Collection is open for access unless mentioned in specific folders of the finding aid.
The intellectual arrangement strives to preserve provenance and original order of the papers. Where an original order could not be found, the Archives has applied an order, and folders within sub-series are arranged usually in chronological or alphabetical order. See Scope and Content section for details.
Jamal Ara (1923-1995) was a noted ornithologist known for her extensive field and scientific observations of birds in in the Chota Nagpur plateau (Jharkhand) of India. She was called India's first "birdwoman" by Salim Ali.
She was born in 1923, and raised in Bihar in the family of a police officer, and studied formally up to the 10th standard. She was married off young to a journalist, Hamdi Bey, who was based in Calcutta. Their marriage is said to have broken down, and she and her daughter, Madhuca, were taken care of by Sami Ahmad, a cousin and an Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer (1940 Bihar cadre). Ara and her daughter would live at his official residence in Ranchi. She would continue to be based in Doranda, Ranchi, for the rest of her life.
Through Ahmed's work and field trips, Ara is said to have gained an appreciation for nature and the forests. And her education continued through the support of Mrs Augier, the wife of PW Augier, who was also an IFS officer. With their encouragement, Ara went on to keep detailed notes from her birding observations, and also started to write down articles. (Sami Ahmed died in 1966, which is said to have had a deep impact on Ara and her work). Eventually, she started publishing in 1949, and after that would continue to write and publish over 60 articles in the journals of the Bombay Natural History Society, Bengal Natural History Society, as well as the Newsletter for Birdwatchers. She also wrote a children's book, "Watching Birds", published by the National Book Trust, which continues to be in print as of 2024. Besides her writings on birds, she also did programmes on All India Radio, and translated stories of KS Duggal. Her papers at the Archives at NCBS indicate other draft writings in Urdu and English on a variety of topics, including archaeology and the intersection of nature and indigenous communities in the Chota Nagpur plateau. Her archival papers indicate other unpublished articles: a manuscript on birds of Bihar, along with her own hand-drawn illustrations. She was also working on a two-volume book on the birds of Bihar (the state split into Bihar and Jharkhand later), for which she developed a detailed outline, and sample writing for some of the chapters.
Ara brought her semi-paralytic sister to live with her at her residence in 1988. After her sister recovered and start walking again, she left Ara's residence, which is said to have deeply affected Ara. She had numerous psychotic breakdowns in the years after, and had stopped writing as well, including burning much of herwritings, notes and photographs. Jamal Ara passed away in 1995 at the age of 71.
Her history and work have been largely unknown and uncited as of 2024, except in the bibliographic collections of Aasheesh Pittie, and in a biographical profile written by Raza Kazmi. This article, "The First Lady of Indian Ornithology" was published in an anthology of the stories of India's women wildlife biologists, "Women in the Wild" (ed. Anita Mani, Juggernaut Books, 2023). Kazmi's story also documents how he traced Madhuca Singh, Jamal Ara's daughter, in Doranda. He eventually worked with her, found some archival material at their residence, and donated the papers to the Archives at NCBS for public access.
Archival papers relating to the life and work of the ornithologist, Jamal Ara, including correspondence, unpublished manuscripts, field diaries, notebooks, drafts of articles and final copies. Material ranging from 1940s to 1980s, almost all in the form of paper. Some material in Urdu.
The collection is divided into six series. For details of sub-series in each, please see Collection Organization or the container list. Of particular interest is Series 2 (Notes and drafts), which includes Jamal Ara's original drafts of articles, and various unpublished notes from her fieldwork and research.
Series 1: Correspondence;
Series 2: Notes and drafts;
Series 3: Published articles by Jamal Ara;
Series 4: Rare printed reference material - ornithology;
Series 5: Ephemera
Copyright may not have been assigned to Archives, National Centre for Biological Sciences. Permission for reproduction or distribution must be obtained in writing from the Archives at NCBS (archives@ncbs.res.in). The Archives at NCBS makes no representation that it is the copyright owner in all of its collections. The user must obtain all necessary rights and clearances before use of material and material may only be reproduced for academic and non-commercial use.
