PERSONAL INFORMATION
Full Name: Sálim Moizuddin Abdul Ali
Known For: ‘Pakshi Rajan’ played by Akshay Kumar in the film ‘2.0’ (2018)
Profession(s): Ornithologist, Natural Historian
Date of Birth: 12 November 1896
Birthplace: Bombay, (now, Mumbai) Bombay Presidency, British India
Age (at the time of death): 90 Years
Nationality: Indian
Hometown: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Religion: Islam
Caste: Sulaimani Bohra
Famous Books: 1941: The Book of Indian Birds 1964: Handbook of the Birds of India and Pakistan (co-written by an American Ornithologist, Dillon Ripley) 1967: Common Birds (co-authored by his niece Laeeq Futehally) 1985: The Fall of a Sparrow (Autobiography)
Marriage Date: Year – December 1918
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EDUCATION
School: Zenana Bible and Medical Mission Girls High School, Girgaum, Bombay Presidency, British India
College/University: • St. Xavier’s College, University of Bombay, India • Davar’s College, Mumbai
Educational Qualification: • A Degree in Zoology • A Degree in Commercial laws
FAMILY & RELATIONSHIPS
Marital Status (At the time of Death): Widower
Wife/Spouse: Tehmina
Children: Not Known
Parents: Father – Moizuddin Mother – Zeenat-un-nissa
Siblings: 8 siblings
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
Awards/Honours: 1958: Padma Bhushan 1975: J. Paul Getty Award for Conservation Leadership 1976: Padma Vibhushan
OTHER INFORMATION
Title: Birdman of India
Date of Death: 20 June 1987
Place of Death: Bombay, (now, Mumbai) Maharashtra, India
Death Cause: Cancer
Hobbies: Riding Motorcycles
Favourite Motorcycle(s): Sunbeam, Harley-Davidsons, Douglas
INTERESTING BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Salim Ali, affectionately known as Pakshi Rajan, embarked on his ornithological journey at the tender age of ten when he shot a bird with a toy air gun. This innocent act led him to show his catch to his uncle, Amiruddin Tyabji, who, recognizing his nephew’s budding interest, took him to W. S. Millard, the secretary of the Bombay Natural History Society. Millard’s encouragement ignited a passion for Ornithology in young Salim, steering him towards a lifelong commitment to the study of birds. His formative years were spent alongside his two sisters at the Zenana Bible and Medical Mission Girls High School, after which he moved to Bombay. Unfortunately, at just thirteen, he began experiencing chronic headaches, an ailment that would shadow his early adolescent years.
In 1913, Salim Ali successfully completed his high school education at the University of Bombay. Initially fascinated by books related to hunting, his interests gradually shifted towards sports shooting, fueled by the frequent competitions held in his neighborhood. With a solid educational foundation, he ventured abroad to Germany, where he pursued further studies in Ornithology under the esteemed guidance of renowned ornithologist Ernst Stresemann, whom he came to regard as his mentor. His early years were marked by not only academic achievements but also personal connections, such as his friendship with Iskander Mirza, a distant cousin who would later become the first President of Pakistan following the partition of India.
In 1917, after returning to India, Ali sought to continue his education but faced a significant obstacle: his lack of a formal degree in Ornithology from a recognized university hindered his ability to secure a position as an ornithologist with the Zoological Survey of India. Undeterred, he channeled his efforts into research, notably studying the reproductive habits of Baya weaver birds, through which he uncovered their sequential multilateral reproduction system. However, the loss of his wife in 1939 deeply affected him, plunging him into depression, from which he was eventually supported by his brother-in-law.
Over the years, Salim Ali’s contributions to Ornithology gained considerable recognition. He received honorary doctorates from distinguished institutions including Aligarh Muslim University in 1958, Delhi University in 1973, and Andhra University in 1978. His advocacy for avian conservation was highlighted during the 1960s when he championed the Great Indian Bustard as the national bird of India, although the Indian Peafowl was ultimately chosen. The late 1960s marked a pinnacle in his career; in 1967, he became the first non-British citizen to be awarded the prestigious Gold Medal of the British Ornithologists’ Union, and the prestigious J. Paul Getty Wildlife Conservation Prize followed, bringing with it a grant of $100,000. His accolades continued through the years, with the John C. Phillips memorial medal from the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources in 1969 and the Pavlovsky Centenary Memorial Medal from the USSR Academy of Medical Sciences in 1973.
Salim Ali’s dedication to ornithology and conservation remained steadfast even into the 1980s, as he took on significant projects with the Bombay Natural History Society aimed at reducing bird killings in India. His contributions did not go unnoticed, as he was nominated to the upper house of the Indian Parliament, the Rajya Sabha, in 1985. After a prolonged battle with prostate cancer, Salim Ali passed away in 1987, leaving behind a monumental legacy. To honor his remarkable contributions, the Government of India established the Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON) in 1990, and in 1996, issued postal stamps featuring his likeness. His influence even reached popular culture, inspiring a character in the 2018 film “2.0,” directed by S. Shankar and starring Akshay Kumar. Salim Ali’s life story remains a testament to his unwavering love for birds and nature, inspiring generations to come.
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Note: All biographical information compiled from publicly available sources.
