Mahouts - the Elephant Keepers
Mahouts in
general are described as being an aloof set of people, who keep to
themselves, closely guarding the secrets of their trade. But
Kerala’s mahouts seem determined not to confine themselves to the
norm. Genial, jovial and always willing to share their experiences
and expertise, the mahouts of Kerala seem to be complete opposites
of their aloof, intimidating counterparts from around the world.
Their lean,
lithe bodies clad in a sarong and sometimes a shirt, the mahouts are
almost indistinguishable from the common people. But look closely
and you will find clues that indicate their life’s obsession. Some
sport faded tattoos on their leathery skin. Some wear gold
medallions or bracelets of elephant hair. Mahouts are indeed a
special breed of people…after all, they are the caretakers of
Kerala’s pride – the elephants.
Wherever there
is a domestic elephant, there is a mahout. He might be walking his
elephant from village to village in search of work to earn his keep.
He might be at the river scrubbing his elephant vigorously with a
coconut husk. In the heat of the day he may be stretched out,
sleeping near his resting elephant under shade, or perhaps even
across the back of the elephant as it too lies down. At festival
time he will walk his elephant many kilometers through the night to
partake in the special pageants.
Mahouts have
always enjoyed a special place in society. During the time of the
kings, the knowledge and skill of mahouts was widely valued. In the
caste system, they held a position second only to farmers and equal
to that of skilled artisans who worked with gold and silver. Their
class was permitted to sit on stools. None beneath the elephant men
attained this privilege.
The life of a
mahout is never easy. Inspite of the bond and the love he and his
elephant share, he always runs the risk of losing life or limb if
his elephant runs amuck during the time of musth. A more
pressing problem is financial insecurity. Many mahouts are not
insured; an exception may be the mahouts employed by the Guruvayoor
Devswom Board. Still, these men carry on their trade and wouldn’t
give it up for anything in the world….all for the love of an
elephant!
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questions or queries?
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