The Real Inspiration for The Jungle Book Was a Boy Raised By Wolves

Summary

The real-life inspiration for Mowgli from *The Jungle Book* is the tragic story of Dina Sanichar, a feral boy raised by wolves in India. Discovered by hunters in the 19th century, Dina struggled to adapt to human society after being brought to an orphanage, never learning to speak or fully integrate. His story is one of many feral children from the region, offering a poignant glimpse into the complex intersection of nature and civilization. While Dina’s life was far from a fairy tale, it deeply influenced Rudyard Kipling’s creation of Mowgli, adding layers to the iconic character's origin.

Takeaways

• 😀 Dina Sanichar, the real-life inspiration for Mowgli, was a feral child raised by wolves in India.
• 😀 Dina was discovered by hunters, walking on all fours and accompanied by a wolf. After several failed attempts to capture him, he was eventually brought into human society.
• 😀 Unlike Mowgli, who was welcomed into human society by a kind girl, Dina’s experience was harsh; he was sent to an orphanage where he was baptized and given the name Sanichar, meaning 'Saturday'.
• 😀 Despite various attempts to teach him language and human skills, Dina never learned to speak or write, and communicated through animal sounds.
• 😀 Dina had difficulty adjusting to human society—he hated clothes, struggled to walk upright, and refused to speak any human language.
• 😀 He developed a habit of smoking tobacco, which may have contributed to his eventual death from tuberculosis at around 29 years old.
• 😀 When first found, Dina refused to eat cooked food, preferring raw meat and gnawing on bones, similar to the habits of wolves.
• 😀 While Dina learned to walk on two feet over time, he never fully adapted to wearing clothes or human societal norms.
• 😀 Dina formed a unique bond with another feral child at the orphanage, helping each other learn basic human behaviors, such as drinking from a cup.
• 😀 Dina’s story was not unique—several other feral children were found in India during the late 19th century, including children who had been raised by wolves or other animals.
• 😀 While Dina’s life inspired Rudyard Kipling’s Mowgli, Kipling’s The Jungle Book was also influenced by Indian fables, such as the Jataka Tales and Panchatantra, and was originally written for his daughter, Josephine, who passed away in 1899.

Q & A

Who was Dina Sanichar and how was he connected to Mowgli from *The Jungle Book*?

Dina Sanichar was a real-life feral child found in India in the 19th century, raised by wolves. His life is believed to have inspired the character of Mowgli in Rudyard Kipling's *The Jungle Book*, a boy raised by wolves in the jungle.

How did Dina Sanichar come to be discovered by humans?

Dina Sanichar was first spotted by a group of hunters who saw him walking on all fours, following a wolf. After several attempts to capture him, the hunters managed to smoke him and his wolf companion out of their den.

What was Dina’s initial experience after being captured?

After Dina was captured, he was taken to an orphanage where he was baptized and given the name Sanichar, meaning 'Saturday'. His introduction to human society was harsh, and he struggled to adapt to basic human behaviors.

Did Dina ever learn to speak or communicate like other humans?

No, Dina never learned to speak or communicate through language. Despite repeated efforts to teach him, he could only make animal noises to communicate.

What were some of the behaviors Dina exhibited that were linked to his time with wolves?

Dina displayed several wolf-like behaviors, such as walking on all fours, refusing to eat cooked food, and gnawing on bones. He also preferred to be naked and had difficulty adapting to wearing clothes, much like a wild animal.

Why did Dina Sanichar develop a habit of smoking tobacco?

Dina developed a habit of smoking tobacco, which was likely influenced by the people around him. His addiction to smoking was noted during his time at the orphanage, and it may have contributed to his eventual death from tuberculosis.

What other feral children were discovered in India around the same time as Dina?

Dina Sanichar wasn't the only feral child found in India during the 19th century. Other cases included children discovered in Jalpaiguri, Dalsingh Sarai, Sultanpur, and Shajapur, some of whom were also raised by wolves or wild animals.

How did Dina's mental and physical development compare to typical human children?

Dina's mental development was significantly delayed. Despite being raised by humans for years, he never progressed beyond a developmental stage similar to a young child. Physically, he grew to about 5 feet tall by the age of 18, but had large teeth and a low forehead, with a nervous, anxious demeanor.

What happened to Dina Sanichar at the end of his life?

Dina Sanichar passed away at the age of 29 from tuberculosis. Despite living in human society for about two decades, his integration remained limited, and he never fully adapted to human life.

How did the life of Dina Sanichar influence Rudyard Kipling’s *The Jungle Book*?

Kipling was likely inspired by real-life stories like that of Dina Sanichar when creating the character of Mowgli. Kipling's exposure to Indian folklore and fables, including those about children raised by animals, played a significant role in shaping his tales, including *The Jungle Book*.