Beyond her hands-on work with elephants, Parbati actively contributed to developing government regulations aimed at minimizing human-elephant confrontations, thus making significant strides in wildlife conservation efforts…reports Asian Lite News
Parbati Baruah, affectionately known as the ‘Elephant Girl’ (Hasti Kanya) in Assam, made history as India’s first woman mahout (elephant keeper), receiving the prestigious Padma Shri award for her remarkable contributions to animal conservation. The 67-year-old was honored at a ceremony held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.
Hailing from the Gauripur royal family in the Goalpara district of Assam, Parbati embarked on her extraordinary journey into the world of elephants at a tender age. At just 14 years old, she, alongside her father Prakritesh Barua, captured their first elephant in the dense forests of Kachugaon in Kokrajhar district.
Parbati’s dedication to her unconventional profession spanned four decades, during which she played a pivotal role in mitigating human-elephant conflicts and challenging gender stereotypes prevalent in her field. Her expertise in taming wild elephants and understanding their behavior earned her widespread recognition not only in Assam but also in neighboring states like West Bengal and Odisha.
Beyond her hands-on work with elephants, Parbati actively contributed to developing government regulations aimed at minimizing human-elephant confrontations, thus making significant strides in wildlife conservation efforts.
Recognized as the ‘Queen of the Elephants,’ Parbati’s remarkable journey was immortalized in a book by British travel writer and naturalist Mark Roland Shand, followed by a widely acclaimed BBC documentary.
After decades of dedicated service as a mahout, Parbati redirected her focus towards animal conservation and is currently affiliated with the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Asian Elephant Specialist Group (IUCN).
Parbati’s Padma Shri accolade not only honors her individual achievements but also celebrates her family’s legacy of excellence, with her sister, renowned folk singer Pratima Pandey Barua, also having received the Padma Shri recognition, alongside their relative, award-winning filmmaker Pramathesh Barua.
Parbati’s inspiring journey serves as a testament to her unwavering commitment to protecting the majestic creatures she holds dear, exemplifying resilience, determination, and a profound love for wildlife conservation.
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