It was my favorite book and cartoon as a kid. It spoke to me in many ways but I couldn't quite put a finger on it as a child. Now that I'm all grown up (some would argue grown old), I realized it still spoke to me, only this time I had my reasons.
- It is based in INDIA - A beautiful tale of co-existence of man with nature is a reflection of Rudyard Kipling's life experiences in India and a figment of his vibrant imagination. The fabric and authenticity of the Jim Corbett National park are captured flawlessly in this narration.
- It is a journey of self discovery - The story of Mowgli is a journey in search of an identity and that leads to total liberation. Mowgli is an outliar in the jungle. He is a "man" cub raised by wolves and mocked by other animals. He feels the constant urge to fit in so he starts acting like a wolf and truly believes he is one of them. Only to realize his differences are what make him Unique;It is what makes him strong.
- It is a story about the people that shape your life - The two great influences in Mowgli's life are Baloo and Bagheera. One shows him the lighter side of life, the value of friendship and how to have a good time and make the most of what life has to offer. The song:
"Look for the bare necessities
The simple bare necessities
Forget about your worries and your strife
I mean the bare necessities"
is testament to that free
spirit. Bagheera on the other hand plays by the rules. He teaches Mowgli to be
adept,on guard and righteous at all times. He is protective and passionate
about Mowglis' well being. Both, very different influences and relationships
but both corroborate the heart warming thought that "Love is
unconditional" and you can love somebody with all your heart even if they
are not one of you. We all have people like Baloo and Bagheera that have walked
into our lives and left indelible foot prints on the sands of time.
- It is a heart-wrenching tale of Motherhood - Raksha, the mother wolf that raised Mowgli and her struggle to choose between his well being and his proximity is the story of every mother that has had to put her child first. It is testimonial to the fact that motherly love knows no boundaries, sees no distinction between her own and adopted. She does what she knows to do best -SHE LOVES.
- It is the story of the HUMAN spirit - The formidable and invincible spirit of mankind that Mowgli personifies. Man's will to survive against all odds. The impeccable ability to bring people or in this case different animals together and fight for a common cause. As the last dialogue in the film so aptly summarized it "Tonight I saw a boy without a people bring the entire Jungle together for the very first time"
For all these reasons and more, "The Jungle Book" will forever remain my most cherished reminiscence of childhood.
