Everybody
has a passion; it’s just that one needs an outlook to realize it. As a kid I
loved writing essays, drawing pictures, collecting stamps and coins and I had a
vivid imagination. As I grew up my hobbies too grew up with me. Some of the
hobbies slowly turned into passion.
I was a
young birdwatcher, back then I had a small binoculars (my dad’s old one) and
excitedly used to sit at the windows and look through it to find some birds! It
was a mere pass-time back then, but at present I felt the love for the winged
creatures that lies in my heart. I first heard the word Ornithology from one of
my good friend, Lakshmi Bharadwaj. I was also glad to find out that we sailed
in the same boat.
My love for
birds is probably because of my dad, who himself is a bird enthusiast. Adding
to the lovely garden we have in our house, attracted more of those pretty
winged creatures. Our garden can be called a bird’s paradise (despite being in
the main road adding to the noise) a perfect bird bath, to cool off during hot
noons, trees to rest on and the soothing greenery around!
My sketch of Dr.Salim Ali,
Dr.Salim Ali
(1896-1987), the greatest Indian ornithologist who introduced the ethereal
spirits of the air to the earth. With his hard work and efforts, today we know
what kinds of birds exist in our country. Hats off to this great personality!
His achievements are indeed praiseworthy. What helped me to develop my interest
and build my knowledge was alone this great man’s book ‘The book of Indian
birds’. This book was a gift for my father from a friend, which today tops my
list of favorites. All that I know today, all the birds that I can identify
today is only because of the book. My veneration for ornithology will always be
high. If I had another life I would definitely
choose to be a bird, flying devotedly!
Whenever I see a bird gleefully chirping, flying, or even playing in the birdbath, my heart takes a merry-go-round. I can feel a sense of joy, a close touch of nature’s creation. My love for Mother Nature knows no bounds. The captivating song of a bird has the power to make me get over my laziness. It is a delight to watch them timidly stepping into the bird bath and splash water to beat the heat. What more can I expect!
Ornithology is
a song for me, a song that my heart sings for me to pursue, the only song that I
cared to stop and hear it. A passion which will die with me, an ardor that can
only exist in my heart and not my mind! And so my heart sings…
