Bringing Up Kari — Study Notes

1. Introduction

"Bringing Up Kari" is a story from the NCERT Class 7 textbook "An Alien Hand". It is written by Dhan Gopal Mukerji, a famous Indian-American writer. The story is about a young boy who brings up a baby elephant named Kari.

The story describes how the boy takes care of Kari, who is like a member of the family. Kari is playful, intelligent and loyal. The boy teaches Kari to walk, to swim and to be careful. Their relationship is one of deep friendship and trust.

The story is full of delightful incidents - Kari's habit of eating, his love for the river, his rescuing of a boy from drowning, and his loyalty. It shows the special bond between humans and animals and the patience required to care for a young animal.

2. Author

The story is written by Dhan Gopal Mukerji (1890-1936), an Indian-American author who wrote many books about India and its wildlife. He was the first Indian to win the prestigious Newbery Medal for his book "Gay-Neck: The Story of a Pigeon". Mukerji's stories are known for their deep love of nature and animals. "Bringing Up Kari" reflects his understanding of the Indian landscape and the beautiful relationship between animals and their caretakers. He lived in America for much of his life but drew on his Indian childhood experiences for his writing.

3. Summary

The narrator, a young boy, is given a baby elephant named Kari to bring up. Kari is about five months old when he comes to the boy. The boy takes great care of Kari, feeding him, bathing him, and teaching him to walk and behave properly.

Kari is very intelligent. He learns tricks quickly and understands the boy's words. However, he also has a mischievous side - he loves to steal food, especially bananas. He would reach into houses with his trunk and steal things to eat. The boy has to be patient and teach Kari good habits.

The boy teaches Kari to swim in the river. Kari loves the water and becomes an excellent swimmer. One day, while swimming in the river, Kari senses that someone is drowning. Kari dives into the water and, with the boy's help, rescues a boy who had fallen into the deep part of the river and could not swim.

The story also describes Kari's habits and diet. Kari eats large amounts of food and loves to be near his master. The boy learns to understand Kari's moods and needs. The story ends with the strong bond between the boy and Kari, showing that raising an animal requires love, patience and understanding.

One of the most charming details of the story is the way the boy reads Kari's moods and needs. Though Kari cannot speak, the boy learns to understand his trumpeting, his movements and his habits, and Kari, in turn, learns to obey the boy's gentle commands. The rescue of the drowning boy shows how deep this understanding has grown; Kari acts not out of training alone but out of a bond that has been built through daily care. The boy also learns from Kari, discovering that patience, kindness and consistency bring out the best in any creature under our charge.

The story also gently teaches that caring for an animal is a serious responsibility. Feeding, bathing and training Kari are not easy tasks, and the boy must give up his own time and comfort for his pet. Yet the reward of this care is a companionship that money cannot buy. Through the boy's experience, readers understand that love between humans and animals grows through small daily acts of attention, and that loyalty is often the fruit of kindness.

4. Characters

5. Theme

The central theme of the story is the beautiful bond between humans and animals. The boy and Kari share a deep friendship built on trust, love and care. Another theme is patience and responsibility in caring for others: raising Kari requires constant attention, teaching and understanding. The story also highlights the intelligence and loyalty of elephants: Kari understands his master, saves a life, and never forgets his friend. It celebrates the joy of living with nature and the moral responsibility of caretakers.

6. Literary Devices

• First-person narration: The boy tells his own story, making it personal and warm.
• Imagery: Vivid descriptions of Kari's appearance, his eating, and the river.
• Personification: Kari is given human-like understanding and emotions.
• Humour: Kari's mischief, like stealing bananas, adds comedy.
• Climax: The rescue of the drowning boy is the story's high point.
• Symbolism: Kari represents loyalty and the innocence of nature.

7. Quick Revision Tables

Table 1: Key Events in the Story

Table 2: Kari's Qualities

8. Mind Map

9. Important Diagrams (SVG)

Diagram 1: The Journey of Kari

Diagram 2: The Bond Between Boy and Kari

10. Common Mistakes

1. Students often think Kari is a full-grown elephant; he is a baby elephant about five months old.
2. Many believe Kari dislikes water; he loves the river and is an excellent swimmer.
3. Students sometimes say Kari was taught to steal; he stole bananas and had to be corrected.
4. Some students confuse the author; it is Dhan Gopal Mukerji.
5. Students frequently think the boy teaches Kari to run; the boy teaches him to walk, swim and behave.
6. Many forget Kari saved a drowning boy; this is the story's climax.
7. Students sometimes say Kari eats only fruits; his diet is large and includes various foods, though he loves bananas.

11. Exam Tips

1. Memorise the author's name: Dhan Gopal Mukerji.
2. Describe Kari at the start: a five-month-old baby elephant.
3. List Kari's qualities: intelligent, mischievous, loyal, brave.
4. Explain the rescue incident clearly - the high point of the story.
5. State the theme: the bond between humans and animals, and responsible care.
6. Practise describing Kari's mischief (stealing bananas) for a humorous detail.
7. Be ready to explain what the boy learned from raising Kari.

12. Conclusion

"Bringing Up Kari" is a warm and memorable story about the special friendship between a boy and a baby elephant. Through feeding, teaching, playing and caring, the boy shapes Kari into a loyal and loving companion, and Kari, in turn, rewards his master with obedience, joy and even an act of heroism in saving a drowning boy. The story beautifully captures the patience and responsibility that come with caring for another living being and the deep love that grows from such care. Dhan Gopal Mukerji's tale is a timeless tribute to the bond between humans and animals.