now runs a large gaushala in Radha Kund, was awarded the Padma Shri for her animal-welfare efforts.
In 1978 a young German named Friederike Irina Bruning arrived in India from Berlin, drawn by a quest for spiritual guidance that led her to Radha Kund in Mathura. Following a neighbour’s advice, she purchased a cow, learned Hindi, and began rescuing abandoned and injured cattle, eventually establishing the Surabhi Gauseva Niketan gaushala. Over the decades the shelter grew from a modest courtyard to a facility caring for more than 2,500 cows and calves, supported by a staff of around 60 and monthly expenses of several crore rupees, partly financed by rental income from her Berlin property. Despite remaining a German citizen and facing visa challenges, she continued her work, and in January 2019 the Government of India awarded her the Padma Shri for social work.
Why it matters
The story highlights cross-cultural dedication to animal welfare and the recognition of such work by the Indian state.
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