When quoting from this material, kindly use the following format: Collection id/identifier, name of collection, Archives (Eg MS-046-1-1-1-1, Jamal Ara Papers, Archives at NCBS).
Raichowdhury
Nov 19, 1954: Copy of letter to Raichowdhury regarding the contribution of CM Inglis on birds of Darbhanga district, checklist of birds of Bihar. Notes that Ara wrote up a shorter contribution on his behalf for the Bihar Gazetteers revision, and that his larger contribution would not be appropriate for the Gazetteer. Requests for payment to Mrs Inglis for CM Inglis' contribution.
Undated: To Roychowdhury [Archivist's note: Raichowhdhury?] re: a critique of the Poona Gazetteer system of arrangement.
Access Level: Open/Online.
Gardiner, Bump
From Bump (Foreign Service, American Embassy, New Delhi) to Ara (European Bachelor's Quarters, Doranda, Ranchi) re: Ara's manuscript on the "Birds of the Bihar Forests" (Includes manuscript). Appreciates Ara's writing, understanding of ecology of wildlife, and for Ara's article on animal populations published in the Times of India.
Access Level: Open/Online.
P.V., George
From P.V. George (Circuit House, Patna). Seven letters re: ringing of thousands of birds for tracking with details of species and number of birds, working with bird catchers (Mirshikar) for ringing, lack of community interest in preservation of wildlife, conversations with BNHS and Salim Ali about protection of Kabar Lake, visit of Salim Ali to Bihar, relocation of George to the Natural History Museum (Bird Section) in Baghdad University, Iraq.
Access Level: Open/Online.
J.C., Daniel -- BNHS
Revision comments for Ara's article in the Journal of the BNHS, "Hazaribagh National Park Revisited". Addition of Hindi and local English names for scientific names of plants, clarification regarding observations of the "green willow warbler".
Access Level: Open/Online.
Ghosh, Nandita
Clarification sought re: measurements of bird houses. Ghosh is the grandchild of Pritti Ranjan Sen, Ara's friend, and says her favourite hobby is bird watching. Her letter is a follow-up to reading Ara's book, 'Watching Birds'.
Access Level: Open/Online.
Access Level: Open/Online.
Avifauna of Champaran, Muzaffarpur, Shahabad, Singhbhum and others
Access Level: Open/Online.
Avifauna of Hazaribagh District
Access Level: Open/Online.
Bird species names and notes on Eastern India
Access Level: Open/Online.
Bird Watching for Children -- Wonders of Bird Life
Access Level: Open/Online.
Birds and You
Two drafts for booklet on "Bihar Birds", titled "Birds and You". Includes letter to Uma Nath, Public Relations Department, Patna, Bihar. Draft is approximately 34 pages with "76 of the commonest birds found in the State, together with four chapters of general interest on birds and bird watching". Reference to 29 black and white (and one coloured) illustrations, but not enclosed with draft. Also see MS-046-2-3-2-8, MS-046-2-3-2-9 and MS-046-2-3-2-10 (Illustrations).
Access Level: Open/Online.
Birds of Bihar -- Book proposal, outline and main lines of study of field ornithology
Access Level: Open/Online.
Chota Nagpur Newsletter (From a Correspondent)
Includes handwritten and typed draft
Access Level: Open/Online.
Conservation Problems in Bihar
Typed draft
Access Level: Open/Online.
Drafts of ten articles on Chota Nagpur landscapes covering forests, colour, spring, monsoon, trails and other themes
Drafts of ten articles on Chota Nagpur landscapes with titles: The Natural Scene; Spring in the Jungle; Holiday on Wheels; The Monsoon; Colour in the Forest; The Interior; Scenic Changes; Sylvan Trails; Floral Sleeping Beauty; No Name
Access Level: Open/Online.
Fauna of the Kodarma Reserved Forests
Typed draft
Access Level: Open/Online.
Fifteen Year Scheme for Protection of Wildlife in Bihar
Handwritten and typed drafts. Includes Sami Ahmad's draft from ca 1949 for amendments to the "Wild Life Protection Act", approved by BNHS. Includes handwritten letter from Ara to unnamed individual re: Ahmad's draft, Ara's additional comments and the need to balance human life and preservation of wild life.
