Government of India- 1670 views
ALLAN OCTAVIAN HUME
The Ornithologist
One of the defining moments of the Indian Independence Movement was the foundation of the Indian National Congress (INC). Allan Octavian Hume, who played a seminal role in the foundation of the INC, was a member of the Indian Civil Service, a political reformer, a botanist, and a notable ornithologist. Apart from his illustrious career in civil services in British India, Hume was also one of the pioneers of birding in India. He is also called the “Father of Indian Ornithology” and alternately, the “Pope of Indian Ornithology”.
A O Hume’s interest in birds can be traced to the era when they were merely a sport for hunting and eating. His professional commitments as a Colonial Administrator called for extensive tours, and in these travels, he encountered diverse species of birds. His enthusiasm and passion for birds could be assessed by his ability to describe and name the birds in both English and local languages, at a time when there were no specific journals for reference.
A Portrait of A O Hume
Cover of the journal “Stray Feathers”
It was during his posting in Etawah that he built up a collection of bird specimens. Unfortunately, they were destroyed during the 1857 rebellion. Thereafter, he made several arduous attempts to resume the pursuit of his passion. In the 1860s, he started stuffing birds, labelling them, and making notes. The result of his initial research was the publication of his first book in 1869: My Scrap Book—Indian Oology and Ornithology. Subsequently, due to his interest in theosophy, Hume turned vegetarian and decided to abandon hunting and collecting birds. In 1871-72, he relocated to Shimla, and there he set up a Natural Museum at the Rothney Castle. He also appointed a full-time curator and started the journal Stray Feathers, which was over 5000 pages long. Over the next few decades, he published over 200 ornithological publications, monographs, and curated an ornithological museum and library. He built an elaborate connection of over 160 contributors, which helped him acquire specimens from all over the Indian Empire.
In the 1880s, A O Hume faced a series of tribulations in his professional life, including early retirement. However, the most monumental and tragic loss he faced was the theft of most of his manuscript, which he had maintained for his magnum opus Birds of the British Indian Empire. After the loss of his manuscript, Hume abandoned ornithology and gifted his entire collection to the Natural History Museum in London. His collection consisting of over 60,000 bird specimens of around 258 bird species and over 20,000 eggs, continues to be the most extensive collection of birds received by the museum.
The contribution of Allan Octavian Hume in the discipline of ornithology in the context of the Indian subcontinent is exceptional. Hume had described around 148 new bird taxa and described 113 species of birds in the Indian subcontinent. His discoveries include the Andaman Barn Owl, Ceylon Bay Owl, and the Nicobar Serpent Eagle amongst others. There are also several species and sub-species named in his honour: Hume’s Hawk Owl, Mrs Hume’s Pheasant, Hume’s Leaf Warbler, Hume’s Whitethroat, Hume’s Wheater, Hume’s Groundpecker, and the Hume’s Short-toed Lark besides others. Thus, the role of A O Hume was paramount not only in laying the foundation of the INC but also in the study and research of the birds of the subcontinent.
A O Hume - Stamp of India, 1973
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