Elephants have always enjoyed a dignified position in India. They are an important part in religious ceremonies, weddings and events like the Republic Day parade. But do they get their dues, wonders TWF correspondent Sourav.

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For 35-year-old “Janta” walking down Delhi’s Rajpath with children ensconced on her back is nothing new. The pachyderm has been doing this for the last 20 years during the Republic Day parade. “She is a veteran. I don't need to give her much training before coming here," says Janta's proud owner Mohammed Ashraf. In fact, she is used by the mahouts to train other elephants, a significant part of the annual parade, he adds. Children, nominated for the bravery awards, are given a ceremonious ride on gaily decorated elephants before being awarded by the Prime Minister.

“It is a matter of pride for the owner if his elephant takes part in this prestigious parade,” says Iqbal, another elephant owner.

Every year the jawans of the Indian army round up 11 elephants from all over to take part in the parade. They are brought to the Delhi zoo where they stay from January 15 till the 27th. These ten days are like heaven for the animals. “The army gives them sugarcane, sugar, jaggery and ghee,” says Ashraf even as two truckloads of sugarcane arrive for the giants. “They take very good care of the elephants,” he adds.

However, this honeymoon does not last for long. After ten days, the elephants are sent back to where they come from to earn a living, not only for their masters but also for themselves.

“It gets tough to arrange sugarcanes, their favourite food, leave aside jaggery and ghee,” says Rafique, who too has brought in his elephant. An adult elephant eats 4 quintals of sugarcane, rice paddy and grass a day. Feeding the massive mammal costs about Rs 22,000 a month, about one year's wages for a farm hand.

The army seems oblivious, perhaps understandable, of the fact that the elephants are not given proper nutrition for the rest of the year. "We take proper care as long as they are with us. We cannot possibly keep a tab on what happens after they leave," says an army personnel.

The rest of the year the elephants are either employed by rich temples or are hired for marriages and various processions, he adds. ''We charge anything between Rs 4,000 to 8,000 depending on the season,'' says Yakub, an elephant owner.

Elephants have always been an eminent part of Indian festivals and ceremonies. Be it weddings, festivals or religious ceremonies, they have consistently enjoyed an elevated position.

They are not only sacred to most Indians as the living embodiment of divinity- Lord Ganesh, but are also held in awe and reverence by millions of people around the world. Besides, they are a status symbol for wealthy landowners, especially in rural India.

The urge to own this magnificent animal is not only confined to rural areas. Even cities like Delhi have elephant lovers who would not hesitate in buying them. Dabur company’s chairman V C Burman is one such person, who owns two elephants.

“The rich love to have elephants standing at their front door. It is a throw-back to the days of the maharajas, when a man was respected by the number of elephants he had," says Iqbal.

It is not uncommon to find elephants gracing weddings in cities like New Delhi. "While years ago, Delhi's elephants attended upon kings and emperors, it is now the city's wealthy class that patronises these creatures," says Zaheer.

"At most weddings the elephants simply stand at the entrance to a bride's house, welcoming the guests with ostentatious gestures," he adds.
Though there are many who own elephants as an investment earning good profits off the sale of a full-grown animal, the prime reason for having elephants is social status.

But prestige apart, the animals are not always taken proper care of. Some of these animals do not even have enough place to move around.

Under the ferocious sun, their skin burning, and their feet scalded by the hot bitumen of the road, these elephants carry their master's orders every day.

''They are our only source of income. We have made an investment. How will we realise our investment if they don't work,'' counters Iqbal.

The Asian elephant is accorded one of the highest levels of protection in both national and international laws and treaties.

As befits its endangered status accorded by the IUCN Red List, the Indian government has placed it in Schedule I of its Wildlife Protection Act (1972) and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES) has placed it in Appendix I.

Although national legislation has afforded the elephant with a certain level of protection, the local administrative rules or regional acts sometimes are at odds with or nullify the effect of the protection put in place.

''A maharaja might have a stable of 20 or 30 elephants to show off, but these days he'll have a Rolex watch or a Maserati,'' points Ashraf.

Whatever may be the case, the truth is that elephants have become just tokens of prestige. When it comes to giving love and care, they are given a short shrift.