Access Level: Open/Online.
Forests for Use and Beauty
Typed draft
Access Level: Open/Online.
Glimpse in Bird Land
Handwritten draft. Includes notes for narration. Likely audio script.
Access Level: Open/Online.
Hazaribagh National Park - Revisited
Typed draft
Access Level: Open/Online.
Little Known Facts about Indian Forests
Two typed drafts with annotations
Access Level: Open/Online.
Mammals of Hazaribagh Forests
Typed draft
Access Level: Open/Online.
Nature Conservation
Typed draft with annotations
Access Level: Open/Online.
Notes: Forestry, intensive utilisation, wildlife and wild flowers in Bihar, Indian Institute of Field Ornithology, and other themes
Handwritten
Access Level: Open/Online.
Through the Scrub
Typed draft
Access Level: Open/Online.
Upper Damodar Valley -- Bihar -- Checklist of birds and related notes
Handwritten and typed drafts.
Access Level: Open/Online.
Urdu draft - 1 of 4
Access Level: Open/Online.
Urdu draft - 2 of 4
Access Level: Open/Online.
Urdu draft - 3 of 4
Includes notes in English and Urdu, with references to narrative voice. Possible audio script.
Access Level: Open/Online.
Urdu draft - 4 of 4
Handwritten in Urdu, numbered draft. Includes one article on 'Darzi chidiya' - tailor bird.
Access Level: Open/Online.
Why Forests -- The Jungle in Bihar
Handwritten and typed drafts.
Access Level: Open/Online.
Bill or beak of birds
Handwritten notes
Access Level: Open/Online.
Bird species names, location, year, and author of finding
Handwritten notes
Access Level: Open/Online.
Breeding birds of Bihar
Handwritten notes: English, Latin names, order, family, changes in breeding plumage, breeding season
Access Level: Open/Online.
Fauna -- species names in English and Hindi
Handwritten note: Single page, with translation of names for 32 entries, including leopard, otter, civet, elephant, jackal.
Access Level: Open/Online.
General botany
Handwritten notes in "Loreto Convent" notebook, likely teaching notes for self on general aspects of botany. Includes short section of notes on communities and relation to nature and deities.
Access Level: Open/Online.
Notes based on Valentine Ball's research
Handwritten notes drawing from V. Ball's research on birds in Chota Nagpur area
Access Level: Open/Online.
Notes from Newsletter for Birdwatchers and other Journals
Handwritten notes in "L&T" 1979 annual diary. Includes references to work of PK Sen Gupta and articles in 1969 and 1979 editions of Newsletter for Birdwatchers. Sparsely used diary.
Access Level: Open/Online.
Illustrations of Birds - Part 1 of 3
Hand-drawn ink and colour illustrations of birds, from an envelope (from Gardiner Bump, 1961) with annotations, "CM Inglis", "Birds illustrations", and "check list". Also see MS-046-2-1-1-10 (manuscript with reference to bird illustrations).
Access Level: Open/Online.
Illustrations of Birds - Part 2 of 3
Hand-drawn ink and colour illustrations of birds, from an envelope (from International Union of Conservation of Nature, IUCN, 1972) with annotations, "Illustrations of Birds". Includes birds like Dhanesh and Kathporwa. Also see MS-046-2-1-1-10 (manuscript with reference to bird illustrations).
Access Level: Open/Online.
Illustrations of Birds - Part 3 of 3
Hand-drawn ink and colour illustrations of birds, wrapped in a loose sheet. No bird names listed. Includes a signature "JA". Also see MS-046-2-1-1-10 (manuscript with reference to bird illustrations).
Access Level: Open/Online.
Illustrations of bird-houses
Hand-drawn in pencil, single page, with 6-7 illustrations of bird-houses
Access Level: Open/Online.
