Received the lifetime achievement award for ornithology on the occasion of the Great Himalayan Winter Bird Count in November 2009. The award was presented by the Forest and Environment Minister of the State Government of Uttarakhand. The event was organised by Prateek Panwar. The 2008 award was presented to Syed Abdullah Hussain, my mentor and senior scientist for many years at the Bombay Natural History Society.
A close-up of the Lifetime Achievement Award that was received from the Forest and Environment Minister, Government of Uttarakhand during the inaugural function of the 2nd Great Himalayan Bird Count on 7 November 2009.
Me and my guruji, Syed Abdullah Hussain (or SAH, as he was known) with our Lifetime Achievement Awards. Mr. Hussain was awarded the recognition for the year 2008 but had not been able to travel to Dehra Dun due to ill-health. It was very satisfying therefore to receive the award along with Hussain Saab, one who has been a guru and mentor and true friend and support to me. It was also thrilling to receive the award in a State where I had not worked on birds.
