Sudevi Mata

Friederike Irina Bruning, now Sudevi Mataji, a 69-year-old German, dedicated her life to caring for stray and injured cows in India. After arriving in 1978, she built a 3,300 sq yd gaushala to nurse sick, blind, and starved cows, overcoming language barriers and financial hardships. Despite earning the Padma Shri, she continues to sustain the sanctuary largely on her own.