About the Author
Dhan Gopal Mukerji was an Indian writer born on July 6, 1890, near Calcutta in India. He came from a Brahmin priest family. As a boy, he loved the jungle and animals around his home. He moved to America and became the first Indian to write successful books there. He wrote many stories for children about Indian animals, folklore, and old tales to share his culture. His books made kids excited about nature and Hindu stories. He passed away on July 14, 1936.
What’s the Story About?
This is a fun story told by a nine-year-old boy about raising a baby elephant named Kari. It's like a diary of their adventures together!
The boy gets Kari when the elephant is just five months old. They grow up side by side, so the boy doesn't even notice how big Kari gets. Kari lives in a special open shed called a pavilion. It has a roof made of straw on thick tree stumps so Kari can bump around without breaking it.
Kari is like a naughty baby. He needs lots of food – 40 pounds of fresh twigs every day to chew and play with. In the morning, the boy takes Kari to the river for a bath. Kari lies on the sandy bank, and the boy scrubs his skin with clean sand for a full hour. Then Kari splashes in the water happily. After the bath, Kari's black skin shines like polished wood, and he squeals with joy as the boy pours water on his back.
To guide Kari, the boy holds his ear – that's the best handle! He leaves Kari at the jungle edge and goes into the forest with a small axe to cut yummy twigs. Cutting them is hard work. The axe must be super sharp, or Kari won't eat if the twig is torn. The boy climbs trees to get the softest, youngest branches, especially from the big banyan tree that looks like a giant leafy house.
One exciting day in spring, the boy is up in a banyan tree cutting twigs when he hears Kari crying like a baby from far away. He thinks someone is hurting Kari and races down. But Kari is missing! The boy searches everywhere until he sees Kari's trunk popping up in the river like a black snake. Kari seems to be drowning! The boy feels scared because Kari is too heavy at 400 pounds to pull out. But then Kari's back comes up, and he trumpets loudly. When he sees the boy, Kari pushes him into the water! As the boy falls, he spots another boy floating face down at the river bottom, almost drowned. The boy dives, grabs him, but can't swim well and starts floating away. Quick as a bird, Kari rushes in and stretches his trunk like a rope. The boy grabs it, but slips under. The water isn't deep, so he pushes up and feels the trunk loop around his neck like a lasso. Kari pulls both boys safely to the bank. Kari saved the day!
Kari acts just like a little child and needs training. Once, someone gives him ripe bananas, and he loves them. Soon, fruits from the dining table start vanishing. Everyone blames the servants or the boy. One night, the boy sees a long black "snake" grabbing bananas through the window. He follows it to Kari's shed and finds Kari munching stolen fruits everywhere! The boy scolds Kari like a parent, pulling his ear and saying he'll whip him if he steals again. Elephants understand words, just like kids. Kari feels sorry and never steals after that. If you give him fruit nicely, he squeals happily to say thanks. But if you punish an elephant for no reason, it might get back at you later.
The boy teaches Kari commands like a child. "Dhat" means sit, by pulling the ear. "Mali" means walk, by tugging the trunk. Kari learns "Mali" fast in three tries, but "Dhat" takes three weeks because sitting is tricky for a big elephant. Teaching sit is key – elephants grow so tall that you need a ladder to climb on their back later. Better to make them sit so you can hop on easily.
The toughest lesson is the "master call." It takes five years! It's a weird noise like a snake hissing and a tiger growling, as if they're fighting. You whisper it in the elephant's ear. If you're lost in a dark jungle at night with only stars shining, you make the master call. Kari goes crazy – he yanks trees out by roots with his trunk, scares monkeys, deer, and even tigers away, and clears a straight path home. What a hero!
The story shows how caring for Kari teaches the boy patience, love, and bravery. It's full of laughs and heartwarming moments.
Who’s Who in the Story
- Kari: The baby elephant, only five months old at first. He is playful, naughty like a child, learns tricks, steals bananas, but is super brave and saves two boys from drowning.
- The Boy (Narrator): A nine-year-old who raises Kari. He bathes him, cuts twigs, trains him, and helps in the river rescue. He treats Kari like a little brother.
- The Drowning Boy: A boy who falls in the river and nearly dies. Kari and the narrator save him. He doesn't have a name but shows Kari's kindness.
- The Boy's Parents: They get upset about missing fruits and think servants or the boy took them. They learn Kari is the sneaky one.
- Servants: Blamed first for the stolen fruits, but they're innocent.
Themes and Moral
Themes:
- Caring for Animals: Raising Kari shows how pets need daily care like baths, food, and training, just like kids.
- Friendship and Teamwork: The boy and Kari are best friends who help each other, like in the exciting river save.
- Learning from Mistakes: Kari's naughtiness, like stealing, gets fixed with fair scolding, teaching good behavior.
- Bravery in Animals: Elephants are smart and strong, using their trunk like a hand to rescue and protect.
- Growing Up Together: The boy and Kari share joys and lessons, making life adventurous.
Moral: Treat animals with love and fairness, like family. Train them patiently, and they will be loyal friends who help in tough times. Naughty acts can change with kind guidance, but always punish only for real wrongs.
Important Vocabulary and Phrases
Here are some key words from the story. I explain them in easy words with examples:
- Pavilion: An open shed or room with a roof, like Kari's cozy home in the backyard.
- Thatched Roof: A roof made of dry grass or straw, light and cool for hot days.
- Twigs: Small thin sticks from trees, like the yummy snacks Kari chews all day.
- Ebony: Shiny black wood, like how Kari's skin looks after a sandy bath.
- Squeal: A happy high cry, like Kari makes when excited about water or fruit.
- Hatchet: A little axe for chopping wood, the boy uses it to cut perfect twigs.
- Tender: Soft and fresh, like young leaves that taste best to Kari.
- Trumpet: Elephant's loud horn sound, Kari does it when happy or scared in water.
- Drowning: Going under water and can't breathe, like what almost happened to the boy.
- Lasso: A rope loop to catch things, Kari's trunk acts like one to pull boys safe.
- Mischief: Playful bad tricks, like Kari sneaking bananas at night.
- Whipped: Hit lightly to scold, the boy warns Kari not to steal or get whipped.
- Hissing: Sharp "sss" sound like a snake, part of the master call noise.
- Growling: Deep angry rumble like a tiger, mixed in the master call to get Kari moving.
- Uproots: Pulls a plant out from the ground, Kari does this to clear jungle paths fast.
These words make the story come alive – try saying them out loud like Kari's trumpet!