She was born into a royal family but gave up luxury life for elephants. Actor Madhavan salutes Padma Shri awardee Parbati Barua, who has trained over 500 elephants

She was 14 when she brought home her first elephant from the Kachugaon forests of the Kokrajhar district. As India’s first female elephant mahout, she has also earned the moniker of ‘Hasti Kanya’ or the ‘Daughter of Elephant’, raising and taming these wild animals while even saving human lives during a dangerous incident that could have turned fatal. Yes, Padma Shri awardee Parbati Barua has broken stereotypes in the traditional male-dominated field by carving a remarkable legacy through her bond with elephants. Her extraordinary journey has even captured the attention of Dhurandhar 2 actor R Madhavan.

All about India’s first elephant mahout

In his latest Instagram Stories, R Madhavan re-shared a post about the fearless and equally compassionate woman. Parbati Barua was born on March 14, 1953, in the Royal Family of Gauripur, Assam, to Late Prakritish Chandra Barua, the last in the line of Rajahs of Gauripur to hold power.

Despite being a political science graduate, Parbati was always drawn towards wildlife, especially elephants. The credit goes to her father, harbouring a supernatural understanding of elephants and took young Parbati into the dense jungles. The family had 40 elephants in the royal stables. From 1975 to 1978, Parbati tamed 14 wild elephants through Mela Shikar, a traditional Assamese method of capturing wild elephants with a Lasso, operating in the forests of Assam and North Bengal. She has also trained over 500 elephants to date.

Parbati Barua’s tale of adventure and present lifestyle

According to a report by Truth Behind Voices, among Parbati’s many valiant tales of adventure, one that deserves a special mention is one from West Bengal’s Midnapore district. When a herd of 50 rogue elephants lost their way and embarked on the path of destruction, endangering human lives, Parbati sprang into action. When trained officers failed to control the majestic beasts. Parbati arrived on the spot with 4 of her own elephants and her trusted team, guiding all 50 elephants back to the forest without a single casualty.At 70, Parbati’s daily routine includes giving her elephants baths, riding them in the jungle, and training them. Parbati fondly makes hadiya, a rice-based treat for her 3 beloved elephants, Lakshmimala, Aloka, and Kanchanmala, who also have a fondness for liquor. States like Bihar, West Bengal, and Assam seek her assistance in handling rogue tuskers or caring for those injured or ailing.

Parbati Barua awards and achievements

Parbati Barua is the recipient of numerous awards and honours including the Asom Gaurav (2023), United Nations Environment Program’s (UNEP) award, and the “Global 500 – Roll of Honour” in 1989 for welfare and management of wild and captive elephants. The Government of Assam felicitated her as the “Honorary Chief Elephant Warden of Asom” for her lifetime work for elephants. She was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Kolkata International Wildlife & Environment Film Festival (KIWEFF) and was also the “Nature’s Warrior” Jury Award for Aparajita 2023.

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