Jagdalpur (Bastar), July 29, 2024: Chhattisgarh Forest Minister Kedar Kashyap today celebrated the International Tiger Day at Narayanpur and recalled life story of the epic Tiger Boy Chendru Mandavi.
On the International Tiger Day a function was organised at the Chendru Park at Gadhbengal in Narayanpur district in Bastar region of Chhattisgarh, the native place of Tiger Boy Chendru, who was famous internationally for his friendship with a Tiger called Tembu.
On this occasion the forest minister also plant a sapling and called on people to plant trees for a better future.
The Forest Minister also mentioned the Tiger Boy Chendru and why we need to have conservation and preservation of the forest and its animals.
The Minister also felicitated the family members of legend Chendru.
When Chendru was a small boy, his father and other relatives, who were hunters, had gifted him a tiger cub while returning from a hunt and instantly both became friends.
The friendship between Chendru and the tiger Tembu spread like a wild fire and people from various walks of life visited their native Gadhbengal to see the duo.
When the story reached overseas, a Swedish film maker Arne Sucksdorff reached Bastar and stayed there for a year in his village Gadhbengal and made a film “The Jungle Saga” in 1957 based on the life of Chendru and his tiger Tembu.
In this Hollywood movie Chendru played the role of hero with his tiger Tembu. This was not only a hit movie but also got Oscar.
When Arne Sucksdorff was returning back to Sweden he took back Chendru with him for a year. After a year when the Tiger Boy returned back to India he met the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru also.
In Sweden Arne Sucksdorff’s wife Astrid Bergman Sucksdorff, who herself a famous photographer, while shooting for the movie at Bastar had taken several photographs of Chendru and wrote a book titled “Chendru The Boy And The Tiger” which was also sold like a hot cake.
However, after he returned to his village, Chendru’s tiger friend Tembu passed away.
In the year 1973 Chendru passed away at the age of 78. But even today he is the real hero among the people.
More Stories
CM Sai meeting people on his Jan Darshan at CM House
People from various walk of life today thronged the CM House Raipur with a hope to meet the Chief Minister Vishnu Dev Sai and get respite from their problems.
CM Sai convene Cabinet meeting tomorrow
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Dev Sai has convened the cabinet meeting tomorrow.
Modi Cabinet accepts High-Level Committee’s recommendations on simultaneous elections
The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, today accepted the recommendations of the High-Level Committee on Simultaneous Elections under the chairmanship of former President Ram Nath Kovind.
Modi to visit poll bound Maharashtra on 20 September
Ahead of the state assembly election, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Maharashtra on September 20.
BJP Govt to start Dal Bhat Kendra in Chhattisgarh again
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Dev Sai today announced the launch of Annapurna Dal-Bhat Center in all the districts of the state and Atal Utkrisht Shiksha Sahayata Yojana to provide free education to the children of registered labour families.
Olympic Medalist Manu Bhaker New Brand Ambassador for Ministry of Ports, Shipping
The Double Olympic Medal Winner in Shooting Manu Bhaker was today appointed as the Brand Ambassador for the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways.