What Elephants Know
Year: 2016
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Hard cover: Rs.890/-
It’s been a while since there was a novel based on natural
history, wildlife, and life in the jungles. This is perhaps What Elephants Know
has tried to accomplish. Authored by Eric Dinerstein who spent time in the
Nepalese jungles of Bardia district in the mid 1970s, initially studying tigers
as a Peace Corps volunteer. He later returned to study the Indian one-horned
rhinoceros for his doctoral work. The book itself is inspired by the elephants,
and the game scouts, the author had worked with during his research work. Hence
the book shows out the intimate knowledge the author has for this place. The
idea of the book itself has taken birth on a star-filled night in one of the
wildest spots in Asia.
The story takes place in the low, flat land along the border
between Nepal and India at the base of the Himalayas where a young boy Nanda
Singh, fondly called Nandu, hits up with a plan with his friend Rita to save
their elephant stable being closed. But to succeed, they’ll need a great
tusker and the story takes the turn into another adventure. While their
struggle to save the elephant stable and his larger community of mahouts is the
major plot of the book, there are several other subplots that are interwoven
beautifully to make it a very readable novel. The story develops at an even
pace and keeps the reader’s attention to the end.
Nandu was found as a toddler by his foster father
Subba-Sahib, a head elephant keeper, while on his regular rounds with elephants
in the forests. Initially under the protective watch of a pack of dholes, the
wild canids of Asia, Nandu grows up under his foster father in a royal elephant
stable. He considers Subba-Sahib as his father, and Devi Kali, an old, affectionate
female elephant, at the stable as his mother. Perhaps Devi Kali is the best
character in the book that brings out human emotions in elephants which is
possibly true if one considers the way elephants care for their young ones in
the wild. Some sections that detail the relationship between Devi Kali and
Nandu are movingly constructed.
As Nandu grows up destined
to become a mahout, he discovers plants, animals, good and bad people, teaching
him life’s critical skills. The book grips you and can make Nandu
the new Mowgli. The book takes the reader across to the magical world of
Nepal’s forests. Every detail of how a mahout commands his elephants, or the
description of forest flowers, birds, animals, animal behavior are authentic to
the last word, except on a couple of occasions which is perhaps an integral part
of any fiction writing.
What Elephants Know is perhaps more than a story of the
talented, young boy who is enchanted with elephants, and other wildlife around
him. It is told from the perspective of the young boy, hence has everything
that interests him. But, it also has very nuanced teachings for life, and I am
sure many would benefit from these sagacious words that come out of the
mouth of wise men, who are important or supporting characters in the book, neatly
woven into different sections of the story. The underlying
themes of patience, karma, kindness, and generosity are all stated boldly but
without force. Nandu also has to confront issues of cultural identity, political
corruption, environmental ethics, and other issues the society faces.
The language is simple but elegant and has an excellent flow.
I think few can pen like Eric, where he has combined his field observations
into a novel. My favourite line from this book is when Father Autry tells his
most avid pupil. “Behold Nandu. For me, the peak of evolution was reached
before the age of dinosaurs. That is when the ferns of today began to appear.
Many have changed in one hundred and sixty-five million years. I wonder, how
can nature improve on such an elegant design?”
Eric is known for his non-fiction natural history books, including
award-winning books such as Kingdom of Rarities, and Tigerland and
Other Unintended Destinations. But, this is his first fiction novel, and
in fact an impressive one. Though the book can be easily classified into the
fiction genre, it has authentic information on natural history, which makes it
difficult it to be purely classified as a fiction.
Though the book is slightly episodic, there’s enough action
that counterbalances to make the readers feel it as a genuine memoir. This is a
must read for everyone interested in natural history, outdoors, culture, and or
simple writing. Perhaps, it cannot be categorised as a children’s novel, as
reviewers have generally rated it. Everyone would enjoy it, especially those
who know nature from the field. The book
really transports you and makes one feel a deeper appreciation for the natural
world! I would surely rate it nine out of ten.
