Working with legends like Dr Sálim Ali, Humayun Abdulali and J C Daniel can transform anyone– and Isaac Kehimkar is no exception. Today, the gentleman-naturalist is widely regarded as the Butterfly Man. He thinks, breathes and dreams butterflies–and is India’s walking encyclopaedia on butterflies. His new book “Butterflies of India, a field guide”, will be released soon.
Kehimkar, currently Manager-Programmes with the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS-India), has also authored two comprehensive field guides – “Common Indian Wildflowers” and “Book of Indian Butterflies”.
“In fact, more than my work, I would give total credit to Facebook. I could connect with butterfly lovers, experts and students,” the 59-year-old said. Facebook and other platforms have connected amateurs and experts. This, he said, was making a difference in terms of research. His previous book has a list of 634 butterflies but now he has managed to compile 1,024 species found in the Indian sub-continent.
“There are over 18,000 species of butterflies across the globe,” he says. Apart from India, the book covers the butterfly fauna of Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan and Myanmar.
“We are in a butterfly paradise with more than 1,500 species in India itself. With such diverse habitats ranging from the Himalayas to deserts to grasslands, there is so much for a naturalist to explore! Exploring varied places and studying butterflies there inspired me to write this book,” he said. India is very rich in butterflies. “Britain has 47 species. But, Sanjay Gandhi National Park in Mumbai alone has around 170 species,” he said.
“India is a haven for butterflies, whether it is the Western Ghats-Sahyadri ranges, the North East or the Himalayas or for that matter places like the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. There are several endemic species here as well,” he said. Jammu & Kashmir needs to be explored.
“It took me more than two years to write this book. This is truly a magnum opus on butterflies. I hope the readers will enjoy it as much as I enjoyed writing it,” adds Kehimkar. A few years ago after the release of his first book, he met with an accident. At that time, he started the work for this book. “It is not my work. It is the work of many. In fact, wherever I have found that someone else’s photo is better, I have used it,” he said.
Kehimkar joined the BNHS in 1979. “In fact, I worked with a big corporate, but when I came to know that there is an opening in the BNHS, I joined. Salary was far less than what I was getting earlier. My mother was a bit upset, but my father, who was an officer with the Reserve Bank of India, said that if that was my interest, I should go ahead,” he said.
“It’s more difficult to find a job that will make you happy, than one which pays you well. If you follow your heart, the money will eventually follow – that’s what my dad told me,” he says. His father was also interested in things like philately.
Isaac had grown up in the Govandi-Deonar area in suburban Mumbai. “After rice was harvested we played cricket or climbed trees, caught fish and crabs…a lot of people from the local koli and agri communities were my friends,” said Kehimkar, who is a Jew.
“I have seen legends like Salim Ali, J C Daniel, Vyankatesh Madgulkar working....they were an inspiration,” he said. In the late 80s when his article was published in the “Sanctuary” magazine, Daniel was impressed and he was made part of the “Hornbill” magazine. He had helped set up the butterfly garden at the Conservation Education of the BNHS at Filmcity in Mumbai and Ovalekar Wadi in Thane.
“Today, when it comes to butterflies, there are avenues and many butterfly meets are held. There we not only project nice pictures but also speak on research and career opportunities in the field,” Isaac said.
“Today we have the potential to develop butterfly parks,” he said.
He said that formal research started in a way when the Britishers came in. “In fact, you would find butterflies named Commander, Commodore, Sailor, Captain, Major and Sergeant,” he pointed out.
“A doctor from Arunachal Pradesh has photographed the rare Kaiser-i-Hind and it has been used in the book. More than 50 people from the sub-continent have supplied pictures for my book, in addition to my own,” he said.
According to Kehimkar, it is essential to take children to nature and wilderness. “In a small way, we can start butterfly gardens. Yes, it is possible to attract butterflies to your doorstep. You can have a closer look into the lives of these fascinating insects by planting flowering plants to provide nectar to adult butterflies and food plants for butterflies to lay eggs. You will enjoy every moment of this experience when you see butterflies actually visit your patch of garden or your windowsill pots. Watching little caterpillars hatching out, growing, pupating and then witnessing the magical moments of the butterfly emerging and finally taking off its first flight is truly a rewarding experience,” he added.