Befriending the National Heritage Animal
-By Vivek Menon, Executive Director, WTI

First appeared in the Asian Age on June 5, 2011, ie, World Environment Day

The logo of the Haathi Mere Saathi campaign

Tanuja and Rajesh Khanna starred in the immensely popular ‘70s flick Haathi Mere Saathi. The hero can do no wrong in a Bollywood film and in this one the elephant could do no wrong either. Rajesh Khanna sang and wooed, fought and emerged victorious with Haathi by his side. Little wonder then, that Jairam Ramesh, the ebullient green hero of today wishes to emulate the evergreen hero of yesteryears in adopting the elephant as the companion of the Ministry of Environment and Forests. Last week, with eight elephant range countries on the Dias, he declared Gaju as the mascot of the Haathi Mere Saathi campaign of the Ministry of Environment and Forests. The idea sprung from the twelve-member Elephant Task Force that was formed last year to suggest measures of revamping Project Elephant. With man-elephant conflict touching an all time high and the struggle for land between the pachyderm and humans claiming both in large numbers, the Task Force conjured up this innovative campaign to bring back Gajah to the Prajah of India.

Today, on World Environment Day, it is good to go back a few centuries into India’s past, well before the time when Tanuja danced around the proverbial tree, into the days of Gajah and Prajah. In a democracy, the word Prajah may be anathema to many. But in 300 BC, the king was almighty and his Prajah were subject to his benevolence or malevolence as the case might be. The wise rulers were those who kept their subjects happy. To do so, Chanakya advises the Mauryan emperor in Arthashastra to see to it that elephant reserves (Gajavanas) are protected and that the subjects are protected from elephants in equal measure. “Gajananam Bhootha Ganati sevitam” the invocation to Ganesha, began in those ancient days when a walk through the forests was beset by the possibilities of chancing on a lone tusker with a broken tusk, one of the most dangerous of all obstacles that existed in an Indian forest. Like fire and the tempestuous seas, an unpredictable heaven or the scorching sun, the elephant was a symbol of nature’s might that had to be appeased rather than tamed. This led the idolization of the elephant into the Hindu god Ganesha. Tribal populations also had their own version of the venerable elephant and their terms were always respectful of the giant. Over the years, however, this ethic of revering and letting the elephant live has begun to take a beating. With human pressure increasing and land and resources becoming scarce, forests have shrunk and the elephant and man have begun a saturnine dance of supremacy.

Nothing demonstrates it as lucidly as the eleven elephants that were poisoned in Sonitpur district of Assam in 2001. Normally it is imperative for the Assamese populace to offer flowers and burn incense when an elephant dies, for the animal is an embodiment of the Lord Ganesha. But on that fateful night, in a paddy field in eastern India, the lines were drawn for new engagement, a new interpretation of an old companionship. On the carcass of one of the older females was scrawled a chilling message of hatred, “Dhan Chor…Bin Laden” it read…”Paddy Thief…. Osama”. The transformation of the elephant from Ganesha to Osama in the minds of our people was a clarion call for all elephants and to those who are concerned about their survival. Last year, a train mowed seven elephants down in North Bengal running on a track that has been repeatedly questioned by conservationists as one that cuts across traditional elephant movement paths. There is no doubt that the fight between man and his oldest companion in India was reaching epic proportions. It was time to act to prevent a further strain in the relationship.

What the Union government is proposing is not a day too late. Not just by launching a campaign but by combining it with ground level actions. For example, by setting up High Conflict Zone Task Forces that can provide local solutions in elephant conflict prone areas. By providing immediate relief to those who are affected by elephants.  By using innovative techniques such as grain for grain schemes and feeding the poor, while protecting the elephant. By stopping the interminable linear tear along elephant landscapes by giving the elephant the right of way in 88 identified stretches of the country, each no more than 5-10 kilometers, which the pachyderms have been using for centuries.

And, by according respect to the largest living being on Indian terra firma. This was the first recommendation of the Task Force that was implemented by the government and the elephant was declared the National Heritage Animal. It now joins the tiger as National Animal and the Peacock as National Bird as the official symbols of India’s natural heritage. The interesting E8 meeting was another recommendation heeded. It was a preparatory meeting that came up with a way in which Asia and Africa could join hands, using the elephant as a symbol and conserve our joint natural, national heritages, If all goes to plan, fifteen months down the line all fifty countries that have ever been graced by these magnificent animals will converge in India to discuss a common minimum vision for elephants for the next 50 years. Called the Elephant 50:50 the meeting, it will be a crowning glory for Indian conservation emerging as a global leader. Before that, India will do well to put on ground, the various recommendations of the Elephant Task Force and demonstrate its commitment to the elephant and its people. The Haathi Mere Saathi campaign of the Ministry of Environment and Forests and the Wildlife Trust of India would only be taking this message of conservation to the people. If it succeeds in instilling national pride, in disseminating solutions to solve conflict and cautioning development agencies to avoid  crucial forest habitat, the job would be well done.

Photo : WTI

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