Title: The Adventures of Sirdar – The Chief of the Herd
Author: Dhan Gopal Mukherji
Publisher: Talking Cub, An imprint of Speaking Tiger Books
Type: Paperback
Pages: 160
Age Group: 10 years+ (publisher’s recommendation is 9-12 years)
I am posting this review on behalf of my 11-year-old son, Bhavik.
The story begins with a herd of elephants choosing Sirdar as their leader despite his young age which was unprecedented due to his intelligence and experience. It was on the day when their herd was passing through a thick forest. Wherever they raised their trunks, it was filled with the scent of their closest enemy – man. Unfortunately, one of the men shot the Chief (their leader). He was dead – right then and there. Using his last words, he said, “Follow Sirdar”. Thus, Sirdar was chosen as their leader.
Once Sirdar and his friend Kumar saved an elephant Radha from human captivity. However, it was hard for the herd to accept Radha as their family. They not only accepted Radha as one of them but also honored her after she saved the herd in the absence of Sirdar and Kumar. This shows that not only men but elephants too honor the worthy.
This was the last year of elephant poaching and killing, so hunters wanted to kill as many elephants as they could in this year itself. Using his sharp wit, Sirdar was always able to save his herd from the greatest threat to their herd – man. He was cool and fearless. That is why he was able to extricate his entire herd from the enemy traps several times.
Will Sirdar be able to save his family and herd from the most dangerous of dangers?
Will he be able to save all those who he is acting as a role model for?
Please go ahead and read this book to find out more about Sirdar, his family, and the majestic animals of the jungle.
The Adventures of Sirdar by Dhan Gopal Mukherji is a masterpiece in the literature world. This book beautifully weaves the life of a herd, challenges, and difficulties faced by a leader and how he/she overcomes that, and how a leader always has to be calm, unafraid, and humble – all with simple and captivating snippets. This book tells us in great detail the nature of elephants, how they are different yet similar to humans in the way that they teach their young ones, the way they choose the worthy leader, and how kind and protective they are to the weaker species of the jungle.
This is a beautiful and adventurous book that brings attention to the intelligence of animals and what they can do. It also validates the statement ‘United we stand, divided we fall.’ I loved the way Sirdar took up leadership as Chief and saved everyone’s skin in the nick of time. I learned from this book that even majestic creatures like elephants need to have a leader who is unaffected and undaunted in the face of dangers and at the same time kind and protective of their herd.
I recommend this book to everyone who is 10 years and up. This book kept me hooked up even at midnight!
If you enjoyed this review and wish to order the book on Amazon (kbc affiliate link),
CLICK & BUY NOW!Disclaimer: Tanvi and her son Bhavik are part of the #kbcReviewerSquad and they received this book as a review copy from the publisher.
