Zafar Futehally
Encyclopedia
Zafar Rashid Futehally is an Indian naturalist and conservationist best known for his work as the secretary of the Bombay Natural History Society
and for the Newsletter for Birdwatchers
a periodical that helped birdwatchers around India to communicate their observations.
and is married to Laeeq Futehally, a niece of Salim Ali. Their daughters Zahida (Zai) and Shama took to writing. Zai wrote biographies of Romulus Whitaker and Salim Ali. Shama who died in 2004 was the author of novels "Tara Lane" and "Reaching Bombay Central", a translator of the Meera Bhajans and Urdu poetry apart from numerous other literary works. In 1973 he moved to Bangalore where he lived for a while in the Palace orchards area before moving to a farm house in Dodda Gubbi on the outskirts of Bangalore, but a dacoit attack there forced him to move to Kodaikanal with their daughter for four years before returning to live in Koramangala in Bangalore.
, a periodical, in 1959 and became Honorary Secretary of the Bombay Natural History Society remaining until 1973 when he moved from Bombay to Bangalore. The "newsletter" included Salim Ali, Biswamoy Biswas
and other eminent ornithologists of its time on the editorial board and was for many years mimeographed and distributed to subscribers in India and outside. In later years the covers were printed and still later the entire issue was printed. The newsletter encouraged an essay style of writing and some authors like Ramachandra Guha
found their first opportunity to publish their writings in it. The Newsletter for Birdwatchers
continues to be popular among birdwatchers interested in the India region.
In 1965 he was involved in organizing the IUCN meeting at New Delhi and became a member of its executive board in 1966. He became Vice-President of the IUCN in 1969, received the Padma Shri
in 1970, Order of the Golden Ark in 1980 and the Karnataka Rajyotsava award of 1983. In 1973, Futehally was a member of the committee that was set up to study the impact of a dam on the river Kuntipuzha which threatened to destroy the forests of the Silent Valley
region. He was also a steering group member of Project Tiger, during the early years of its establishment.
) within the city to private hoteliers and water-based entertainment companies. This was opposed by many citizens as being contradictory to the role of government in public welfare. Zafar Futehally held the view that private enterprise could be conservation and welfare-oriented, a view which did not receive widespread support.
to write a poem about it. As the founder and editor of the Newsletter for Birdwatchers
, he selected articles from bird enthusiasts and friends in India as well as from outside. The articles were selected for readability rather than dry scientific communication although many scientific observations were made in its pages. He also edited and published an anthology of writings by Indian birdwatchers, "India through its birds", which was published in 2007.
Bombay Natural History Society
The Bombay Natural History Society, founded on 15 September 1883, is one of the largest non-governmental organizations in India engaged in conservation and biodiversity research. It supports many research efforts through grants, and publishes the Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society. Many...
and for the Newsletter for Birdwatchers
Newsletter for Birdwatchers
Newsletter for Birdwatchers is an Indian periodical of ornithology and birdwatching founded in 1960 by Zafar Futehally, who edited it until 2003. It was initially mimeographed and distributed to a small number of subscribers each month. The editorial board in its early years included Salim Ali,...
a periodical that helped birdwatchers around India to communicate their observations.
Biography
Zafar Futehally was born in Andheri in 1920. He studied economics at St. Xavier's College in Bombay and worked with Dynacraft Machine Company from 1942. The company was run along with his brother and cousin. He was a distant cousin of Salim AliSalim Ali
Sálim Moizuddin Abdul Ali was an Indian ornithologist and naturalist. Known as the "birdman of India", Salim Ali was among the first Indians to conduct systematic bird surveys across India and his bird books helped develop ornithology...
and is married to Laeeq Futehally, a niece of Salim Ali. Their daughters Zahida (Zai) and Shama took to writing. Zai wrote biographies of Romulus Whitaker and Salim Ali. Shama who died in 2004 was the author of novels "Tara Lane" and "Reaching Bombay Central", a translator of the Meera Bhajans and Urdu poetry apart from numerous other literary works. In 1973 he moved to Bangalore where he lived for a while in the Palace orchards area before moving to a farm house in Dodda Gubbi on the outskirts of Bangalore, but a dacoit attack there forced him to move to Kodaikanal with their daughter for four years before returning to live in Koramangala in Bangalore.
