bnhs-125 years
September 8, 2007
BNHS turns 125 next in 2008
It was a tradition exemplified by late Dr Salim Ali, one of world's greatest ornithologists. Today, in a way the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) is synonymous to the work of Dr Salim Ali. One of the great institutions in the field of wildlife and environment conservation, the BNHS turns 125 years next year. Of these 125 years – for 78 years, Dr Salim Ali has been associated with BNHS.
"We are into the 124th year. Next year we will be 125 years, and to mark the occasion we are planning to hold functions throughout the country," says Dr Asad Rahmani, the current BNHS Director. "Over the years we have had several projects and we will launch several new projects," he said during a lecture on vulture conservation at the Hornbill House, the office of BNHS just opposite the Lion Gate of Mumbai's Naval Dockyard, another institution with a glorious history.
"The history of the BNHS is unique and rich," points out BNHS Manager-Programmes, Issac Kehimkar, who doubles up as the spokesperson.
According to BNHS records, in 1883, eight residents of Bombay (now Mumbai) decided to form a Society for the study of Natural History. Six Englishmen and two Indians met on September 15, 1883 in the Victoria and Albert Museum (presently named as Jijamata Udyan), and constituted themselves as the Bombay Natural History Society.
They proposed to meet monthly and exchange notes, exhibit interesting specimens and otherwise encourage one another. For several months meetings were held in the Victoria and Albert Museum. Then in January 1884, H. Phipson offered the use of a room in his office at 18 Forbes Street, Fort, Bombay, for holding meetings. Soon the membership increased and collections began to be made. In a very short time, the necessity for more ample accommodation was felt. Phipson again came to the rescue of the Society and both his office and the Society moved to a larger and more suitable accommodation at 6, Apollo Street, (presently Shaheed Bhagat Singh Road).
This association was to last for the next 74 years to the everlasting benefit of the BNHS However, as the collections began to grow at 6, Apollo Street, the need to have a proper museum was felt. Phipson's desire to have a proper Natural History Museum in Bombay was soon fulfilled, when on August 15, 1905, it was resolved by the Government to have a permanent memorial to commemorate the visit of the Royal Highnesses, the Prince and Princess of Wales to this City and Presidency in the form of a public Museum and Library.
It was only in 1921, when the museum was built that the bulk of the collections were transferred to the Prince of Wales Museum. The foundation stone of the new wing of the Museum presently housing the Natural History section was formally laid in 1933 as part of the Golden Jubilee programme. The Museum exhibits are a tribute to the talent of the Society's two officers of that period, S. H. Prater, the Curator and C. McCann, the Asst. Curator. The Natural History Section of the Prince of Wales Museum was under the management of the Society.
Ten years after Independence, an agreement with the Museum and the State Government was concluded by which the Society severed its connections with the Museum, and the Government of Maharashtra agreed to pay for housing the Society's collections other than the exhibits at the Museum and the establishment to maintain them . At this time, the association with Phipsons also came to an end.
Realising the importance of the Bombay Natural History Society's vital role in documenting and conserving India's natural heritage, the Government of India agreed to fund the building of "Hornbill House" to house the Bombay Natural History Society and its valuable collections of natural history specimens representing India's faunal biodiversity.
Hornbill House was built by the Prince of Wales Museum with a grant of Rs. 3.34 lakhs from the Ministry of Scientific Research and Cultural Affairs, Government of India for the exclusive use of the BNHS. Construction of Hornbill House was completed in 1965. Hornbill House is named after the Society's mascot the Great Indian Hornbill, which is the logo of the Society.
Hornbill House is located at Padma Vibhushan Dr. Sálim Ali Chowk - named after the famous ornithologist whose close association with the Bombay Natural History Society extended over 78 years from the time he entered its portals as a curious youngster until his demise in 1987 at the age of 91.
However, the heritage of Dr Salim Ali continues – over the years, several important projects have been conducted – be it for saving the Great Indian Bustards or for that matter the vultures. Today, it is associated with several foreign institutions.
