The Second Jungle Book (Published in 1895) - Written by Rudyard Kipling

Rudyard Kipling, a Nobel laureate was born in India to a vivacious Alice Kipling and sculptor Painter, John Kipling. His works range from poems, to children's books. Rudyard was a English language writer whose prose is peppered with colloquial usage and languages mainly from India which opens a window to the prevailing culture and customs of the time. His children's stories are the most endured classics of the time and his short stories are the most sought after. Many of his works are deemed to be controversial as the time progressed. Rudyard Kipling was the product of an imperial India where imperialism under Queen Victoria was at its heights. His poems like 'White Mans Burden' are often sited as a clarion call for the imperialist and has been criticized by subsequent humanist. But as one of the youngest Nobel Prize recipient for English Language, the place for Kipling in human history cannot be discounted and his prose and poems enthuse millions even today. Kipling died in 1936 in London and was buried in Westminster Abbey.
The Second Jungle Book is a sequel to the Jungle Book and features five stories of Mowgli and three unrelated stories. Kipling has set all these stories in India, but had written the script in Vermont. In the first Story “How Fear Came” all the animals have gathered around the watering hole where Sher Khan the Tiger brags about his ancient right to kill man. Hathi, the chief of elephants tells the story where in ancient times Tha, the king of beast had appointed the tiger as an adjudicator in his absence. That was the time of harmony where all animals were vegetarians. Tiger accidentally kills and runs away and is marked by creeping wines thus getting stripes for his act. Tha gives him the boon of one night when he is never afraid of the hairless beast, man.



The second story is “The Kings Ankus” where Kaa leads Mowgli to a underground lair which is guarded by a cobra. It is a lost city where jewels abound. Mowgli never realizes the worth of other treasures, but takes the bejeweled Ankus against the warnings of the Cobra. When Bagheera informs him that the Ankus is used to hurt elephants, Mowgli casts it away only to be found by a man. It leaves a trail of killings and Mowgli much, chastened takes it back. In Letting in the Jungle, Mowgli takes revenge from the villagers who imprison his adopted mother Messua with the help of Hathi the elephant.
In Red dog, Mowgli is warned by a waylaid wolf, Won-Tella about a marauding pack of Dhole or wild dogs. Mowgli urges his pack to stay and fight. With the help of Kaa he lays a trap for the Dhole and leads them to the terrible hives. The Dhole are decimated, but Akela, the wolf chief is mortally wounded. In his dying words, he urges Mowgli to seek his kind as he has paid his debt to his adopted wolf family.
The Spring Running is the last of the Mowgli stories. As a seventeen year old Mowgli feels the first awakening of attraction in him. He meets his mother Messua who now is a widow with a small son. On his visit he cannot keeps his eyes off a pretty girl. Bagheera tells him to listen to his instincts and ask him to return to his world. Mowgli leaves his pack to lead a human life.
The other stories involve "The miracle of Puran Bhagat", a politician turned holy man who saves the village from a landslide with the help of animals and “the Undertakers” which is a story of a crocodile, a stork and a jackal with their struggles against man. The last story is Quiqern, which is a nice break from the tropical jungle and takes place in an arctic jungle. Here the a young Inuit, Kotuko along with a girl companion follow a spirit called Quiqern. They need to find a seal and food supplies or their tribe is doomed. As Kotuko travels he finds that the spirit is really two live dogs leading them to the seal. Kotuko accomplishes his mission of getting food for his people.
The second Jungle book is more intense and more adventurous than the first one. It has more things to grab the attention of even the vicious Internet game fanatic. I am not ten anymore, but the tales and lores of Kipling's jungle gives me goose pimples even now. Just read it with your children and leave them in your debt forever. If not read it alone to be transported to a magical kingdom of the man cub and his friends. These tales never age, right?

The Jungle book (published in 1894) - A collection of stories by Rudyard Kipling

Rudyard Kipling, a Nobel laureate was born in India to a vivacious Alice Kipling and sculptor Painter, John Kipling. His works range from poems, to children's books. Rudyard was a English language writer whose prose is peppered with colloquial usage and languages mainly from India which opens a window to the prevailing culture and customs of the time. His children's stories are the most endured classics of the time and his short stories are the most sought after. Many of his works are deemed to be controversial as the time progressed. Rudyard Kipling was the product of an imperial India where imperialism under Queen Victoria was at its heights. His poems like White Mans burden are often sited as a clarion call for the imperialist and has been criticized by subsequent humanists. But as an youngest Nobel Prize recipient for English Language, the place for Kipling in human history cannot be discounted and his prose and poems enthuse millions even today.
Jungle book is a collection of seven stories featuring anthropomorphic animals and humans in a very Indian setting. These stories may have morals and symbolism but the foremost idea is to entertain and thus equating them with the Aesop fables are futile. This book has gone in to the public domain and are a part of the Project Gutenberg for viewing.



For me the first mention of Jungle book brings to mind the cherished memory of Mowgli the man cub brought up by the wolves. Mowgli is found by a she-wolf who nurses the baby along with her cubs. He grows up with the pack along with friends like Bagheera, the panther and Baloo, the Bear and Kaa, the python. He has his wolf brothers and the leader of the pack Akela to fight for him. This story chronicles the life of Mowgli and his fight with his arch enemy, Sher Khan, the Tiger. Devious devices and petty jealousies drive Mowgli to the human settlement where he is taken care of by Messua and her husband. But Mowgli can never be away from the jungle and he comes back. He kills Sher Khan, reunites with his brothers and joins the pack as a full fledged contributing member. The chronicles of Mowgli is told through 3 stories namely, “Mowgli's Brothers”, “Kaa's Hunting” and “Tiger, Tiger”. Another unique feature of Kipling's jungle book is that each story is followed by a series of couplets which may be parodies or just sing along verses.
Followed by Mowgli's three tales, Kipling presents “White Seal” where the readers are taken to the frigid climes of the Bering sea where seals are hunted indiscriminately. He tells the story of Kottick a furry white seal who takes upon himself to lead his family to a safe haven with out hunters. In “Toomai of the elephants” Rudyard Kipling tells about a boy who wants to be an elephant handler and is informed about the myth of the Elephant dance. A magical night with the elephants gets Toomai his night to remember and the reader a tale never to forget. Then comes the “Servants of the Queen” where a British officer eavesdrop the conversation between the camp animals in the night gaining more insights about his own life and his friends.
Btu my favorite is “Rikki-Tikki-Tavi”, the story of a spunky mongoose who is adopted by a genteel Anglican family. He protects the family against the vicious cobra's Nag and Nagina. The effervescent tale about the snakes, their family, their children and Rikki's friends Darzee the bird all come together in a memorable way.
All these charming stories may enthrall children, but these are for adults too, because adults are the ones who need more humanism in their life. Where can you learn to be a better human but from our diverse animal life.