If you examine the role and importance of the wild, i.e., of animals then you'd find them to have played a handsome role and a vital part in myriad dimensions of life. Whether you look at films or fiction, literature or comic adaptations on to the big screen or mythology for that matter, you'd find an interesting cavalcade of animals to have played lead roles in many a challenging assignment, mission or task. They have emerged as the vital cog of an army inspiring strength, inspiration and many a noteworthy achievement from the positions they have commanded. We examine some masterful episodes from the sands of history and from the flow of fiction and movies where animals were at the center of attention. In fact so important has been their role that in a first, the Indian government has announced special soldier medals for canines and horses. Read on:
Easily, the mightiest and strongest intelligence service in the world, USA's CIA (Central Intelligence Agency, headquartered at Langley) deployed cats, a really uncanny specie in its very successful operations against its arch-rivals in the post-second world war world; the USSR (present day Russia).
In the 1960s, the CIA deployed cats as spies working as field agents for the American Secret Service wherein by virtue of a long-haul operative procedure surgeons would implant a microphone in a cat's ear canal and a radio transmitter at the base of the skull. The transformed 'spy' feline would then be let loose to roam around foreign officials from enemy territories to eavesdrop on America's rivals. Impressive, isn't it?
In any war, there is either a victor or the vanquished. But then, what about the injured and those battling with lives? What becomes of them? Someone needs to safely transport the injured and aggrieved away from the battle-field to a safer destination.
The camels did just that on both sides of the warring parties during the First World War, at the North-West Frontier of India, 1917.
A mythological character, known for its massive frame and imposing height, Ashwathama was a warrior elephant that is best remembered for some explosive feats during the fabled war between Pandavas and Kauravas at the Mahabharata.
For many reasons, Germany would like to forget or ignore the ignominy of its defeat in the First World War, that started in 1914 and lasted till 1918. But even in their spectacular routing at the hands of its enemies, USSR, Britain and others, it were classic characters like war-dogs that stood out. They were largely deployed by German soldiers to lay telephone wires across muddied grounds at the height of the war in 1917.
Those who like Tom Hanks and have grown up admiring this multi-faceted actor would surely remember 'Turner and Hooch'! How could you not adore and simply love this adorable and passionately quirky French Mastif investigating dog who accompanied Tom Hanks' Turner as Hooch in this classic comedy. If you haven't seen it yet, get a copy of Turner and Hooch now.
Popularly hailed a close confidante of Lord Hanuman and Lord Ram-Lakshman in the fabled and much loved Ramayan, Jambvan was supposed to be a bear-king who offered all his loyal support and servitude in the morally upright war of Lord Ram against Ravan, the demon king.
Jambavan is regarded and widely hailed for his earnest support in Lord Ram's campaign and to have inspired troops in the monkey-army to have successfully fought against the demons of Lanka. This is a character revered for his honesty, loyalty and profound love for Lord Hanuman and others.
Two of the finest and sweetest characters from the much loved Disney epic, The Lion King, both Pumba and Timon gave enormous strength and vital role to the character of abstract wild animals. As the animated meerkat and wild boar, Timon and Pumbaa shone bright on the side of Simbaa, the lion king who fought against Scar.
Rudyard Kipling's literary adaptation- Jungle Book, became a household name in India for the chivalrous and affable bond between Mowgli, the man-cub and two of his most loyal friends, Bageera- a black panther and Ballu- a wild but friendly beer.
As the two inseparable companions of Mowgli, Bageera and Ballu aren't mere animals but the epitome of pure and unbridled joy and love shared between man and the wild.
In the United States of America, the k-9 is an elite unit consisting of canines that serve and work alongside patrolling cops and duty officers in many populous and mainstream American cities. Agile, alert and constantly operating in a state of vigilance, they are an important constituent of the American task-force operating against crime and other ills. In fact for their brave and noble deeds, K-9 has been adapted on to the big screen of Hollywood in the past.
Maharana Pratap is widely recognized as an evergreen synonym of chivalry, great strength and pride by an average Indian, regardless of the age, culture and background. The great warrior ruler of Mewar (present day Rajasthan) is hailed and richly regarded for his enormous strength, powers, resolve and might in his defiance of Mewar against the Mughals.
But Maharana Pratap's beacon of strength was his loyal warhose, Chetak, revered for his mighty powers that served the Maharana well till the very end of his life. Chetak was the fulcrum of Maharana's force in the mega battles of Haldighati and as a truly brave character from a very real history is hailed even today for its fortitude, strength and unswerving service to the brave son of India.
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