The Apeman's Heroics

We have heard of Tarzan of the Apes as a fictional character created by celebrated author Edgar Rice Burroughs. A similar fictitious character I have heard of one man from the Indian wild.

A royal family had gone to the forests of Central India about a century ago. There the royal couple had got lost and could never come back to civilisation. Tremendous misfortune befell on them. All their attendants died either due to hunger or to various diseases from time to time. Few of them just deserted the royal family in their self defence. The royal princess had given birth to a beautiful boy child and before she could take care of the child she died. The Prince also died soon due to the tragedy and loneliness leaving behind his precious child in the jungle.

In those days news reached very late as there was no means of advanced communication system. Due to the impenetrable nature of the forest no effort was made from the Prince's kingdom to come search for them. The kingdom citizens fearing the worst had given up on fate and providence for the future of the Prince family. 

The child being left on his own was reared miraculously by a pack of wild animals. The animals consisted of a bear, a panther, an elephant, some monkeys and few birds. Surprisingly these animals had a rare form of camaraderie between them.

There was one malicious snake and a tiger in the forest. The wild animals favoured to the little boy were always on the guard to protect him from the tiger and the snake.

The boy learnt all the tricks of the jungle from these animal friends. 

The first lesson he learnt was to survive on the food available to him. Then came protection and security. He learnt all the animal calls and could mimic any of them. The animals guarded the boy in a relay system so that he was never left alone to fend for himself. The boy learnt the fastest mode of transportation from the monkeys by leaping from one creeper to another and move ahead from tree to tree above ground. This mode of movement made him cover big distances in little time. He could move faster than any human. Humans depend on their feet only to move over land and aerial movement was unknown in those times. 

The boy being intelligent quickly learnt about the forest and it's nuances very soon. Then one day some tribal people saw him. They became curious and wanted to know his antecedents. The boy also saw them and on seeing them he was surprised to see someone looking like himself. Because this was his first human sighting. His wild life friends were cautious at first. 

Then gradually more human interaction started. The tribals who had seen the boy spread the message and more people came to see him out of curiosity. 

As time passed more meetings between civilised world and the wilderness began. Then finally one day the boy went to see the village of human habitation. Till then he could utter sounds like animals do but had no clue about language. He started picking up words and as he was intelligent, very soon he started to talk in monosyllabes. 

Before long he stopped going to the forest at all. His human counterparts gave him a name. As the boy, who now was a youth had developed a highly sculpted body. The tribal villagers named him Tan jung meaning he could fight any adversary with his body. 

For the first few years Tanjung stayed with human civilisation. He fell in love with a human girl and the locals gave their marriage as per the tribal rituals. 

Tanjung learnt to speak, read and write as he was very intelligent. He soon learnt about the human psychology and about their politics. 

After some years he visited the jungle and his favourite den. His friends whom he had grown were now old and some even had died. Tanjung felt very sad. His other animal friends whom he had seen being born were some happy to see him and some were indifferent. But still Tanjung felt he was better and among friends in the jungle than with humans in the civilisation. 

Tanjung now observed how humans had invaded the jungle which was almost impenetrable in his childhood. Upon studying human behaviour further, he found humans unlike animals were very selfish. Because of the presence of the brain in the humans which was the reason that separated them from the animals, Tanjung discovered . Tanjung knew how he had the power of discernment due to his brain unlike his animal friends. But Tanjung was grateful to his animal friends because of whose sacrifice and service he was still alive. 

A few more years with the human company, Tanjung discovered how his human companions were using the forest for their benefit at the cost of the animal kingdom. 

Slowly, Tanjung started becoming disillusioned with man

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kind. 

Then at one point of time, Tanjung came to know that there was a type of tree in the jungle that was in great demand and was called sandalwood. 

Sandalwood tree cutting indiscriminately was being discouraged by the government. But there were poachers in the jungle who disobeyed orders and cut trees to sell the wood in the grey market at huge prices. 

Tanjung decided that enough was enough and must stop this human activity of destruction. Much of the forest land had been depleted since his childhood, Tanjung observed. 

Tanjung declared war against wood smugglers. He helped the forest department to catch many poachers. Tanjung, due to his swift footedness in the forest because of which no human was any match for him. Tanjung could easily escape during danger by swinging from one tree branch to another which he learnt in his childhood. Much of the wild life helped him by their sound that only Tanjung could understand. So no human was any match for him. 

During this period a notorious sandalwood smuggler was reigning supreme for quite few years in the jungles of South India. The government wanted that Tanjung shift his area of habitat to down south and help the government to catch this sandalwood thief. 

Tanjung was hesitant at first due to him having doubt of administrations' intentions. 

But later on after more counselling sessions with the officials he became ready to participate in the operation 'Trap the Sandalwood Thief'. 

Tanjung discussed with the officials about the topography of the region. The area was a little different from his. The branches of the trees in this jungle had not so many hanging branches so his movement from tree to tree would be restrictive. 

But still Tanjung decided that he must do something as this smuggler was out to destroy the forest. So many of his wild life friends were dependent on the ecology of the forest. Destroying the forest would deplete the wild life species. 

Initially, Tanjung faced a lot of difficulties. This forest was different to his. Tanjung could not move as he desired and nor could he hide when danger was upon him. The forest department gave him back up support and despite all odds. 

The sandalwood smuggler Appan had lot of resources. He had a army of his own. For many years the administration had no clue of how to deal with him. Tanjung first took a decisive step of blocking the supply of Appan's resources with the help of the forest department. Appan's men fought to get a control of supplies. A fierce battle ensued. Tanjung with the help of government resources was much superior to Appan's men. After two days, the forces of Appan were forced to surrender. But Appan remained elusive. 

Even after a fortnight, no trace could be found of Appan. Tanjung reconnoitered the jungle in all directions but Appan was nowhere. 

Then while cross crossing the jungle one day, Tanjung was studying the foliage. He had powerful scent identification more powerful than normal human beings. Through his powers Tanjung was on the lookout for Appan. While he was on his rounds one day there was sudden danger lurking behind. Tanjung fell into a trap. He was entrapped in a wild life trapping instrument. He was later imprisoned and he was presented before Appan by his supporters. 

The government agencies expressed their helplessness to rescue Tanjung. The forces could not conquer the difficult terrain. 

Appan rebuked Tanjung for supporting the government forces. 'You are too ignorant, Tanjung. Come join forces with me and we two with our expertise will rein over the forest and become super rich,' arrogantly blurted out Appan. 'Never, I'll not let any evil force fall upon my jungle friends,' retorted back Tanjung. 'Then be prepared to remain in captivity and end your life encaged,' continued Appan threateningly. 

Tanjung during his captivity studied the jungle around him. He was tied to a big sandalwood tree. 

At night when every one was asleep, Tanjung gave a monkey call which only monkeys could emit and respond. Very soon a gang of chimps came responding to his call. They freed Tanjung from his captivity. Tanjung immediately led the government forces to Appan's lair. Appan got the scent and tried to escape. 

The forces fired at Appan. He got shot in the leg and ran in the forest limping. Now it was child's play for Tanjung. Not much time was lost before Tanjung overpowered Appan. 

Appan was taken away by government forces and put behind bars to face trial at the court. 

Tanjung heroics ended with the capture of Appan. That was the last when we heard of him. He was totally lost to civilisation after that.