[2] The Government of India awarded her the fourth highest civilian honour of the Padma Shri, in 2005, for her contributions to Indian society.

[4] Hema Bharali was born on 19 February 1919 in a family of Chutia ethnicity in the Northeast Indian state of Assam and is known to have taken to social work from an early age.

[citation needed] She became active in the Indian freedom struggle and when the earthquake caused devastation in North Lakhimpur area in 1950, she took part in the relief operations.

[7] She has also been involved with the Padayatra in connection with the Bhoodan movement[citation needed] and was a founder member of the executive council of the Central Social Welfare Board (CSWB).

[8] The Government of India included Bharali in the 2005 Republic Day Honours list for the fourth highest civilian award of the Padma Shri.