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Elephas Maximus (Magill Book Reviews)

At a glance:

“Whoever kills an elephant shall be put to death,” according to an injunction by the chief Brahmin of Emperor Chandragupta’s court in the third century B.C., a penalty which vividly conveys the historical significance of “tuskers,” and presages the enduring impact of the elephant on so many facets of Indian traditions and customs. In this instance, the severity of punishment was based on the military importance of elephants in wars and battles.

Elephas Maximus, the Indian (or more commonly, owing to its geographical distribution, the Asian) elephant, has been a lifelong fascination for author Stephen Alter, who was born and raised in India. Writing from the position of Writer-In- Residence at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, he brings an illuminating Westerner’s perspective to the topic, which complements his layperson, non- scientific approach. Funded by a Guggenheim Fellowship, he traveled throughout India during 2001-2002 to gather material for this thoughtful and impressive homage to an animal that has been revered for thousands of years.

The familiar notion of elephants as working beasts, whether hauling logs or serving as transportation for tiger hunters, is supplemented with detailed firsthand descriptions of the elephants’ role in public ceremonies and weddings. It is considered good luck, and a status symbol for the nouveau riche, to have an elephant present at a wedding, and elephants painted with many colorful designs and decorated with so much jewelry and fine fabrics that none of their skin is visible, are rented out for the task. The well-known role of elephants in religion is also explored, most notably the Hindu god Ganesha, who possesses the head of an elephant. There is hardly an aspect of Indian culture not affected by the elephant, and detailed examination is given in motion pictures featuring elephants, paintings and sculpture of elephants, and literary works. Indeed the discussion of the many literary appearances of elephants serves as an excellent bibliographic essay on elephant literature.

But the most engrossing sequences are the author’s firsthand descriptions of his journeys throughout the national parks and preserves of India, which have the immediacy of a personal diary. He describes how exactly the bargaining process proceeds when an elephant is bought and sold, the different trapping methods used to capture elephants, and the illnesses and ailments of elephants and their treatment. His heartfelt description of the impact of poaching on the elephant population is truly moving, as are the sequences where he describes mother elephants with their calves. And yes, George Orwell’s famous essay “Shooting an Elephant” is discussed at length.

It may seem unlikely that a mere book could compete with the exciting audiovisual spectacle of bull elephants raucously trumpeting on The National Geographic Channel, but this sensitive study does so admirably, providing a multitude of thoughtful insights, extensive historical detail, and fascinating personal observations on a truly awesome giant.