Folks Tales of Chota Nagpur
Handwritten and typed drafts. Two drafts with annotations. Contents list: - Creation of the Earth - How Chotanagpur got its name - The Price of Greed - Lovers turned into birds. - Mounting Terror - How Birds got their Colours - All for a Gram - The Hoopoe and its Tail - The First Flower - Baha - The Golden-Haired Princess - Why the Dove Lays only Two Eggs - The Cock and the Pea - The Bulbul and the Farmer - Wild Buffalo and Sister
Access Level: Open/Online.
Fragments of a Lost Civilization
Handwritten draft in pencil. On pre-Aryan histories, Indus Valley Civilization, tribal communities and art in Chota Nagpur. Includes references to Verrier Elwin's work, and others.
Access Level: Open/Online.
Journeys through Hell
Handwritten draft in ink. On Indian literature. Includes references to Rabindranath Tagore, Sarat Chandra Chatterjee.
Access Level: Open/Online.
Kites
Typed draft on kite-flying in India and kite-flying competitions, especially during Jatra festival in Chota Nagpur
Access Level: Open/Online.
Notes on Munda mysticism
Handwritten draft in pencil and ink on Munda community
Access Level: Open/Online.
Handwritten draft in pencil. Fiction titled 'A World of Men' on the abusive relation of a man against his wife. Includes notes on Indian classical music on the other side of notebook.
Access Level: Restricted researcher access, view on-site. See
Field Notes on the Birds of the Kolhan Forest Division
Singhbhum District, Bihar.
Access Level: Open/Online.
Forgotten Spring of the Indian Jungle
Access Level: Open/Online.
Conservation Problems in Bihar
Journal of the Bengal Natural History Society. Vol. XXVII, pp 66-73, December, 1954.
Access Level: Open/Online.
Birds of the Bihar Forest
Journal of the Bengal Natural History Society. Vol. XXVIII, pp 90-98, August, 1956. (Continued from page 15, Vol. XXVIII Nos. 1 and 2, 1956)
Access Level: Open/Online.
Cursory Ecological Survey of the Flora and Fauna of the Hazaribagh National Park (Bihar)
Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society. Vol. 57, No. 2, August, 1960.
Access Level: Open/Online.
The Silver Stream
Published in The New Republic
Access Level: Open/Online.
Orchids of Chota Nagpur
Access Level: Open/Online.
Sanctuaries in Bihar
Access Level: Open/Online.
Common Birds of the Indian Plains
Author: Right Reverend Richard Dyke Acland, Bishop of Bombay. Published by the Bombay Hospitality Committee, Town Hall, Fort, Bombay. Includes indecipherable signature on cover ('Reynolds'?)
Access Level: Open/Online.
Migration of Gulls, according to Ringing Data in the Soviet Union (USSR)
Reprint in Russian
Access Level: Open/Online.
The Gujarat Satpuras in Indian Ornitho-Geography
The Gujarat Satpuras in Indian Ornitho-Geography: The Highway of Malayan Forms to the Western Ghats. Author: Salim Ali. Published by the Gujarat Research Society. Annotated with a note, "With the author's compliments".
Access Level: Open/Online.
Birds of the Duars
Inglis, C. M., 1951. Birds of the Duars. Journal of the Bengal Natural History Society. Vol. 25. Includes annotation, "With the author's compliments. C.M. Inglis". [Archivist's note: Inglis wrote over 30 journal articles in this series in the journal. Two reprint sets in Ara's papers].
Access Level: Open/Online.
Books and a few Separates in the Library of C.M. Inglis
Bibliographic listing of "books and a few separates in the library of C.M. Inglis", including over 171 titles. Annotated with a "+" against specific titles, and with "Jamal Ara, 8/4/54".
Access Level: Open/Online.
The Nesting Habits of the Goldfinch
The Nesting Habits of the Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis (LINN.) and C. caniceps VIGORS. By R.S.P. Bates. Reprint from Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society, Vol. 57, No. 2, August 1960.
Access Level: Open/Online.
Wild Life is Essential to our Welfare
Wild Life is Essential to our Welfare. By B. Jagannatha Shetty. Unknown publisher (newspaper)
Access Level: Open/Online.
