Friederike Irina Bruning

2021-05-15T03:48:28Z

2401:4900:5C4E:8317:0:0:236:BF3:

{{short description|Animal rights activist from India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2019}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Friederike Irina Bruning
| image =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{birth based on age as of date|df=yes|61|2019|05|26}}<ref name="NDTVReturn2019" />
| birth_place = [[Berlin, Germany]]
| birth_name = Friederike Irina Bruning
| death_date =
| death_place =
| education =
| occupation = Animal rights activist
| years_active = 1996–present
| agent =
| salary =
| title =
| spouse =
| alias = Sudevi Mataji
| gender =
| status =
| networth =
| credits = Radha Surabhi Goshala
| awards = [[Padma Shri]] (2019)
| children =
}}
'''Friederike Irina Bruning''', now called '''Sudevi Mataji''', is an [[animal rights activist]]. She was awarded India's fourth highest civilian award, the [[Padma Shri]],<ref>{{cite web | url=https://padmaawards.gov.in/PDFS/2019AwardeesList.pdf | title=Padma Awards | publisher=Padma Awards ,Government of India | access-date=25 January 2019}}</ref> She was the founder of Radha Surabhi Goshala in 1996. A German citizen,<ref name="NDTVReturn2019" /> Sudevi Mataji has resided in [[Radha Kund]] (Vrindavan) for over 35 years, taking care of cows in need.<ref>{{cite news |title='Lady Tarzan' to 'Mother of Trees': 6 Awe-Inspiring Women Who Just Won the Padma Shri |date=19 March 2019 |work=[[The Better India]] |url=https://www.thebetterindia.com/175401/padma-shri-women-winners-achievers-inspiring-india/}}</ref>

==Early life==
At the age of 20, in 1978, she arrived in India as a tourist after completing her education in [[Berlin, Germany]]. In search of life's purpose, she went to [[Radha Kund]] in [[Uttar Pradesh]]. She then became a disciple of guru Srila Tinkudi Gosvami. At a neighbour's request, she bought a cow. She also taught herself [[Hindi]], bought books related to cows and devoted herself completely to taking care of stray animals.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/meet-this-german-lady-who-provides-shelter-to-1200-sick-cows-in-mathura-her-tale-will-bring-tears-to-your-eyes/860386/|title=Meet this German lady who provides shelter to 1200 sick cows in Mathura; her tale will bring tears to your eyes|date=18 September 2017|website=The Financial Express|language=en-US|access-date=2019-06-18}}</ref>

==Philosophy==
She has been staying in India for more than 25 years. Her way of life is highly influenced by the teachings of ''[[Bhagavad Gita]]'', ''[[Upanishads]]'', traditions and the temples built there. Since this knowledge was not readily available in her country, she considers Indians as lucky, where even children are taught through their tradition and mythology stories without having to search for it, it is imbibed in them.<ref name="LifeNosGerman">{{Cite web|url=https://lifebeyondnumbers.com/friederike-irina-bruening-sudevi-mataji-german-tourist-who-became-a-gaurakshak-in-mathura/|title=The German Tourist Who Became A Gaurakshak In Mathura, Mothering 1800+ Sick Cows For Last 40 Years|date=26 February 2019|website=LifeBeyondNumbers|first=Deepannita|last=Das|language=en|access-date=2019-06-18}}</ref>

She is a vegetarian and considers any form of activity that causes violence, fear and hatred are bad for health. She believes food has a major impact on our lives. Food follows in three categories ''[[sattva]]'' (pure and light), ''[[rajas]]'' (active and passionate) and ''[[Tamas (philosophy)|tamas]]'' (heavy, gross and violent). Meat falls in ''tama'' and hence she has given it up.<ref name="LifeNosGerman" />

She regards human consciousness as of highest value. According to her, people will be better without greed and selfishness. She believes in doing God's work and has thus devoted her life to selflessly helping cows in need by donating whatever she earns to her ''[[Gaushala]]''.<ref name="LifeNosGerman" />

