Amala and Kamala: Difference between revisions
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'''Amala''' (died [[September 21]], [[1921]]) and '''Kamala''' (died [[November 14]], [[1929]]) were two [[feral children]], "wolf-girls", who were said to have been nurtured and raised by a wolf family. |
'''Bold [[text''''''Amala''' (died [[September 21]], [[1921]]) and '''Kamala''' (died [[November 14]], [[[[1929]])]] were two [[feral]] children]], "wolf-girls", who were said to have been nurtured and raised by a wolf family. |
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In 1926, [[The Reverend]] [[Joseph Amrito Lal Singh]], rector of the local [[orphanage]], published an account in the ''[[Calcutta Statesman]]'' saying that the two girls were given to him by a man who lived in the jungle near the village of Godamuri, in the district of [[Midnapore]], west of [[Calcutta]], and that the girls, when he first saw them, lived in a sort of cage near the house. <ref>J. H. Hutton: ''Wolf-Children'' in ''Folklore, Transactions of the Folk-Lore Society'', vol. 51, nr. 1, pages 9 to 31, William Glaisher Ltd., London, March 1940</ref>. Later he claimed that he himself rescued the girls from the wolves' den on [[October 9]], [[1920]]. He named the children and wrote his observations of them in a "diary" (consisting of loose sheets, some dated, some undated) for almost ten years - which represents one of the best recorded attempts at describing wolf-children and the attempt to humanise them. The "diary" entry of [[October 17]] 1920 states, ''"...the mother wolf, whose nature was so ferocious and affection so sublime. It struck me with wonder. I was simply amazed to think that an animal had such a noble feeling surpassing even that of mankind ... to bestow all the love and affection of a fond and ideal mother on these peculiar beings."'' Kamala was at the time about eight years old, Amala about 18 months. |
'''In 1926, [[The Reverend]] [[Joseph Amrito Lal Singh]], rector of the local [[orphanage]], published an account in the ''[[Calcutta Statesman]]'' saying that the two girls were given to him by a man who lived in the jungle near the village of Godamuri, in the district of [[Midnapore]], west of [[Calcutta]], and that the girls, when he first saw them, lived in a sort of ''cage near the house.''' <ref>J. H. Hutton: ''Wolf-Children'' in ''Folklore, Transactions of the Folk-Lore Society'', vol. 51, nr. 1, pages 9 to 31, William Glaisher Ltd., London, March 1940</ref>. Later he claimed that he himself rescued the girls from the wolves' den on [[[[October 9]], [[''1920]]. '''He named the children and wrote his observations of them in a "diary" (consisting of loose sheets, some dated, some undated) for almost ten years - which represents]] one of the best recorded attempts at''' describing wolf-children and the attempt to humanise them. The "diary" entry of [[October 17]] 1920 states, ''"...the mother wolf, whose nature was so ferocious and affection so sublime. It struck me with wonder. I was simply ''amazed to think that an''' animal had such a noble feeling surpassing even that of mankind ... to bestow all the love and affection of a fond and ideal mother on these peculiar beings."'' Kamala was at the time about eight years old,''' Amala about 18 months. |
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At the orphanage, the two girls showed wolf-like behaviors typical for feral children. They would not allow themselves to be dressed, for example, scratched and bit people who tried to feed them, rejected cooked food and went on all fours. Both girls had developed thick [[callus]]es on their palms and knees from having walked on all fours. The girls were mostly [[nocturnal]], had an aversion to sunshine, and could see very well in the dark. They also exhibited an acute sense of smell and an enhanced ability to hear. The girls enjoyed the taste of raw meat and would eat out of a bowl on the ground. The young girls seemed to be insensitive to cold and heat and appeared to show no human [[emotion]]s of any kind, apart from [[fear]] - and mostly it seemed they were like wolves in that they mostly feared other humans, even children, or were just disinterested in humans. According to Singh the girls were every way possible wolf and at night would howl like wolves, calling out to their 'family'. They had no language, at least no human language, at all. |
'''At the orphanage, the two girls'' showed wolf-like behaviors typical for feral children. They would not allow themselves to be dressed, for example, scratched and bit people who tried to feed them, rejected''' cooked food and went on all fours. Both girls had developed thick [[callus]]es on'' their palms and knees from having walked on all fours. The girls were mostly [[nocturnal]], had an aversion to sunshine, and could see very well in the dark. They also exhibited an acute sense of smell and an enhanced ability to hear. The girls enjoyed the taste of raw meat and would eat out of a bowl on the ground. The young girls seemed to be insensitive to cold and heat and appeared to show '''no human [[emotion]]s of any kind, apart from [[fear]] - and mostly it seemed they were like wolves in that they mostly feared other humans, even children, or were just disinterested in humans. According to Singh''' the girls were every way '''possible wolf and at night [[would howl like wolves, calling out to their 'family'. They had no language, at least no human language]], at all. |
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Singh took on the difficult task of trying to teach them ordinary human behaviour. Amala died in 1921, a year after the discovery of a kidney infection. Kamala showed signs of [[mourning]] at her death. After this, Kamala became more approachable. She was eventually partially housetrained and became used to the company of other human beings. After years of hard work she was able to walk upright a little, although never proficiently and would often revert to all fours when she needed to go somewhere quickly, and learned to speak a few words. She died in 1929 of [[uraemia]]. |
Singh took on the difficult task of trying to teach them ordinary human behaviour. Amala died in 1921, [[a year after the discovery of a kidney infection. Kamala showed signs of [[mourning]] at her death. After this''']], Kamala became more approachable. She was eventually partially housetrained and became used to the company of other human beings. After years of hard work she was able to walk upright a little, although never proficiently and would often revert to all fours when she needed to go somewhere quickly, and learned to speak a few words. She died in 1929 of [[uraemia]]. |
