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12th November 1896: Salim Ali, Indian Ornithologist and Naturalist was born

Ornithologist and naturalist Salim Moizuddin Abdul Ali, known as the “birdman of India’, was born on November 12, 1896, to a Sulaimani Bohra Muslim family in Bombay. Ali’s parents died before he turned four. He and his brothers and sisters were then brought up by an uncle and aunt.

            Remembering Ali after his death, environmental activist and writer Bittu Sahgal wrote: His life was spent exploring the wonder and utter usefulness of nature without once becoming emotionally attached to the ‘sanctity of life’ concept that so many people still confuse with conservation.” In a tribute to Salim Ali, ecologist Madhav Gadgil wrote in November 1996 in Current Science: Ali will be remembered as the man who taught Indians to appreciate, to study at first hand, to treasure, to work towards conserving the rich living heritage of the country.”

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