==Career==
Friederike Irina Bruning landed in [[Mathura]], India from Berlin in 1978 as a tourist. She was moved by the plight of the stray animals and hence decided to stay back and care for them. German citizen Friederike Irina Bruning, now called Sudevi Mataji, started Radha Surabhi Gaushala Niketan in Radhakund in 1996.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://lifebeyondnumbers.com/friederike-irina-bruening-sudevi-mataji-german-tourist-who-became-a-gaurakshak-in-mathura/|title=The German Tourist Who Became A Gaurakshak In Mathura, Mothering 1800+ Sick Cows For Last 40 Years|date=26 February 2019}}</ref>

This ''Gaushala'' (cowshed) is spread across {{cvt|3300|sqyd}}. It takes in sick, injured, unable to walk and starved cows. Here, they receive necessary nutrition and are nursed back to health.<ref name="weebly.com">{{cite web|url=http://radhasurabhigoshala.weebly.com/about-us.html|title=About Us|website=Radha Surabhi Goshala}}</ref> Sudevi Mataji built the ''gaushala'' with minor detailing in mind. The ''gaushala'' is divided in such a manner where the cows needing special care have a place for themselves.<ref name="weebly.com"/> Blind and severely injured cows, needing attention are kept in separate enclosure. Currently she has 90 workers and 1800 sick cows. On the 71st [[Republic Day]] the government of India recognised her services and she was honoured with a Padma Shri.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/agra/mathura-german-gau-sevak-gets-padma-shri/articleshow/67714627.cms|title=Mathura: German gau sevak gets Padma Shri|last=Jaiswal|first=Anuja|date=27 January 2019|website=The Times of India|language=en|access-date=2019-06-18}}</ref>

Getting funds has been one of the major challenges faced by Friederike Irina. To address this, she has been renting her native property in Berlin but all her funds get exhausted in taking care in running the Gaushala.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/people/how-a-german-tourist-turned-mother-to-over-1-200-sick-cows-in-mathura-1751460|title=How A 59-Year-Old German Turned Mother To Over 1,000 Sick Cows in Mathura|website=NDTV.com}}</ref> She does not get any support from any government agencies. Also in 2019, she was facing issue about visa, which was resolved by Sushma Swaraj and Hema Malini.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://kalingatv.com/features/padma-shri-friederike-irina-bruning-from-traveller-to-mother-of-cows/|title=Padma Shri Friederike Irina Bruning: From traveller to mother of cows|date=3 February 2019}}</ref>

==Awards==
* [[Padma Shri]] Award given by President, [[Ram Nath Kovind]] on [[Republic Day (India)|Republic Day]], 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://orissadiary.com/president-ramnath-kovind-presents-padma-shri-ms-friederike-irina-bruning-social-work/|title=President Ramnath Kovind presents Padma Shri to Ms Friederike Irina Bruning for Social Work|first=Odisha Diary|last=bureau|date=16 March 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/german-who-dedicated-her-life-to-cows-gets-padma/articleshow/67716663.cms|title=German woman who dedicated life to cows gets Padma Shri on R-Day|last=Jaiswal|first=Anuja|date=29 January 2019|website=The Times of India|language=en|access-date=2019-06-18}}</ref>

==Controversy==
In May 2019, Bruning's visa extension was denied, which prompted her to threaten to return her Padma Shri. The extension to her student visa was denied due to a technical problem which prevented her from converting her student visa to an employment visa. She later publicly apologised and thanked [[Sushma Swaraj]], the then External Affairs Minister, for looking into the matter.<ref name="NDTVReturn2019">{{Cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/denied-visa-extension-padma-shri-winner-says-will-return-award-report-2043298|title=Denied Visa Extension, Padma Shri Winner Says Will Return Award: Report|website=NDTV.com|date=26 May 2019|access-date=2019-06-18}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/padma-awardee-german-gau-rakshak-regrets-outburst-over-visa-rejection-1535707-2019-05-27|title=Padma awardee German gau rakshak regrets outburst over visa rejection|last=Mohan|first=Geeta|date=27 May 2019|website=India Today|language=en|access-date=2019-06-18}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Social Work}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bruning, Friederike Irina}}
[[Category:1950s births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:Indian activists]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri]]

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Friederike Irina Bruning