This is the story of a woman from a royal family in Assam who grew up surrounded by elephants and defied societal expectations to become a leading figure in wildlife conservation. Meet Parbati Barua, India’s first female elephant mahout. Her lifelong dedication to elephant care and conservation has made her an inspiring pioneer in the field.
Early Life
Parbati Barua was born in 1954 into the royal family of Gauripur, Assam. She was one of nine children of Prakritish Chandra Barua, the last Rajah of Gauripur and a renowned elephant expert. Instead of playing with dolls like other children, she preferred exploring the forests with her father and his elephants. This early exposure sparked her lifelong love for these majestic creatures.
At just 14, Parbati captured her first wild elephant in the Kachugaon forests. This achievement marked the beginning of her journey as a mahout, a path she pursued despite societal norms discouraging women from such endeavors. By 1972, she officially became a mahout, breaking gender barriers in a male-dominated field.
Career and Achievements
Parbati Barua has dedicated her life to elephant conservation, focusing on taming elephants and reducing human-elephant conflicts in India. She has tamed over 500 elephants using traditional methods like Mela Shikar, which involves capturing wild elephants without tranquilizers. Her work has significantly reduced human-elephant conflicts in Assam, West Bengal, and Odisha.
Barua gained international attention with the BBC documentary “Queen of the Elephants,” which highlighted her life and contributions to elephant conservation. Her efforts have been recognized with numerous awards, including the Padma Shri in 2024 and the Global 500 Roll of Honour by the United Nations Environment Program in 1989.
Personal Life and Philosophy
Parbati Barua, affectionately known as “Hasti Kanya” (Elephant Girl), lives a life deeply connected to nature. She emphasizes the importance of understanding elephants’ emotions and believes that her success as a mahout comes from her ability to connect with them on an emotional level. “They love me because I understand their sentiments,” she says.
Parbati considers her three elephants, Lakshmimala, Aloka, and Kanchanmala, as her daughters. Her daily routine involves bathing the elephants, riding them through the jungle, and preparing their favorite treats. Her bond with them is a testament to her belief in empathy and understanding as the foundation for a harmonious relationship with wildlife.
Legacy and Impact
Beyond being India’s first female elephant mahout, Barua’s work has transformed human-elephant relationships and advanced wildlife conservation. She remains a leading advocate for compassionate and scientific elephant care, emphasizing the importance of empathy in conservation.
Parbati Barua’s life and work demonstrate that passion, dedication, and hard work can lead to meaningful change in the world of conservation.