Ornithology and conservation
He founded the Newsletter for BirdwatchersNewsletter for Birdwatchers
Newsletter for Birdwatchers is an Indian periodical of ornithology and birdwatching founded in 1960 by Zafar Futehally, who edited it until 2003. It was initially mimeographed and distributed to a small number of subscribers each month. The editorial board in its early years included Salim Ali,...
, a periodical, in 1959 and became Honorary Secretary of the Bombay Natural History Society remaining until 1973 when he moved from Bombay to Bangalore. The "newsletter" included Salim Ali, Biswamoy Biswas
Biswamoy Biswas
Biswamoy Biswas was an Indian ornithologist who was born in Calcutta, the son of a professor of Geology. In 1947, he was awarded a three year fellowship by Sunderlal Hora, then director of the Zoological Survey of India...
and other eminent ornithologists of its time on the editorial board and was for many years mimeographed and distributed to subscribers in India and outside. In later years the covers were printed and still later the entire issue was printed. The newsletter encouraged an essay style of writing and some authors like Ramachandra Guha
Ramachandra Guha
Ramachandra Guha is an Indian writer whose research interests have included environmental, social, political and cricket history. He is also a columnist for the newspapers The Telegraph , and The Hindustan Times.-Early life and education:Born in Dehra Dun, Uttarakhand, India in 1958, Guha studied...
found their first opportunity to publish their writings in it. The Newsletter for Birdwatchers
Newsletter for Birdwatchers
Newsletter for Birdwatchers is an Indian periodical of ornithology and birdwatching founded in 1960 by Zafar Futehally, who edited it until 2003. It was initially mimeographed and distributed to a small number of subscribers each month. The editorial board in its early years included Salim Ali,...
continues to be popular among birdwatchers interested in the India region.
In 1965 he was involved in organizing the IUCN meeting at New Delhi and became a member of its executive board in 1966. He became Vice-President of the IUCN in 1969, received the Padma Shri
Padma Shri
Padma Shri is the fourth highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan...
in 1970, Order of the Golden Ark in 1980 and the Karnataka Rajyotsava award of 1983. In 1973, Futehally was a member of the committee that was set up to study the impact of a dam on the river Kuntipuzha which threatened to destroy the forests of the Silent Valley
Silent Valley National Park
Silent Valley National Park , is located in the Nilgiri Hills, Palakkad District in Kerala, South India...
region. He was also a steering group member of Project Tiger, during the early years of its establishment.
Conservation debates
During his position at the BNHS and the World Wildlife Fund he was able to lobby for various kinds of action chiefly by influencing the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. In later years, he continued to write about conservation issues particularly in Bangalore. In one issue, the government of Karnataka handed over lakes (particularly Hebbal LakeHebbal Lake
Hebbal Lake is located in the north of Bangalore at the mouth of National Highway 7, along the junction of Bellary Road and the Outer Ring Road . It was one of the three lakes created in 1537 by Kempe Gowda. Like most lakes or "tanks" in the Bangalore region it was formed by the damming natural...
) within the city to private hoteliers and water-based entertainment companies. This was opposed by many citizens as being contradictory to the role of government in public welfare. Zafar Futehally held the view that private enterprise could be conservation and welfare-oriented, a view which did not receive widespread support.
Publications
Futehally wrote numerous popular articles in the media. One of his early publications on a Paradise Flycatcher inspired the Indian poet Nissim EzekielNissim Ezekiel
' was an Indian Jewish poet, playwright, editor and art-critic. He was a foundational figure in postcolonial India's literary history, specifically for Indian writing in English....
to write a poem about it. As the founder and editor of the Newsletter for Birdwatchers
Newsletter for Birdwatchers
Newsletter for Birdwatchers is an Indian periodical of ornithology and birdwatching founded in 1960 by Zafar Futehally, who edited it until 2003. It was initially mimeographed and distributed to a small number of subscribers each month. The editorial board in its early years included Salim Ali,...
, he selected articles from bird enthusiasts and friends in India as well as from outside. The articles were selected for readability rather than dry scientific communication although many scientific observations were made in its pages. He also edited and published an anthology of writings by Indian birdwatchers, "India through its birds", which was published in 2007.