Comment posted India Photo: Cars, Buses, Bikes, and… an Elephant by Sharell.
Yes, I really did run!! Didn’t want that elephant to get away!! No doubt I was attracting much more attention than the elephant. I am a bit crazy at times and figure that I’m being stared at anyway, so why not give them a proper reason to stare. 
At times like these, my poor husband does disown me somewhat.
Sharell also commented
- Don’t worry, I’m not offended in the slightest. Your posts are very useful in raising people’s awareness. The situation with the poor sloth bears is terrible (I’ve seen them on the side of the road but did not stop to look at them). It is indeed very bad how so many animals are being treated.
- Wow, this is real insider knowledge! Thanks Ramit!
Recent comments by Sharell
- Consumerism and Child Raising in Mumbai
Thanks Madhu!
I’ve approved it. The link is below. It’s such a useful blog, I’m going to feature it in my India Travel blog, hopefully in the next few days.
http://goindia.about.com/u/sty/travelogues/blogs-about-india/India-Travel-Blog—10-Year-Itch—Explore-Dream-Discover.htm
- How Scissors Get Sharpened in India
We have two sweet young kachra waliis who always smile at me, and one rather handsome kachra wala.
I’d also like to feature the watchmen. I think these wale will be next! - Indian Men Getting Away with Bad Behaviour
I read that in the newspaper this morning and was left wondering WFT?!
But regardless of what ever the situation actually is, he’s admitted to having sex with her which is bad anyway. - Lunch Delivered in a Tiffin
I could only wish my book will be that good! What an epic. - How Scissors Get Sharpened in India
Hi Raj, welcome to the blog and thank you for such positive feedback. I’m familiar with the exact type of expat you’re talking about. I guess that’s why I have so few expat friends. I find them difficult to relate to — especially when they have more than enough money, home help, drivers, and spacious apartments….and can’t stop complaining. Plus, they make me uncomfortable because they say they have no idea how I can live here happily without any of my home comforts, since I’m not on a well paying contract with a MNC like them. I’ll definitely admit that I do my share of complaining about India (ask my husband!) but I usually follow it up with… why is it like this? I really do want to understand and unravel the mystery of India! I guess the difference between myself and many expats is that they have come here for work, without really knowing anything about India or probably even wanting to. For them, India is just another country to work and earn money in. However, I’d spent a considerable amount of time in India as a tourist before I decided to make it my home, so the country is a bit more close to my heart than it is other expats. I hope that explains it. And I hope you’ll enjoy my blog!
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Very cool, Sharell! Great pics too.
Yes, I really did run!! Didn’t want that elephant to get away!! No doubt I was attracting much more attention than the elephant. I am a bit crazy at times and figure that I’m being stared at anyway, so why not give them a proper reason to stare.
At times like these, my poor husband does disown me somewhat.
How exciting! It took me three trips to India before I saw my first elephant and here you have one in rush hour traffic, lol.
Lovely blog.
A white “indian” woman getting super excited about an Elephant.
Loved your account of the incident.
Interestingly, India is now regarded as THE ASIAN ELEPHANT.
Must have been a sight, but surely its these little crazy things we do in life, make them really really memorable !!!
There’s a bridge in Delhi under which you’ll actually find elephants with their mahouts and their families living! The bridge is the one that connects south and central Delhi to east Delhi over the Yamuna River. It’s called the Old Nizamuddin Bridge.
Wow, this is real insider knowledge! Thanks Ramit!
Hi Sharell,
I posted a comment previously on your snake pic. Well the Indian Elephant (Elephas maximus) is not only a revered symbol of Lord Ganesha but an endangered species protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act 1971. Most of the elephants you see on the streets on India (begging or paraded in festivals) are there illegally. 99% of elephants in captivity were captured as calves from the wild. The same goes for all the sloth bears used for dancing and even monkeys. As you are well aware, enforcement in India is lax so people get away with murder but the least you can do is ignore the people who (ab)use elephants on the streets and refuse to pay them money. As a white foreigner you will be a prime target for all these elephant and snake men, so if you care for the welfare of animals, please keep what I said in mind.
Among the worst offenders are the people in my home state Kerala, where elephants are used in temple festivals and are put to mu ‘behind the scenes’ abuse. Delhi and Jaipur are not far behind. If you are interested, you could check this site on an organisation that works for their welfare.
best regards//Arjun
http://www.nandoperettifound.org/en/page.php?project=122
PS: Do let me know if my posts offend you and Ill stop. This IS your space after all.
Don’t worry, I’m not offended in the slightest. Your posts are very useful in raising people’s awareness. The situation with the poor sloth bears is terrible (I’ve seen them on the side of the road but did not stop to look at them). It is indeed very bad how so many animals are being treated.
Arjun, I’ve never seen a man with an elephant begging for money, but yes men with snakes do beg for money at stop lights. I do what anyone would do, I roll up the car’s windows and do not look at them at all. Not because I knew about the cruelty to animals part, but because I am scared of snakes!
Hello Ramit,
Using elephants for begging, usually only females or sub-adults, is more common in the south, esp Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, AP, Maharashtra. But I have seen it once in Delhi. ciaou///Arjun
There is a sanctuary for Asian elephants in Tennessee USA. When I go south I try to volunteer but the wait list is LONG. As excited as I am to be heading to India in less than 2 weeks, I know I will be crying. I went to a circus as a child and ran out crying…because I couldnt stand that a woman with heels was standing on an elephants head and a bear was wearing a tutu riding a bike…yep….i am vegan…I have also seen an elephant chained to a football goal post and left out in a field alone…with Lord Genesha as my witness if I could have figured out how to unchain it and figure out what to do with it, that elephant would have been free. It still haunts me to this day that I couldn’t free it. An elephant running down a US street is a death sentence for the animal.
between the animals and the children, its one part of India I am NOT looking forward to…not to pretend that it doesnt exist but because it hurts my heart so bad.
here is the link to the sanctuary:
http://www.elephants.com/index.php
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