Amala and Kamala: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 20:04, 8 January 2025

Amala and Kamala[edit]

Amala and Kamala were two feral children from India who were reportedly discovered in 1920 by Reverend Joseph Amrito Lal Singh, a missionary in the village of Midnapore, West Bengal. The story of Amala and Kamala has been a subject of much debate and controversy, often cited in discussions about human development and the effects of isolation on childhood development.

Discovery[edit]

According to Singh's account, Amala and Kamala were found living in a wolf den with a pack of wolves. Singh claimed that the children exhibited wolf-like behavior, such as walking on all fours, eating raw meat, and howling. They were believed to be around 8 and 12 years old at the time of their discovery.

Life at the Orphanage[edit]

After their discovery, Amala and Kamala were taken to an orphanage run by Singh. He documented their progress and attempted to teach them human behavior and language. Amala, the younger of the two, died a year after their discovery, while Kamala lived until 1929. Singh's reports indicated that Kamala gradually learned some basic social skills and language, although her development was significantly delayed compared to other children her age.

Controversy[edit]

The story of Amala and Kamala has been met with skepticism by many anthropologists and psychologists. Some researchers have questioned the accuracy of Singh's reports, suggesting that the children may have had developmental disabilities rather than being raised by wolves. Others have pointed out inconsistencies in the timeline and details of the story.

Legacy[edit]

Despite the controversy, the story of Amala and Kamala has been influential in discussions about feral children and the impact of social isolation on human development. It has been referenced in various psychology and sociology texts and has inspired numerous literary and cinematic works.

Related pages[edit]

Template:Feral children

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 ==Amala and Kamala==
-Amala and Kamala were two feral children who were reportedly discovered in 1920 in a forest in India. Their story has been the subject of much debate and controversy over the years, with questions about the authenticity of the accounts surrounding their discovery and upbringing.
+'''Amala and Kamala''' were two [[feral children]] from [[India]] who were reportedly discovered in 1920 by [[Reverend Joseph Amrito Lal Singh]], a missionary in the village of [[Midnapore]], [[West Bengal]]. The story of Amala and Kamala has been a subject of much debate and controversy, often cited in discussions about [[human development]] and the effects of [[isolation]] on [[childhood]] development.
 ===Discovery===
-The children were found by Reverend Joseph Amrito Lal Singh, who was the rector of an orphanage in the village of Midnapore, West Bengal. According to Singh, the girls were discovered living in a wolf den, exhibiting behaviors similar to those of wolves. They were said to have been raised by wolves, which led to their feral nature.
+According to Singh's account, Amala and Kamala were found living in a [[wolves|wolf den]] with a pack of wolves. Singh claimed that the children exhibited [[wolf-like behavior]], such as walking on all fours, eating raw meat, and howling. They were believed to be around 8 and 12 years old at the time of their discovery.
-===Characteristics===
-Amala and Kamala were described as having several wolf-like characteristics. They reportedly walked on all fours, had a heightened sense of smell, and were nocturnal. Their diet consisted mainly of raw meat, and they were said to have howled like wolves.
 ===Life at the Orphanage===
-After their discovery, the girls were taken to the orphanage run by Singh. Efforts were made to socialize them and integrate them into human society. However, progress was slow and challenging. Amala, the younger of the two, died in 1921, shortly after their discovery. Kamala lived until 1929, during which time she gradually learned some basic human behaviors and language skills.
+After their discovery, Amala and Kamala were taken to an orphanage run by Singh. He documented their progress and attempted to teach them [[human behavior]] and [[language]]. Amala, the younger of the two, died a year after their discovery, while Kamala lived until 1929. Singh's reports indicated that Kamala gradually learned some basic [[social skills]] and [[language]], although her development was significantly delayed compared to other children her age.
 ===Controversy===
-The story of Amala and Kamala has been met with skepticism by many researchers and scholars. Some have questioned the veracity of Singh's accounts, suggesting that the story may have been exaggerated or fabricated. Critics argue that the girls may have been developmentally disabled or suffered from other conditions that were misinterpreted as feral behavior.
+The story of Amala and Kamala has been met with skepticism by many [[anthropologists]] and [[psychologists]]. Some researchers have questioned the accuracy of Singh's reports, suggesting that the children may have had [[developmental disabilities]] rather than being raised by wolves. Others have pointed out inconsistencies in the timeline and details of the story.
 ===Legacy===
-Despite the controversy, the story of Amala and Kamala has captured the imagination of many and has been referenced in various works on feral children and human development. Their case is often cited in discussions about the nature versus nurture debate and the impact of environment on human behavior.
+Despite the controversy, the story of Amala and Kamala has been influential in discussions about [[feral children]] and the impact of [[social isolation]] on human development. It has been referenced in various [[psychology]] and [[sociology]] texts and has inspired numerous [[literary]] and [[cinematic]] works.
+==Related pages==
+* [[Feral child]]
+* [[Socialization]]
+* [[Human development]]
+* [[Isolation (psychology)]]
+{{Feral children}}
 [[Category:Feral children]]
+[[Category:Indian children]]
+[[Category:1920 in India]]