In the remote Bulandshahr District of India, on one Saturday in February 1867, a group of hunters embarked on a journey that led them to an inexplicable discovery. What they encountered in the dense jungle would become the source of an enduring tale, intertwining the realms of reality and myth. This is the captivating story of Dina Sanichar, a feral child whose life, though far from the whimsical narratives of Disney, left an indelible mark on the pages of history and, perhaps, inspired the iconic character of Mowgli in Rudyard Kipling’s “The Jungle Book.”
Dina Sanichar was discovered by the hunters as the young boy walking on all fours, accompanied by a wolf. After several attempts to lure him out, the hunters eventually succeeded but tragically, the wolf was put down. Dina was then taken to an orphanage, where missionaries baptized him as Sanichar, naming him after the day he arrived.
When Dina came to the orphanage, everyone noticed that he acted like he was raised by wild animals. Missionaries immediately noticed that he could not stand straight or talk, and he preferred raw meat instead of cooked food. Reverend Erhardt Lewis, who was in charge of the orphanage, had a tough job trying to help Dina fit into regular society. Teaching him how to talk, wear clothes, and act like a regular person was very hard, and there were big challenges ahead.
Dina did not follow regular human rules. He did not like wearing clothes and preferred to move on all fours. People tried to teach him how to act in society, but he could only make sounds like an animal. Reverend Lewis, who was trying to understand Dina’s difficult childhood, called him an “imbecile.”
People tried to make Dina more like humans by teaching him to walk on two legs, wear clothes, and do other human things. But Dina did not like these changes and still preferred living like a wild animal. His unusual habits, like smoking tobacco, showed that he was trying to deal with his struggle between the wild and human ways of life.
Dina’s tale became more interesting when he became friends with some other wild children at the orphanage. Their friendship was special because they all had similar experiences and understood one another’s wild ways. This connection helped them find comfort during tough times in society. Reverend Lewis noticed this special bond between Dina and his feral friends, highlighting their shared understanding that went beyond the challenges of their unusual upbringing.
In 1895, Dina Sanichar passed away, but his story continued to be remembered, going beyond the orphanage where he lived. Even though he struggled to fit into human society, his life had a lasting impact on discussions about feral children and the balance between civilization and the wild.
Dina’s life is part of a bigger picture – the discovery of feral children in 19th-century India. The high number of such cases makes us question how society saw these children and the difficulties they faced when trying to adapt from the wild to human life. Dina’s experiences reflect the challenges that feral children in that era went through.
In 1894, Rudyard Kipling wrote “The Jungle Book,” drawing inspiration from India’s diverse culture. Although it is unclear if Dina directly influenced the character named Mowgli, many stories about feral children during Kipling’s time hint at a cultural background that might have shaped the fictional narrative. The jungle, both in real life and in stories, becomes a place where the line between wild and civilized blurs.
Dina Sanichar’s life is a bit of a mystery, and there are different stories about his early years. Some people wonder if he was left alone in the jungle because he had physical or mental problems. When we look at other cases of kids growing up in the wild, it is clear that it is both fascinating and tough for them to fit into human society.
Whether Dina is seen as a real-life Mowgli or just a unique wild child, his story makes us think about the thin line between civilization and the wild. His life was full of difficulties, but he showed strength in facing them, making us rethink what it means to be human. As we explore the mix of truth and tales about Dina, we are left thinking about the human spirit’s ability to adapt and the mysteries in our shared past. Dina’s life echoes as proof that our spirit can endure, even with an unusual upbringing.
Dina’s story is not only one from late 19th-century India. During that time, other wild children were found, each facing their challenges fitting into human society. Unfortunately, Dina’s mental growth was limited, and he died at 29, likely due to tuberculosis made worse by his addiction to tobacco.
Let us explore some stories of feral children beyond India. Among others, we have Marina Chapman, who survived with capuchin monkeys, Sidi Mohamed, who spent time with ostriches, and a touching tale of an Argentinian toddler raised by wild cats. These stories highlight how these children can adapt and stay strong. Each case shows that humans have a special ability to connect with different animals.
Marina Chapman – Raised by Monkeys
One remarkable case is of Marina Chapman, who was kidnapped at the age of five and abandoned in the Colombian jungle. Lucky enough to be adopted by a group of capuchin monkeys, Marina learned survival skills from them. In five years, she was rescued by hunters, sold to a brothel, and later escaped to establish a life in England. Despite skepticism, scientific studies and a documentary support her extraordinary story.
Ostrich Boy – Birds Cared for him
Sidi Mohamed, known as the “ostrich boy,” wandered off from his North African family at a young age and found refuge with ostriches. They nurtured him, teaching him survival skills. At the age of 12, he was reunited with his family by ostrich hunters.
Toddler Kept Alive by Cats
In 2008, Argentinian police discovered a one-year-old boy surrounded by eight wild cats. The cats had kept him alive during winter, showing surprising compassion by providing warmth and bringing him scraps of food. The boy, separated from his homeless father, was rescued, emphasizing the unexpected bond between feral cats and humans.
The Dog Boy from Chile
Abandoned by his mother at 10 or 11, the “Dog Boy” in Chile was adopted by a group of dogs. He lived with them, imitating their behavior, and scavenging for food together. When found by the police, he exhibited signs of intense depression and aggression, emphasizing the challenges of reintegrating feral children into human society.
Ng Chhaidy – 38 Years Living in the Jungle
Ng Chhaidy went missing in the jungle at the age of 4 and was rediscovered 38 years later in Myanmar. Remarkably, she exhibited human-like behavior, demonstrating the adaptability of the human psyche to life in the wild.
Ramachandra – The Human Amphibian
In India, around 1960, there was a sad story about a boy named Ramachandra. His life was similar to an amphibian, a creature that can live both in water and on land. People first heard about him in 1973, and he was “rescued” in 1979. Ramachandra lived near rivers infested with crocodiles, catching and eating raw fish, showing that he had partly adapted to a life different from humans.
He liked eating raw food and living by the river. But in 1982, something terrible happened. He approached a woman, probably not understanding human rules, and had a tragic end. The woman, feeling scared, poured boiling water on him, and he died.
Ramachandra’s life reminds us of the challenges that feral children face when trying to live in human society after growing up in the wild. His story shows how hard it is to fit into two very different worlds, and it ended sadly because of the tough experiences he had.
These stories show how strong and flexible people can be when they grow up in the wild. Even though the stories are amazing and sad, they highlight how hard it is for these individuals to fit back into human society. The age when they learn language and social skills is really important, and it shows that we need different ways to help kids who grew up in the wild have happy lives.