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Because of the many different versions, none of them substantiated by any other witnesses than the Reverend Singh himself, there persists considerable controversy as to the veracity of the account. Most scientists considered Amala and Kamala mentally retarded children with congenital defects. <ref>Bruno Bettelheim: ''Feral Children and Autistic Children'' in ''The American Journal of Sociology'', Vol. 64, No. 5., March 1959, pp. 455-467 </ref> The [[myth]] of having been "raised by wolves" is an ancient Indian conception to explain the animal-like behaviour of abandoned children with [[congenital defect]]s. |
Because of the many different versions, none of them substantiated by any other witnesses than the Reverend [[Singh himself, there persists considerable controversy as to the veracity of the account. Most scientists considered Amala and Kamala mentally retarded children with congenital defects. <ref>Bruno Bettelheim:]] ''Feral Children and Autistic Children'' in ''The American Journal of Sociology'', Vol. 64, No. 5., March 1959, pp. 455-467 </ref> The [[myth]] of having been "raised by wolves" is an ancient Indian conception to explain the animal-like behaviour of abandoned children with [[congenital defect]]s. |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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==References== |
==References== |
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<references/> |
<references/>'' |
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==Sources== |
==Sources== |
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*{{cite web|author=John McCrone|title=Wolf Children and the Bifold Mind|publisher=Carroll & Graf Pub|year=1994|work=The Myth of Irrationality: The Science of the Mind from Plato to Star Trek|url=http://www.feralchildren.com/en/showchild.php?ch=kamala| accessdate=October 18|accessyear=2005}} |
*{{cite web|author=John McCrone|title=Wolf Children and the Bifold Mind|publisher=Carroll & Graf Pub|year=1994|work=The Myth of Irrationality: The Science of the Mind from Plato to Star Trek|url=http://www.feralchildren.com/en/showchild.php?ch=kamala| accessdate=October 18|accessyear=2005}} |
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Revision as of 17:59, 17 January 2008
'Bold [[text'Amala (died September 21, 1921) and Kamala (died November 14, [[1929)]] were two feral children]], "wolf-girls", who were said to have been nurtured and raised by a wolf family.
In 1926, The Reverend Joseph Amrito Lal Singh, rector of the local orphanage, published an account in the Calcutta Statesman saying that the two girls were given to him by a man who lived in the jungle near the village of Godamuri, in the district of Midnapore, west of Calcutta, and that the girls, when he first saw them, lived in a sort of cage near the house. [1]. Later he claimed that he himself rescued the girls from the wolves' den on [[October 9, ''1920. He named the children and wrote his observations of them in a "diary" (consisting of loose sheets, some dated, some undated) for almost ten years - which represents]] one of the best recorded attempts at describing wolf-children and the attempt to humanise them. The "diary" entry of October 17 1920 states, "...the mother wolf, whose nature was so ferocious and affection so sublime. It struck me with wonder. I was simply amazed to think that an animal had such a noble feeling surpassing even that of mankind ... to bestow all the love and affection of a fond and ideal mother on these peculiar beings." Kamala was at the time about eight years old, Amala about 18 months.
At the orphanage, the two girls showed wolf-like behaviors typical for feral children. They would not allow themselves to be dressed, for example, scratched and bit people who tried to feed them, rejected cooked food and went on all fours. Both girls had developed thick calluses on their palms and knees from having walked on all fours. The girls were mostly nocturnal, had an aversion to sunshine, and could see very well in the dark. They also exhibited an acute sense of smell and an enhanced ability to hear. The girls enjoyed the taste of raw meat and would eat out of a bowl on the ground. The young girls seemed to be insensitive to cold and heat and appeared to show no human emotions of any kind, apart from fear - and mostly it seemed they were like wolves in that they mostly feared other humans, even children, or were just disinterested in humans. According to Singh the girls were every way possible wolf and at night would howl like wolves, calling out to their 'family'. They had no language, at least no human language, at all.
Singh took on the difficult task of trying to teach them ordinary human behaviour. Amala died in 1921, [[a year after the discovery of a kidney infection. Kamala showed signs of mourning at her death. After this]], Kamala became more approachable. She was eventually partially housetrained and became used to the company of other human beings. After years of hard work she was able to walk upright a little, although never proficiently and would often revert to all fours when she needed to go somewhere quickly, and learned to speak a few words. She died in 1929 of uraemia.
Because of the many different versions, none of them substantiated by any other witnesses than the Reverend [[Singh himself, there persists considerable controversy as to the veracity of the account. Most scientists considered Amala and Kamala mentally retarded children with congenital defects. [2] The myth of having been "raised by wolves" is an ancient Indian conception to explain the animal-like behaviour of abandoned children with congenital defects.
See also
References
Sources
- John McCrone (1994). "Wolf Children and the Bifold Mind". The Myth of Irrationality: The Science of the Mind from Plato to Star Trek. Carroll & Graf Pub. Retrieved October 18.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - Joseph Amrito Lal Singh, Robert M. Zingg (1966). "Wolf-Children and Feral Man". Wolf-Children and Feral Man. Shoe String Pr Inc. Retrieved October 18.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - David Horthersall (2004). History of Psychology.
- P. J. Blumenthal: Kaspar Hausers Geschwister - Auf der Suche nach dem wilden Menschen (Deuticke, Vienna/Frankfurt, 2003, ISBN 3-216-30632-1)