“Birdman” Dr. Salim Ali

“Birdman” Dr. Salim Ali
@Asim Deb

Dr. Salim Ali, one of the greatest ornithologists and naturalists of all time, was one of the very first scientists to carry out systematic bird surveys in India and abroad.

Zoothera Salimalii, the bird is named after Indian of ornithologists Dr. Salim Ali. In 2016 the international group of ornithologists named the newly discovered species after him, thus paying homage to the man who shaped generations of ornithologists and contributed to the better understanding of birds. The research team that identified the species included scientists from Sweden, India, China, the U.S., and Russia. Himalayan Forest Thrush, Zoothera Salimalii, thus goes the name of the species, which has been described from north-eastern India and adjacent parts.

Salim Moizuddin Abdul Ali was born on November 12, 1896. Orphaned at a very young age, Salim Ali was brought up by his maternal uncle, Amiruddin Tyabji, who was a keen hunter and nature-lover. Under his guidance young Salim learnt his first lessons in hunting and could see the nature around him.

As a 10-year-old boy, Salim once noticed a flying bird and shot it down. Tender at heart, he instantly ran and picked it up. It appeared like a house sparrow, but had a strange yellowish shade on the throat. Curious, he showed the sparrow to his uncle Amiruddin and questioned him about the bird’s kind. Unable to answer, his uncle took him to W.S. Millard, the Honorary Secretary of the Bombay Natural History Society. Amazed at the unusual interest of the young boy, Millard took him to show many stuffed birds. When Salim finally saw a bird similar to the child’s bird, he got very excited. That was the beginning, and young Salim started visiting the place frequently.

Ironically, Salim Ali had to struggle through many years of unemployment and hardship. Since there were no jobs connected with natural history, Salim Ali and his wife Tehmina went off to Burma in 1919 to look after the family mining and timber business. It was a rewarding experience for the naturalist as there were plenty of opportunities to explore the forests of Burma. The business did not flourish, and he had to return to India.

After returning to India, Salim Ali tried to get a job as an ornithologist with the Zoological Survey of India but since he did not have any M. Sc. or Ph.D., having abandoned his studies after a B.Sc. in zoology from St. Xavier’s College. Salim Ali decided to study further after he could get a job of a guide at the newly opened natural history section of the Prince of Wales Museum in Mumbai. He realized that it was important to pursue further and went on study leave to Germany where he was trained under Professor Stresemann, an acknowledged ornithologist, whom Salim Ali considered his Guru. Despite his studies at the prestigious university abroad Salim Ali was unable to get job.

Salim Ali, then a married man, joined the museum as a clerk. The job allowed him to carry on with his research. His wife’s house at Kihim, a small village near Mumbai, was a tranquil place surrounded by trees, where Salim could spend most of his time researching about the activities of weaver bird. In 1930, he published a research paper describing the nature and activities of the weaver bird. His research immediately made him famous and established his name in the field of ornithology.
There were vast tracts of India, particularly the princely states whose avifauna had been little explored or studied. He offered regional ornithological surveys for the BNHS, provided the Society and the state do the funding of his camping and transport. The Indian princely states readily agreed to this novel idea. From there onwards he began his life as a nomad.

The working conditions were not what an average young man from the city would have found ideal. The long years that Dr Ali had spent in the field studying birds made him one of those rare Indians who knew various corners of the country, however remote or inaccessible. Though those survey journeys were far from easy bird watching sorties, Salim Ali’s wife accompanied him and made camp life as comfortable as possible in those remote areas. She was not only his wife, but also his script editor, fellow bird watcher and inspiration. For the next two decades Salim Ali roamed the subcontinent studying birds. There is perhaps no major bird breeding area on the subcontinent that he hasn’t visited.

Unfortunately, in 1939, Salim Ali’s wife Tehmina died suddenly after minor surgery.

On India’s Independence, Salim Ali took over the BNHS and, managed to save the 200 year old institution from closing down due to lack of funds. He wrote to Prime Minister Pandit Nehru for help, who immediately came to the rescue, and gave the society funds to tide over its difficult period.

It was the sincerity of conviction of Dr. Ali that had won him awards from all over the world. Recognitions came late, but came abundantly. He received numerous awards including:
– the J. Paul Getty International Award,
– the Golden Ark of the International Union for Conservation of Nature,
– the golden medal of the British Ornithology Union (A rarity for non-British),
– Padma Shree and Padma Vibhushan from the Indian Government,
– 3 honorary Doctorates and numerous other awards.

An unlikely parliamentarian, he was nominated to the Rajya Sabha in 1985. Dr. Ali’s experience and knowledge was respected. His timely intervention saved the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary and the Silent Valley National Park.

From what he had collected, he published “The Book of Indian Birds in 1941” in which he explained the kinds and habits of Indian birds. He also collaborated with S. Dillon Ripley, a world-famous ornithologist, in 1948. The collaboration resulted in the ‘Handbook of the Birds of India and Pakistan’ (10 Volume Set); a comprehensive book that describes the birds of the subcontinent, their appearance, habitat, breeding habits, migration etc. His book “The Fall of Sparrow” included many incidents from his real life.

Later Life and Death:
Salim not only researched about birds but also contributed to the arena of protection of nature. For his extraordinary efforts, he was given an international award of INR 5 lacs, but he donated all the money to Bombay Natural History Society. The Government of India honored him with Padma Vibushan in 1983.

Dr. Salim Ali is the second recipient of 50,000 dollar Paul Getty Conservation Award from the World Wildlife Fund. (Peruvian diplomat and mammal expert Mr. Felip Benavides was the first recipient). The veteran ornithologist who claimed to be “completely taken by surprise” when the announcement for the Award was made, has decided to contribute it entirely to the Bombay Natural History Society of which he was the President.

This genius man died at the age of 91 on June 20, 1987. The legendary “Birdman” opened up ornithology for the masses that might otherwise have gone through life seeing fluttering shapes and colors. Salim Ali has done more than any individual to popularize the study of birds in India Dr. Ali is no more but his legacy lives on.

Sources:
Famousscientists.com;
birding.in;
The Hindu;
India Today

http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/Bird-named-after-Salim-Ali/article14015954.ece
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/dr-salim-ali-awarded-for-research-on-birds-life-of-indian-sub-continent/1/436416.html
https://www.famousscientists.org/salim-ali/
http://www.birding.in/dr_salim_ali.htm

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