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Indians, through the ages have always loved an animal which is still a 'prime mover' of heavy burdens and once use in ancient warfare as a battering ram. It has got a series of nomenclature but its trunk, an extraordinary limb, signifying hasta provided the most common name hasti for the animal. Origin of this animal in India can be traced back to the geological age about 30 million years ago on the basis of fossil records of proboscidea specimens discovered at the foothills of Siwalik as well as from Madhya Pradesh and even in West Bengal. Earliest archaeological evidences revealing the existence of the captive elephant |
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| have been embedded on the Indus seals and the literary records of the Vedic period provide testimony to its domesticity. The jataka stories delineated on the narrative panels of Bharhut, Sanchi, Amaravati and Bodhgaya represent elephant in a variety of moods and activities. The animal has not only acted as the vehicle of man but it has been adopted as mount by some of the divinities of Indian religions. The animal has sacrificed its tusk for the enjoyment of human race on which beautiful carvings were incised from time immemorial. | |
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Alexander's Coin: Puru on his elephant |
Fairy on an elephant: Company School |
| The exhibits include fossil remains of the animal, specially molar and lower jaws of the proboscidean forms as well as stuffed specimen of cub of an elephant. The steatite Harappan seal from Mohenjodaro depicts a stylised elephant beneath some pictographic signs. Of much interest is the silver medal of Alexandar the great, commemorating his victory over Puru riding an elephant at the battle of Hydaspes during 4th century B.C. That Buddha was symbolised by the white elephant in Maya's dream is evidenced by a medallion on the Bharhut pillar of 2nd century B.C. Perhaps the earliest example in art form of poaching of elephant tusks is figured in the story of chhaddanta jataka carved on stone on the same architecture. A Gandhara relief shows taming of the mad elephant Nalagiri by Buddha while Indra with his favorite mount airavata pays a visit to Buddha on a red sandstone panel from Mathura. Coins of Saka and Gupta kings as well as Tipu Sultan record man - elephant relations. Bengal and Bihar had produced images of medieval ages in stone, terracotta and metal highlighting this animal. | |
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| Art of ivory carvings flourished in India for a remote past - such carvings from Murshidabad and Myanmar form the exhibits of the display. The glazed potteries, earthen objects, silver work, leather mats, marble, wood and metal objects from Jaipur, Chennai, Pune, Tanjore, Goalpara, Bardhaman and Kolkata represent the gracious animal in different perspectives. A textile piece from Myanmar with zari work and elephant - spread called jhul from Jaipur as also a paper-pulp mask of the Gadaba tribe of Koraput in Orissa are the added attractions of the show. In the painted delights of Mughal, Deccani, Pahari, Rajasthani, Company and Murshidabad schools the animal figures prominently. Jahangir's royal elephant gajratan, gajendramokshalila of Hindu mythology and navanarikunjara- a queer art motif representing an elephant formed by nine women; as well as paintings of different musical modes show the elephants and their surroundings in vibrant colour | |
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Indra and Airavata, Mathura, 1st century A.D. |
Elephant on Indus seal |
| The exhibits have been drawn form the collection of Geological Survey of India, Zoological Survey of India and the Art, Archaeology, Anthropology sections of the Indian Museum. A few photographs and prints have been lent by some non-government organisations. The exposition is the result of sustained efforts of the Indian Museum and Pugmarks, Kolkata. | |
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Elephant- Bharut, c. 2nd century B.C. |
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Pahrai painting, 19th century |
Elephants near a triangular path |
