In 1906, frightened residents of Koya village in rural West Bengal watched as Jatindranath Mukherjee grappled with a Royal Bengal tiger. Jatindranath (also known as Jyotindranath), had been summoned by the villagers to deal with this marauding big cat. He had arrived armed with a kukri or small knife, expecting to meet a small tiger. Now, he found himself locked in mortal combat with a huge man-eater instead.

Suddenly, the enraged tiger charged at him. Jatin caught hold of the creature by the neck and attacked it with the kukri. With its last roar, the tiger closed its jaws around Jatin’s right knee and collapsed. Jatin lay immobile, his leg seriously injured. Someone eventually fired a rifle at the dead beast. Jatin chuckled and said, “Useless. It won’t move any more. Don’t damage the skin!”

Villagers started gathering from far and wide to pay their respects, thinking it might be Jatin’s last day alive. He was taken to Calcutta to see a well-known surgeon. Jatin’s legs were mauled badly, but he recovered under the care of the surgeon, who devoted himself to Jatin’s care. Six months later, Jatin was able to walk without crutches. He was awarded a silver medal by the Government...