For a long time, Mowgli, Balu, Bagheera and other inhabitants of the jungle remain the favorite heroes of children from different countries. These characters often appeared in cartoons, in illustrations in books. Created this magical world in which the boy brought up by wild animals, the English writer Rudyard Kipling.
Childhood R. Kipling
The fate of the writer herself is worthy of books, because she is in no way inferior to his novels. Lockwood Kipling and his wife Alice were born and raised in England. It was there that they met at Lake Rudyard. However, then life decided that they ended up in colonial India. Lockwood ran the school, and Alice, meanwhile, took care of the household and was the most active woman of all the locals knew. In the same place, in India, the future writer was born.
Lockwood Kipling instilled in his son the idea that everything in his life should be tried first hand and not be afraid of change. This made Rudyard a big fan of adventure and travel. The mysterious world of India, impenetrable jungle and wild animals inflamed consciousness and inspired to create stories.
When the future writer was six years old, he and his sister went to his parents' homeland to get an education there. The next six years of his life, he considered real horror. After the freedom of India, he found himself in the arms of prim England, where he was severely punished for any wrongdoing. Kipling then continued his studies at the Devon Military School. Memories of him were painted in much warmer colors. Then Rudyard was saturated with respect for order and military service. And it was there that his talent as a writer was first noticed.
Mature years of R. Kipling
After graduation, Kipling returned to India and got a job there in the newspaper. Then he made a long journey, the final destination of which again became England. He decided to conquer a cold and impregnable country. And he succeeded. And not only the country was conquered, but also the beautiful Carolina, who agreed to marry Kipling. She bore the writer a daughter, Josephine, whom he dearly loved.
With the outbreak of the Boer War, a black streak began in the life of the writer. His views of the imperialist aroused contempt among some. Kipling's uncle and sister got sick first, and then he and Josephine. The girl did not survive the disease. Kipling was afraid for a long time to say this, knowing how his death would cripple his beloved daughter.
At the same time, the novel "Kim" was written, which provided Kipling with posthumous fame. For a long time, the writer disappeared from the field of view of readers. Some even believed that he was dead. However, he simply could no longer write. After the death of Josephine, he also had to survive the death of his son, who was missing.
The last work that Rudyard Kipling wrote was an autobiography. However, the writer did not have time to finish it. He died in 1936.
The story of the creation of the book "The Jungle Book
Bagheera and Mowgli are loved by many children. It is with the "Jungle Book" for many that acquaintance with Kipling begins. For some, this piece ends. It was created for a long time and with great love. And in order to track the history of its creation, you need to turn to the childhood of the writer.
When Kipling was still living in India, he had a nanny - a local woman. She taught him Hindi and told old tales and myths that have lived for centuries. The stories of the nanny, coupled with the mysterious world of India, had a great influence on the future writer.
Despite the world described in the Jungle Book, Bagheera, Mowgli, Balu and other heroes were born in the United States. It was there that the writer began writing one of the most important works of his career. Despite the fact that he was brought up on myths, it is difficult to find at least one whose history would certainly be set out in the “Jungle Book”. Rather, a new myth was created based on the narrator’s narrative and his own experiences. And he fell in love with people from all over the world. Especially because there were practically no books about India at that time. Especially so interesting.
Mowgli
One of the main characters of the two "Jungle Books" was a little boy. In the early years he was far from civilization, in the world of animals. He was sheltered by a family of wolves. Over the years, while Mowgli grew up, all animals got used to him and were not afraid of him at all. And the wolves began to consider the boy one of his pack. However, not everyone adhered to such a peace-loving thought.
Tiger Sherkhan, his ally Tabaki and other smaller minions refused to accept the "human cub." So Mowgli became a stumbling block in the jungle world.
Baloo bear
Bagheera, Mowgli and Baloo became best friends. Among this trinity, the bear enjoyed the special love of the children.
Balu is one of the old inhabitants of the jungle. For Mowgli, he became something like a father. No one knew the Book of the Jungle better than the old bear, because he was chosen to be the one who teaches the rules of the boy. Balu represents strength. He boldly defends his little ward every time he is in danger.
Kipling himself said that the name for the character was borrowed from Hindi. In the language this word denoted several species of bears at once.
Bagheera, black panther
Balu was not the only educator of the "human cub." Another true friend of the boy was a panther named Bagheera. It is believed that this character is the personification of love. And this is one of the few heroes whose story is known.
I did not like to talk about my past Bagheera. Mowgli, however, aroused her confidence. Therefore, once she told him that she was born in a menagerie of a rich and influential Raja. For a long time she lived on a chain. But then Bagira's mother died. And the panther plunged into the abyss of longing. Loneliness pressed so hard that Bagheera decided to escape. The attempt was a success. The jungle world has taken on a new occupant. However, Sherkhan was saturated with dislike for Bagheera. The hostility worsened when a boy appeared in the animal world.
As Bagheera said, Mowgli was the only one who knew the full story of her life. Even Baloo did not realize that a friend was once on a chain. Better than others, this hero of the "Jungle Book" is familiar with the world of people. And therefore, it was Mowgli who would turn to her to decide where he wants to live. Bagheera spoke about that world to her pupil. It was from her that the boy learned about the "red flower", which even Sherkhan was afraid of.
For many, the main question remains who is Panther Bagheera. Boy or girl? In fact, Kipling conceived Bagheera as a male. However, in Russian the word "panther" is feminine. Therefore, Bagheera became a woman. The same metamorphosis occurred with a hero in Poland.
Bagheera, Mowgli and Balu, their comrades and enemies, not only open the world of mysterious India, but also prepare children for life in the world of people. Instructive and interesting tales will be read and reread for a long time to come.