(IN) New book on Indian elephants

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http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Oct282007/artic2007102732687.asp

Pachyderm passion

Vikramajit Ram's book is the result of journeys to places where

elephants still survive in stone, finds out Giridhar Khasnis.

 

A well-established graphic designer, Vikramajit Ram let his passion for the

pachyderm overtake his professional interests and literally drive him to the

'stone' age! His recently released book, Elephant Kingdom: Sculptures from

Indian Architecture (Mapin / May 2007 / 104 pages (with 77 colour

illustrations) / Rs 995) is an ingeniously researched document integrating

examples which span over two thousand years of architectural sculpture from

3 rd century BC to late 18th century AD.

 

In his preface, the author-photographer reveals both his unmixed delight and

understandable concerns about the animal. He explains how in India, stories

of elephants in life and legend have captured imagination for countless

generations; how the word for 'elephant' had a way of entering our childhood

vocabularies, often before we had set eyes on one; how some of our

best-loved toys, of sun-dried clay or stuffed cotton, brought those puzzling

dimensions into the grasp of our hands; how elephants visited our dreams and

an encounter with the real thing invariably filled us with awe, delight and

wonder.

 

At the same time, he is aware that the face of a deity— the Indian elephant

today pays a heavy price for enchanting our lives for thousands of years.

" Its jungles are shrinking. A bloody and clandestine trade continues. Tired

and dusty, many beg at temples or ferry tourists into forts. Tales of valour

and companionship are largely forgotten. But perhaps behind their

inscrutable smiles, the elephants remember. "

 

Vikram, who imbibed a love for nature and environment since his younger

days, has always enjoyed being with the natural world and trekking in

unknown territories. An alumnus of the National Institute of Design he is

also in tune with music— both classical Western and Carnatic. But what made

him give up a lucrative career in design and be bitten by the writing bug?

" The inner urge to become a full time writer was brewing for quite some

time. Once I decided to quit designing, things started falling perfectly

into place. Curiously, Elephant Kingdom was both a planned and serendipitous

development! "

 

 

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*A visual treat*

Divided into four thematic chapters (Heaven and Earth / Life and Surrender /

Pomp and Circumstance / Sentinel and Cipher) that provide the historical and

cultural framework to view the images, Elephant Kingdom is a visual treat.

Elegantly designed and produced to measure up to international standards,

the book— with its engaging text and enthralling photographs— takes the

reader through familiar as well as unknown aspects of Indian legend, art and

architecture.

 

The book is itself the result of a series of journeys to places Vikram

undertook where Indian elephants still survive in stone. The experience was

enlivened by fascinating discoveries as much as serendipitous encounters

with men and women from different walks of life who in their own way

contributed to the project.

 

Vikram acknowledges that many anonymous ASI officers and guides are doing a

fabulous job of protecting monuments despite no recognition or incentives.

He also recalls meeting blind Rajasthani singers whose full-throated songs

bring life to legends, and car drivers who knew about places as clearly as

the palm of their hands.

 

" I do not carry the tag of 'environmentalist', " says Vikram. " Nor am I a

flag bearer of any group. But what bugs me is the highly widespread

hypocrisy. We worship the Elephant God, but are blind to the state of living

elephants. We electrocute them by putting power fences to our farms. We

slaughter them for their tusks and ivory. We allow rascals like Veerappan to

rule the forests. But we never forget to pompously celebrate Ganesh

festival, every year. What hypocrisy! No wonder the elephant population is

dwindling year by year... As for desecrating heritage sites, the less said

the better. How could anyone carve our names and romantic feelings on

ancient temples, caves and rocks? And cut those priceless pieces of

sculpture to smuggle them to rich foreign collectors? "

 

His future projects? Vikram is working on several themes. He has recently

sealed a contract for penning a travel book. A fiction would follow sooner

than later.