Not many people in the country know who Thomas Nelson Annandale was. The man who lies buried at Scottish Cemetery in Kolkata, was the first Director General of Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) who travelled across the country and also to China, Malaya, Japan and Morocco looking for different species of fauna in the beginning of 20th century.
In 2015, when the ZSI is celebrating its centenary year, the organisation has decided to pay homage to its founder by erecting a plaque at this tomb which was recently found out by its authorities.
ZSI director K. Venkataraman told The Hindu that the organisation has decided to set up a plaque on the grave honouring his contribution to the organisation and science at large.
A publication by ZSI had described Annandale of a person of “slight physique, with a high strung temperament and restless energy.”
Born in Edinburgh in June 1876 Annandale breathed his last in Kolkata on April 10, 1924. He was laid to rest in South Park Street cemetery but later his remains was removed to Scottish Cemetery in city’s Park Circus area.
