Published Paper Details:

Abstract: Jim Corbett's trilogy comprising Man-Eaters of Kumaon, The Man-Eating Leopard of Rudraprayag and The Temple Tiger and More Man-Eaters of Kumaon is endowed with a poetic narrative which is not merely an ornamental indulgence but an integral part of his strategy of story-telling. This narrative reflects the aesthetic sensibility of the narrator-protagonist which is highly attuned to the sights, smells, colours and contours of nature. The magical concoction of sounds, sights and smells is unforgettable. Corbett's preoccupation with colours is quite evident here. In his poetic mood, Corbett moves quite close to the nineteenth century romantic poets. The richly suggestive, poetic narrative employed by Corbett is complemented by a philosophical narrative which is embedded in his stoicism and humanitarianism. Corbett's stoic resistance to pain and personal hardships and his near-obsessive concern for the well-being of the poor hill folk spring from his philosophical moorings about the harsh conditions which seem to control the life of the individual as well as the community. The philosophical narrative accomplishes a dual task--it leads to a beneficial inward journey into the dark recesses of his mind and helps him rationalize the terrifying feeling of primal fear which, in turn, fortifies his optimistic spirit of sportsmanship; simultaneously his humbling insight into the phenomenon of human suffering and the complex working of fate and death provides the moral basis for his abiding humanitarianism.