Kipling's 'The Jungle Books'

If I speak for myself and the people of my age, I doubt there would be anyone who doesn't know, didn't see and love the 'The Jungle Book' animated series(Hindi version) that used to be broadcasted on Doordarshan on Sundays. In the English textbook of the school(I don't recall the grade), we had a small chapter, actually an extract from the Kipling's book, which further introduced and made us more fond of Mowgli, Bagheera, Baloo and Kaa.

While these memories are more than 15 years old, after I recently read 'The Jungle Books' which is a collective work consisting of Rudyard Kipling's stories, not only those memories were refreshed but also the need of Nature and Law in human life dawned upon me, yet again !!! As a grown-up when I look back to the years and compare myself with the current kids/adolescents, I realize how crucial were the seemingly naïve factors(Nature, Simplicity, Respect, Discipline, Obedience, Faithfulness, Emotional Sensitivities, Listening to stories etc.) in shaping us into decent, strong and humble individuals. Stories remain one strong, simple and sadly, depleting means of cultivating good and practical values among the kids. Here, 'The Jungle Books' makes a unique mark of its own ! In the introduction, Professor Daniel Karlin aptly makes the point :
'The Mowgli stories, according to this idea, relate to a child's journey towards maturity in which the animals he encounters represents his teachers, tempters, companions and enemies. At the same time, the discourse itself(that of play, of make-believe)marks the difference between the childhood and the adulthood. The onset of puberty is also the onset of nostalgia'.

The objective of this post is simple - highlighting how this book must be interpreted for shaping up the nascent and young brains ! This book and a peaceful human life revolves around three interwoven things - Philosophy, Law and Actions. Below are several passages from the book that depict these things.

• The book has a large no. of characters, each with a distinct personality. This helps the reader to relate to the different human tendencies around. The caring but strict teacher Baloo, the silent guardian Bagheera, the Lone leader Akela, the stalwart Gray Brother, the cunning Shere Khan, the Old and the Wise Kaa and Hathi, the stupid, yet harmful Tabaqui and the Bandar Log
• As made clear in the poem 'The Jungle Law', obedience is unquestionable !

Now these are the Laws of the Jungle,
and many and mighty are they;
But the head and the hoof of the Law
and the haunch and the hump is -- Obey!

• As Akela grows old and feeble, Shere Khan cunningly feeds scraps to the younger wolves of the pack and embitters them against Mowgli. Bagheera warns Mowgli of the consequences and makes him prepare a bowl of fire for self-defence which he consequently is forced to use.

One needs to be aware of the cunning people around, heed the warnings of good old friends, prepare for facing the attacks and fight vehemently when left with no option.

• When an ageing Akela misses his kill, he voluntarily surrenders the leadership and awaits his death

The Leaders must be young and strong. When they grow weak, they must willingly step-down and make room for the fresh blood

• Baloo, during his endless teachings to Mowgli regarding the Jungle Law, teaches him the Stranger's Hunting Call - when you are in a new and unknown territory, don't start hunting abruptly which will startle and annoy the residents there. Give a courteous call saying 'I'm hungry and permit me to hunt' and the reply will be 'Hunt for food but not pleasure'.

This has a very deep meaning. Whenever we go to a new place - our relative's place, a job place, a new country or amidst Nature, never behave as in your home ground ! Be aware of the fact that you are a new comer, respect the established authority and rules there and behave politely !

The Bandar Log are the most abhorred and disliked animals in the Jungle - just check the few passages(there are many)from the book that talk about Bandar Log.

• '... the Bandar Log began, twenty at a time, to tell him how great and wise and string and gentle they were, and how foolish he was to leave them. 'We are great. We are free. We are wonderful. We are the most wonderful people in all the jungle! We all say so, and so it must be true', they shouted'
• 'They have no Law. They are outcaste. They have no speech of their own, but use stolen words which they overhear when they listen, and peep, and wait up above in the branches. Their way is not our way. They are without leaders. They have no remembrance. They boast and chatter and pretend that they are great people about to do great affairs in the Jungle but the falling of nuts turns their minds to laughter and all is forgotten

 The Bandar Log mentality is found in large no. of people around us. There are people who blindly imitate the others without even giving a logical thought - they pick up language, clothes, food(but not good manners) of some remote, distant and disparate race and boast it among their own people. There are people who have very short memory, live day-by-day without any vision or goals and criticize the steady-goers who are set on their definite objectives. Often, the count of such stupid and shallow-minded people is large which facilitates them in creating a ruckus to prove that they are correct. Beware, avoid and ignore such people - follow your path with your Law. Do not get disturbed or distracted by these

• After Kaa saves Mowgli from the Bandar Log, Bagheera asks Mowgli to thank Kaa, Mowgli says ' We be one blood, thou and I. I take my Life from thee tonight. My kill shall be thy kill....'. '....and if thou art in a trap, I may pay the debt which I owe to thee, Bagheera and Baloo here.'

Remembering and reciprocating the help received in need is very crucial ! It is the unquestionable and indispensable Law that each living being must follow. If some one helps you, try to help back when he/she/it needs help !!!

• By the Law of the Jungle, it is death to kill at the drinking-places when once the Water Truce has been declared. ... but water is water, and when there is but one source of supply, all hunting stops while the Jungle people go there for their needs.

In times of emergency, dire and perilous situations, a group, a society, a nation must strictly observe temporary laws which can help to tackle the situations. All must forget their selfish motives for the time-being and maintain the order till the conditions improve. e.g.: A famine, a drought, a flood, energy crisis.

• 'They are idle, senseless and cruel; they play with their mouths and they do not kill the weaker for food but for sport. When they are full-fed they would throw their own breed into the Red Flower(fire).

Mowgli is exasperated at idleness, unnecessary consumption of natural resources and savagery of the human beings. We, as human beings, certainly must ponder over the way we are exploiting and destroying the Nature!

There are many such passages throughout the book which, in a simple and intuitive manner for the young, present the values and virtues, ALL PRACTICAL in nature.

Many of the good quotes from the book are listed under the 'Quotes' here.

While I don't recall all the episodes of the animated Jungle Book series, the series had a lot of deviations from the original stories. For example, as per the book, Shere Khan is born lame and often attacks cattle and human beings. He is killed by Mowgli using bulls and not in some hand-to-hand fight.

All-in-all, this book ranks in the top-5 children literature books I have read till date. As one always has to grow up and leave behind the beloved ones, I would like to conclude by quoting the final lines by Bagheera, Baloo and Kaa sung in 'The Outsong' :

On the trail that thou must tread
To the thresholds of our dread,
Where the Flower blossoms red;
Through the nights when thou shalt lie
Prisoned from our Mother-sky,
Hearing us, thy loves, go by;
In the dawns when thou shalt wake
To the toil thou canst not break,
Heartsick for the Jungle's sake:
Wood and Water, Wind and Tree,
Jungle-Favour go with thee!