Female Elephant Caretaker

Parbati Barua, affectionately known as the ‘Hathi ki Pari’ (elephant’s fairy) from Assam, has been honored with the prestigious Padma Shri for her outstanding contributions to animal welfare. Born into the Royal Family of Gauripur, Parbati’s immersion into the realm of elephants commenced in the jungles alongside her father, Prakritish Chandra Barua, an eccentric hunter endowed with an extraordinary understanding of elephants.

The trajectory of Parbati’s life altered in 1970 with the abolition of the Privy Purse, casting a shadow on the family’s prosperity. Nevertheless, despite the adversities, Parbati’s profound affinity for elephants and her inherent knack for taming them manifested early in her life.

A mere 14 years old, she adeptly captured her first wild elephant. Over the ensuing years, Parbati refined her skills, evolving into a highly sought-after mahout across the jungles of Assam, West Bengal, and Odisha. Her active engagement with esteemed organizations such as the Asian Elephant Specialist Group and the International Union for Conservation of Nature underscores her steadfast commitment to elephant conservation.

The Padma Shri acknowledgment stands as a testament to Parbati’s unwavering devotion to these majestic creatures. The accolade not only recognizes her as India’s pioneer female elephant mahout but also as a pioneering force dismantling stereotypes in a traditionally male-dominated domain.

Parbati’s narrative resounds as a chronicle of overcoming challenges, where her love for elephants triumphed over societal expectations and economic hurdles.

As the ‘Hathi ki Pari’ is bestowed with the Padma Shri, her story reverberates with the resilience and empathy essential for safeguarding our wildlife and preserving the delicate equilibrium between humanity and nature.

_{Repurposed article originally published in Abpnews}