It was a tradition exemplified by late Dr Salim Ali, one ofworld's greatest ornithologists. Today, in a way the Bombay Natural HistorySociety (BNHS) is synonymous to the work of the late Dr Salim Ali plus severalother giants in the field of conversation. One of the great institutions in thefield of wildlife and environment conservation, the BNHS turned 130 onSeptember 16. Of these 130 years “ for78 years, Dr Salim Ali has been associated with BNHS. The BNHS today is thenumero uno organisation of ornithologists, wildlife experts, researchers,educationalists and conversationalists.
The office of BNHS just opposite the Lion Gate of Mumbai'sNaval Dockyard, another institution with a glorious history.
"The history of the BNHS is unique and rich...Standingtall for 130 years !!! People's altruism made it possible," points outIssac Kehimkar, BNHS Manager-Programmes,BNHS.
According to BNHS records, in 1883, eight residents ofBombay (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 andAlbert Museum (presently named as Jijamata Udyan), and constituted themselvesas the Bombay Natural History Society.
They proposed to meet monthly and exchange notes, exhibitinteresting specimens and otherwise encourage one another. For several monthsmeetings 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 themembership increased and collections began to be made. In a very short time,the necessity for more ample accommodation was felt. Phipson again came to therescue of the Society and both his office and the Society moved to a larger andmore suitable accommodation at 6, Apollo Street, (presently Shaheed BhagatSingh Road).
This association was to last for the next 74 years to theeverlasting 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 tohave a proper Natural History Museum in Bombay was soon fulfilled, when onAugust 15, 1905, it was resolved by the Government to have a permanent memorialto commemorate the visit of the Royal Highnesses, the Prince and Princess ofWales 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 bulkof the collections were transferred to the Prince of Wales Museum.
