Salim Ali (ornithologist)

Dr. Sálim Ali (full name Dr. Sálim Moizuddin Abdul Ali), November 12, 1896 - July 27, 1987 was the pre-eminent ornithologist of India.

Burma and Germany

Salim Ali had to struggle through many years of unemployment and hardship during the early years of his career. If fate had not helped out at the right time, the famous birdman might have ended up as a disgruntled businessman or office manager. Since there were no jobs connected with natural history in 1919, Salim Ali and his wife Tehmina went off to Burma to look after the family mining and timber business. It was a rewarding experience for the naturalist as there were endless 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 an M.Sc. or Ph.D., having abandoned his studies after a B.Sc. in zoology from St. Xavier's College, the post went to someone else. Salim Ali decided to study further after he managed to get hired as guide lecturer at the newly opened natural history section of the Prince of Wales Museum in Mumbai. He realized that it was important to pursue further studies if he wanted to take up ornithology as a profession rather than a part-time interest. He went on study leave to Germany where he trained under Professor Erwin Stresemann, whom Salim Ali considered his guru. Despite his studies at a prestigious university abroad, Salim Ali was unable to get job. It was then that he hit upon an idea.

Related Topics:
Natural history - 1919 - Burma - Zoological Survey of India - Zoology - St. Xavier's College - Prince of Wales Museum - Germany - Erwin Stresemann

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