Rudyard Kipling was born in India to English parents on December 30th, 1865. Kipling’s father, John Lockwood Kipling, was an artist and scholar. ‘Barrack Room Ballads’, published in 1892, was Kipling’s first notable work as a poet.
His popular verse was inspired by hymns, music hall songs, ballads and public poetry. ‘Mandalay’, ‘Gunga Din’, ‘The Gods of the Copybook Headings’, ‘The White Man’s Burden’, and ‘If-‘, are among his famous poems. ‘If-‘ was voted as Britain’s favourite poem in a poll conducted by the BBC.
Kipling wrote ‘My Boy Jack’, following the death of his beloved son. Kipling refused many honours. He was offered the position of Poet Laureate, but he turned down the offer.
However he accepted the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1907.
Rudyard Kipling’s wife, Caroline Balestier was American by birth. Kipling died on 18th January 1936. ‘The Jungle Book’,’ Kim’, and many short stories, including ‘The Man Who Would Be King’, authored by Kipling have been enjoyed by generations of readers.