BNHS turns 125 next in 2008
It was a tradition exemplified by late Dr Salim Ali, one of world's greatest ornithologists. Today, in a way the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) is synonymous to the work of Dr Salim Ali. One of the great institutions in the field of wildlife and environment conservation, the BNHS turns 125 years next year. Of these 125 years – for 78 years, Dr Salim Ali has been associated with BNHS.
"We are into the 124th year. Next year we will be 125 years, and to mark the occasion we are planning to hold functions throughout the country," says Dr Asad Rahmani, the current BNHS Director. "Over the years we have had several projects and we will launch several new projects," he said during a lecture on vulture conservation at the Hornbill House, the office of BNHS just opposite the Lion Gate of Mumbai's Naval Dockyard, another institution with a glorious history.
"The history of the BNHS is unique and rich," points out BNHS Manager-Programmes, Issac Kehimkar, who doubles up as the spokesperson.
According to BNHS records, in 1883, eight residents of Bombay (now Mumbai) decided to form a Society for the study of Natural History. Six Englishmen and two Indians met on September 15, 1883 in the Victoria and Albert Museum (presently named as Jijamata Udyan), and constituted themselves as the Bombay Natural History Society.
They proposed to meet monthly and exchange notes, exhibit interesting specimens and otherwise encourage one another. For several months meetings were held in the Victoria and Albert Museum. Then in January 1884, H. Phipson offered the use of a room in his office at 18 Forbes Street, Fort, Bombay, for holding meetings. Soon the membership increased and collections began to be made. In a very short time, the necessity for more ample accommodation was felt. Phipson again came to the rescue of the Society and both his office and the Society moved to a larger and more suitable accommodation at 6, Apollo Street, (presently Shaheed Bhagat Singh Road).
This association was to last for the next 74 years to the everlasting benefit of the BNHS However, as the collections began to grow at 6, Apollo Street, the need to have a proper museum was felt. Phipson's desire to have a proper Natural History Museum in Bombay was soon fulfilled, when on August 15, 1905, it was resolved by the Government to have a permanent memorial to commemorate the visit of the Royal Highnesses, the Prince and Princess of Wales to this City and Presidency in the form of a public Museum and Library.
It was only in 1921, when the museum was built that the bulk of the collections were transferred to the Prince of Wales Museum. The foundation stone of the new wing of the Museum presently housing the Natural History section was formally laid in 1933 as part of the Golden Jubilee programme. The Museum exhibits are a tribute to the talent of the Society's two officers of that period, S. H. Prater, the Curator and C. McCann, the Asst. Curator. The Natural History Section of the Prince of Wales Museum was under the management of the Society.
Ten years after Independence, an agreement with the Museum and the State Government was concluded by which the Society severed its connections with the Museum, and the Government of Maharashtra agreed to pay for housing the Society's collections other than the exhibits at the Museum and the establishment to maintain them . At this time, the association with Phipsons also came to an end.
Realising the importance of the Bombay Natural History Society's vital role in documenting and conserving India's natural heritage, the Government of India agreed to fund the building of "Hornbill House" to house the Bombay Natural History Society and its valuable collections of natural history specimens representing India's faunal biodiversity.
Hornbill House was built by the Prince of Wales Museum with a grant of Rs. 3.34 lakhs from the Ministry of Scientific Research and Cultural Affairs, Government of India for the exclusive use of the BNHS. Construction of Hornbill House was completed in 1965. Hornbill House is named after the Society's mascot the Great Indian Hornbill, which is the logo of the Society.
Hornbill House is located at Padma Vibhushan Dr. Sálim Ali Chowk - named after the famous ornithologist whose close association with the Bombay Natural History Society extended over 78 years from the time he entered its portals as a curious youngster until his demise in 1987 at the age of 91.
However, the heritage of Dr Salim Ali continues – over the years, several important projects have been conducted – be it for saving the Great Indian Bustards or for that matter the vultures. Today, it is associated with several foreign institutions.
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