Reports -- Bombay Natural History Society's Bird Migration Study Project
Envelope (dated 1973) with compilation of reports of Bombay Natural History Society's Bird Migration Study Project, from ca 1967 - 1972. Sent to members of BNHS. Includes overview of project (ringing of 2,70,294 birds under direction of Salim Ali); cooperation of scientists in India, United States and Russia; note to member of BNHS from Zafar Futehally, Honorary Secretary (Aug 3, 1967) re: bird banding camps at Bharatpur and Eastern India; reports from team members - Jamshed Pandey, Jose Mathias, Justus Selvin from Bharatpur, Gajner (Bikaner); other membership details.
Access Level: Open/Online.
Killing of Tigers Banned in Twelve States
Newspaper clipping. The Searchlight (by arrangement with the Hindustan Times).
Access Level: Open/Online.
Bird and Bird Watching
Bird and Bird Watching. By R.M. Naik, published by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT). 50 page book with 16 chapters on themes including naming birds, purpose and colouration of feathers, how birds fly and eat, nests and eggs of birds, and India's national bird. In foreword, S.V.C Aiya, Director, NCERT, says book and its contents would "motivate the school children to pick up the wonderful hobby of bird watching".
Access Level: Open/Online.
"Foul Murder of our Wild Animals: Stop it Now, or..." - article in The Illustrated Weekly of India by Feroze Gheyara
Access Level: Request. Available upon request. See
Save the Tiger and its Prey
"Save the Tiger and its Prey" - article by R.K. Raju. Unknown newspaper
Access Level: Open/Online.
"Sanctuaries -- Good and Bad" - article and photographs by S. Theodore Baskaran. And "Our Sanctuaries -- It's an Uncertain Future" - article by Belinda Wright. Both in same issue of The Illustrated Weekly of India. Includes mention of Kaziranga Wildlife Sanctuary, and additional photographs by Sher Jang Singh.
Access Level: Request. Available upon request. See
"A Home for Tigers" - article by Billy Arjan Singh in The Illustrated Weekly of India. Excerpts from Singh's book, "Tiger Haven". Photographs by K.S. Sankhala, R.B. Bedi.
Access Level: Request. Available upon request. See
Birds of the Darbhanga District, North Bihar, with some Records from Neighbouring Districts
Typed notes by C.M. Inglis, with light annotations, including over 360 bird species names, common names, habitat and personal observations of a bird.
Access Level: Open/Online.
Sanctuaries and National Parks in Eastern India
Typed draft (unknown writer) with observations sectioned by state. West Bengal (Sanctuaries: Jaldapura, Mahanadi, Senchal, Gorumara, Chapramari, Sajnakhali Island, Lothian Island and Halliday Island); Orissa (Mayubhanj National Park, Sanctuaries: Debigarh, Raigoda, Chandka, Balukhand); Bihar(National Parks: Hazaribagh, Palamau. Sanctuaries: Sasangdaburu, Bamiabaru, Songra, Baresand, Kodarma)
Access Level: Open/Online.
Expert Committee on National Parks -- Introductory Chapter
Typed draft, unknown writer or publisher. Draws on resolutions passed at the 10th General Assembly of the IUCN at New Delhi In November 1969. Includes three recommendations, specifically on creation of parks, wildlife refuge, wilderness areas. Outlines boundaries for what is not to be designated a national park. Notes on Periyar Wild Life Sanctuary and Calcutta Salt Lake Area.
Access Level: Open/Online.
Bird handbook -- annotated
Notebook with alphabetical list of birds (common English names) with printed illustrations. Includes space for bird watchers to fill details about name, common name, size, colours, character, food, nest description, nesting season, enemies, date first seen in the year, approximate date seen the previous year. Annotated with entries for most birds, unknown author.
Access Level: Open/Online.
Coronation of the Queen -- Stand-up model of the Royal State Coach
Printed book with details about the coronation ceremony of Queen Elizabeth II, the crowns and state regalia, and a three-dimensional fold-out of the royal procession.
Access Level: Open/Online.
Notes -- Indian classical music, music theory, food recipes
Handwritten notes on the Hindustani classical music thata system, progression of various ragas, music scales, contrast and comparison with European styles and Carnatic music. Three handwritten sheets on recipes for breakfast.
Access Level: Open/Online.