My noble grandfather, the late Namal Saltan Ali Khan Bahader, who was advisor on man-elephant conflict and honorary elephant hunter for British India for two decades. His unqualified success in saving many straying tuskers from official shooting orders by coaxing them back to their habitat earned abiding admiration and respect. He ended a reign if terror of the man eater of chandrapur in Maharastra by eliminating a ten foot six inch, massive male tiger that had claimed 35 innocent human lives.
My humble and caring father, the late Nawab Arshad Ali Khan, who was Secretary Genral of the Turf Authorities of India. At Bangalore Turf Club, he introduced the world’s first low-level stables and the country’s first swimming-pool for horses. A doyen of horse racing, a target shooter, and a marksman par excellence, he has molded my entire life as a wildlife conservationist, sportsman and person. He has been instrumental in diffusing dangerous wildlife conflict situations involving maneating tigers and rogue elephants.
My Family, especially my son Asghar Ali Khan, whose passion for wildlife and commitment to conservation are in his bloodline, shares my joy in preserving the mangoes, guavas, jamun, chikoo, tamarind, and cherries on our estate for the giant Malabar squirrel and the flocks of birds. Living thus in the lap of Nature charges our minds, calms our nerves, lifts our hearts, and forges treasured family bonds. It is a complete tonic for happiness! The assets of urban modernity cannot compare with the magical tenor of life in the sylvan forests. Asghar had to eliminate the man eating tigress of Yavatamal known as T1/Avni after 14 innocent human lives were lost. With 10 crores of tax payers money down the drain in captures efforts to save Avni, this operation went on for over 3 years, with 12 failed tranquilizing attempts & over a hundred cattle kill.
