Sunjoy Monga

First published in Sanctuary Asia, Vol. 45 No. 8, August 2025

The Naturalist Who Became One with Nature
(March 7, 1962 – May 28, 2025)

By Dr. Salil Choksi

The quintessential naturalist, writer, photographer – and my dear friend – is no more.

Sunjoy Monga wasn’t just someone who documented nature. He brought it alive, with his words, images, and storytelling. Over the years, he penned nearly 20 books, contributed to newspapers such as The Times of India and Hindustan Times, and spoke to an entire generation of nature lovers and birdwatchers. His voice was calm yet passionate, and it resonated deeply with anyone who cared even a little about the wild.

Mumbai’s Birdman

Born in Mumbai, Sunjoy was drawn to the wilderness at an age when most children are still learning to tie their shoelaces. He began birdwatching when he was just six – the forests near his home called to him. As he grew up, Sanjay Gandhi National Park became his personal haven. He would wander its trails, notebook in hand, binoculars around his neck, absorbing its quiet secrets. Later, he would gift us the beautifully illustrated coffee table book City Forest – a name he coined – and even served as the Park’s Honorary Warden.

No one knew the birds of Mumbai like Sunjoy did. His two field guides on the region are indispensable to both beginners and seasoned birders. He even contributed a small but valuable section on birding in Mumbai in Lonely Planet: India (13th ed).

But his passion wasn’t limited to Mumbai. He explored every natural nook around the city and then across India, leading to two of his most practical creations – The Mumbai Nature Guide and Wildlife Reserves of India. Later came Journeys Through India’s Last Wild Places, a book that blended stunning visuals with personal stories. I was lucky to have accompanied him on some of these journeys. I even contributed to the book with an essay on Devbhoomi (Uttarakhand) and a picture of the Thattekad (Kerala) forest. These adventures, apart from being weekend birding trips with him, have turned into lifelong memories.

Chronicler Of India's Wild Places

Even before the age of digital cameras, Sunjoy’s photography stood out. He won second prize in the 1991 BBC–British Gas International Photographer of the Year competition – a rare honour. His talent also extended to the screen, where he worked as cameraman and consultant for Channel 4’s Wild India and was Indian consultant on Sir David Attenborough’s The Trials of Life.

He had a gift: the ability to make others feel nature – not just see it. His photo-stories stirred something within, nudging people to care, to act, to protect. I remember how thrilled he was to show Prince Charles around the Godrej mangroves in Vikhroli during the royal’s visit, as part of his role on the advisory panel for the Godrej Foundation. That’s just who he was – equally at ease in the forest or among dignitaries, always advocating for conservation with passion and belief.

He served for many years on the Executive Committee of the Bombay Natural History Society and co-edited Hornbill. He was also once Associate Editor of Sanctuary and Cub magazines, and in his early days, he worked with WWF-India and CRY India.

What I loved most about Sunjoy was his childlike wonder that never faded. He poured it into his work with children, launching the Young Rangers environmental awareness programme in over 50 Mumbai schools in 2007. His book Kidzbirds used fun narratives to teach bird facts. It was a hit with kids and adults alike.

Sunjoy Monga brought nature to life through his words and images. Over the years, he authored nearly 20 books and inspired a generation of nature lovers. Photo Courtesy: Sunjoy Monga family.

And oh, his love for owls! He had a magical collection of over 500 owl figurines from all over the world. I had the joy of adding a few pieces to that collection from my travels. To me, it symbolised who he was: endlessly curious, quietly eccentric, and always in tune with the mysterious side of nature.

In 2005, Sunjoy introduced India to Bird Race, a citizen-led birdwatching event supported by HSBC. What started in Mumbai quickly spread to over 14 cities. Today, it's one of the country’s largest biodiversity movements – a living legacy of his vision.

There was a quiet elegance about him. His writing, his projects, his very presence – they all carried a certain grace. He was witty, warm, and unfailingly generous with his knowledge. Time spent with Sunjoy was always rich – not just in learning, but in laughter and perspective.

A Gentle Warrior Against Time

In 2016, when he was diagnosed with blood cancer, he faced it the way he faced everything – with calm dignity. Even when he could no longer venture out, he watched birds from his window, binoculars and camera by his side, delighting in every flutter in the canopy outside. That love never faded.

He passed away on May 28, 2025, leaving behind his wife Jyoti and daughter Yuhina – named, fittingly, after a bird. They were his greatest strength.

As for me, I have lost more than a friend. Sunjoy touched my mind and heart in ways that words can never fully capture. The emptiness he leaves behind is deep and personal. But I take comfort in this: the naturalist has now truly become one with Nature.

And while his spirit soars among the birds he so dearly loved, Sunjoy will live on – in our hearts, in our stories, and on every shelf where his books rest, waiting to inspire another wanderer.

Dr. Salil Choksi has been a medical practitioner (pediatrician) for 37 years, and was Sunjoy’s constant birding companion for 25 years.


 

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