Sometimes you come across a book which leaves you with a sense of both elation and longing. Your spirit soars, the world seems a more lovable and beautiful place and at the same time you know that this feeling is not going to last. You look around for something similar but it is not there and therefore you go back to the book once more. Feeling grateful that you came across it.
You feel the urge to grab the person next to you and share your feelings or at least force them to read the book and end up disappointed when your neighbor(or friend or spouse) does not share your enthusiasm.
‘The Elephant Whisperer’ by conservationist Lawrence Anthony is one such book. It is a story of adventure, love and discovery – it is also a story of the world which is changing too fast for its own good and may be in another generation’s time, such stories will not only be improbable but also impossible.
It is primarily a true story of a group of elephants who were on the verge of being condemned to death when Lawrence stepped in to give them a fresh lease of life. The process is not smooth for there were scars which needed the balm of love and patience but that was one thing which Lawrence and his team was endowed with in abundance. Slowly but surely suspicion and hatred gave way to trust and love.
The bond between humans and elephants grew stronger with time and we are served with a rare love story.
We come to understand and appreciate the sentiments of animals, their concerns and their fear. There are some moments of magic when the barrier between human and animal world breaks down and we are left to wonder whether in reality such division exists or is it just a creation of our narrow outlook(like the barriers we have created between different religions, nations, races and castes).
We realize that like us, the animals are also subject to emotions like motherly love towards infants, pride of having given birth to a healthy baby, rage at perceived threat towards their group, playfulness towards beings whom they trust – the examples are endless. In some aspects the elephants were proved to be superior to the humans but let us not disclose all the details - one should not rob the readers the thrills of self discovery.
After reading the book, one’s sensitiveness towards the environment significantly increases and one is subjected to a sense of profound loss at the news of reducing forest cover for feeding human need for economic development(!) or jumbos being killed routinely by marauding railways.
The book is not just about elephants though. There are delightful accounts involving other animals as well along with some glimpses of challenges that a conservationist faces in his effort to save the environment.
Lastly, the lovable, gentle heart of the author shines through the entire book though he has taken ample care to keep himself in the background. A few months back he had breathed his last and his beloved elephants came marching to pay their last tribute to their benefactor, uninvited. Perhaps they accepted him in their herd, for he too was like them - a gentle giant.