Every day we see a lot of things around us. We are surrounded by a large variety of flora and fauna. Different types of plants, animals and birds add on to the beauty of our nature. The nature is indeed very mesmerising. We all adore the beauty of nature everyday butvery few among us are interesting in observing the nature and drawing conclusions with their observation.

Salim Ali was among those few people who not only admired the beauty of nature but also observed and analysed it. He is one of the most famous and well known naturalist and ornithologist. Salim Ali was born in Bombay on 12th November, 1896. Born in a family of five brothers and four sisters, Salim was the youngest child in the family. He lost his father and mother at a very early age after which his maternal uncle Amiruddin Tayyabji took care of him.

The primary education of Salim Ali was done in Zanana Bible Medical Mission High School. Later he joined Saint Xavier’s School. He finished his matriculation in 1913 from Bombay University. Since childhood, Salim was very interested in birds. Once he shot a sparrow with yellow throat. After seeing that yellow mark on the throat, his interest in birds increased.

Later he met W. S. Millard who was the secretary of Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS). Salim again saw the same yellow throated sparrow which further increased his interest toward the birds. Salim joined the college but due to the difficult first year, he left the college and went back to Burma.

The family business of mining and timber gave Salim a surrounding filled with forests. His interest in nature and birds were very influenced because of this. On returning back to India in 1917, Salim Ali joined the Davar’s College of Commerce to study law and accountancy. Along with birds and nature, Salim had interest in motorcycles also. He owned Harley-Davidson, Scott, New Hudson Sunbeam, Zenith and Douglas.

Ali’s interest in ornithology made him to try joining Zoological Survey of India but he was rejected due to lack of formal education. Salim later joined a museum as a clerk to make a living. He continued his research work on birds. His research paper on weaver bird was published in 1930 which gave him a recognized name in the field of ornithology.

Salim Ali had great achievements later on. His research works were published in books like “Hand book of the Birds of India and Pakistan”, “The Book of Indian Birds”, “The Fall of Sparrow”, etc. The contributions of Salim Ali in the field of natural science and ornithology are remarkable.

Salim Ali was honoured with the international award of INR 5 Lakhs which he donated. The Government of India honoured him with Padma Vibhushan Award in 1976. Recently, a new bird was discovered in North East India which was named Zoothera salimali to honour this great scientist. Ali died on 20th June, 1987 but before leaving the world, he made his name immortal in the field of science and he will always be remembered for his extraordinary works.