1. The late Dr Salim Alis witty descriptions of birds have rendered a yeomans service to popularising bird-watching among Indian audiences. In these troubled times for wildlife conservation where we are faced with the piquant situation of increasing tigerwallahs and dwindling tigers, I turn to Sanctuary-Asia founding editor Bittu Sahgals warm and visionary appreciation of the late `Birdman of India, Dr Salim Ali, to guide us and serve as a moral compass. Sahgal describes Dr Ali as not a bird or animal lover but a man fascinated by all things natural. A man who hunted all his life but was not happy with modern day shikaris who disrespected the sport and the animals they shot indiscriminately. Dr Ali was an inveterate optimist, an effective conservationist who liasoned well with ruling politicians to ensure conservation success stories, and one who reposed faith in Indias youngsters to take up his lifelong tasks. (SALIM POINTS THE WAY) 2. One of my most vivid childhood recollections of Dr Salim Ali was his erstwhile bungalow at the very tony Pali Hills, Mumbai. As Dr Ali entertained my parents with tea and birdy gossip one fine evening in 1986, we kids stole into his garden and spied next door through the boundary hedge. We had been tipped off by our mother that Dr Ali was neighbours with Dalip Kumar and Saira Bano. And sure enough we saw the iconic Bollywood couple, legs stretched out and relaxing in their lawns. Dr Ali had a way with kids and would entertain us and kindle our imagination with a wicked sense of humour. His legendary stamina knew no hurdle. 3. Some old pixs of Dr Ali and his late close associate, SA Hussain, in Punjabs wilderness are in the `Comments below. Pixs are courtesy S. Gurmit Singh, a former CWW and an associate of Dr Ali. The `wildbuzz column in the Hindustan Times.
Posted on: Thu, 03 Jul 2014 14:12:10 +0000
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