Friday in Kasiadih…

How an Indigenous community interacts with elephants

Friday the 23rd August 2024 in Kasiadih not the Friday of the novel Robinson Crusoe brought news of the big guests reaching Kasiadih. Phones started to ring connecting everyone in Kasiadih to prepare to receive these revered guests.

All the young people of Kasiadih gathered near the Highway 33 where the Elephants would be led by the people of Bhelwatanr to Puranapani village and from here to Kasiadih . The traffic on both sides of the highway was stopped it is 7pm and dark except for the lights from the torches that revealed the Elephants movements. There was fear in the air yet a disciplined silence not to upset the Big Guests. The main aim was to lead them gently through the forests path to the next forest corridor and not to allow them to enter the village.

A relay race indeed! The Elephants crossed some people ran to protect themselves while a huge group of young people who could run followed the guests. They were led to Cheliatanr here there was an acre of land with Maize and Bananas. The Elephants with their little calf enjoyed every corn and left none for the farmer.No one disturbed them while they had their fill. I asked Anup Tigga who was a member of the youth team guiding the Elephants why you don’t you chase the elephants away while they finish the corn he said” no we allow them to eat as they are hungry where will they go they too need to be cared for.”After that someone whistled from among the youth the Elephants got really upset and started to chase the youth who ran helter shelter some fell into trenches and hid themselves. There was iron basin the elephants started play with it and flattened it. Then more people joined with burning torches and led the Elephants towards the forests in Sarbaha. The Elephants really walk fast. It was 3am when the youth could peacefully return home and sleep relieved that their village community is safe and no harm came to the Elephants or to the villagers.

Friday in Kasiadih 3rd October 2024 4am the Phone rang Philan shared the news of a Elephant close to the house of Anup Tigga. It was still dark. All the youth were there since midnight. One lone Elephant had walked into Kasiadih and found a nice paddy field to have its fill. No one chased the Elephant. The Elephant resembled Friday of Robinson Crusoe friendly and tamed. By 5am the Elephant was guided by the youth. They would say right and the Elephant would move right and they would say left and the Elephant would move left. Go straight and the Elephant would move straight like this the youth took the Elephant up to the playground where the youth were playing football. Seeing the Elephant the youth ran away leaving the football for the Elephant. The Elephant played for a while then with its foot stamped it. From here after the Elephant had rested he was guided into the forest.