Know Kenneth Anderson? A 'must read' author!

Kenneth Anderson must be known to many through his wonderful books on man eating tigers, leopards and rogue elephants that roamed the south Indian jungles in fifties and early sixties. His books numbering six, won him fans all over the world. His narration is such that you literally find yourself by his side as he tracks those man eaters on foot or waits for them to turn up, squatting on machans.

I came into contact with his writing when I was in SSLC. Our English text book carried a chapter entitled ‘Bruno Our Pet’- an extract from one of Anderson’s books. It was a real story of a bear cub rescued from a jungle and brought up fondly in his house in Bangalore. When it grew big Anderson's neighbours objected to its 'dangerous' presence. Anderson took it to the Mysore Zoo, left it there and returned with a heavy heart. But his wife and the poor bear pined for each other. Finally, Anderson went to Mysore accompanied by his wife and brought the bear back to their Bangalore house where he created a small island surrounded by a moat for his hairy pet.

My entry into college took me to British Council Library where I found and devoured all Kenneth Anderson's Books... each one of his encounters with man eaters and rogue elephants was unique.

The story 'The Black Rogue of Moyar Valley' in his book ' The Call of the Man-eater' is the best. This black rogue was a bull elephant that went about goring and trampling people to death in Moyar Valley of Nilgiris. Anderson recounts how he and his American friend, a photographer, ran into this rogue and came within inches of its deadly trunk.

Another story (The Killer from Hyderabad) which will make the reader's heart race was about a man-eating tigress. To shoot this tigress, Anderson sat on his haunches in the dead of night in a hole he made on the trunk of a dead tree with the half-eaten corpse of a tribal woman killed by the beast earlier, lying in front of him... in the heart of a thick forest in Diguvemetta Andhra Pradesh.

Killing of the Man eater of Chordi of Shimoga District was another hair raising adventure of Anderson.

When it comes to shikari literature Anderson’s books are the best. I urge you children to be introduced to Kenneth Anderson’s books. Surely you will love them!