Guwahati: Parbati Barua, fondly known as the “Elephant Girl” (Hasti Kanya) of Assam, has been a symbol of courage and determination, breaking gender stereotypes in wildlife conservation.
At 67, she holds the distinction of being India’s first woman mahout (elephant keeper) and was honoured with the prestigious Padma Shri last year for her extraordinary contributions to wildlife conservation.
Hailing from the Gauripur royal family in Assam’s Goalpara district, Barua’s journey began at the young age of 14 when she and her father, Prakritish Barua, captured their first elephant in the Kachugaon forests of Kokrajhar.
Prakritish Barua, the last Raja of Gauripur, was a remarkable figure—a hunter and a mystic deeply attuned to the ways of elephants.
Growing up amidst the grandeur of her father’s royal stables, which housed 40 elephants, Parbati was immersed in the world of these majestic creatures.
Her childhood adventures included long forest expeditions with her father, accompanied by a large entourage of cooks, attendants, and even a private tutor.
It was during these trips that her fascination with elephants took root.
Over the past 40 years, Barua has dedicated her life to reducing human-elephant conflicts in Assam, a region with a long history of such confrontations.
Her deep understanding of elephant behaviour has been invaluable in formulating policies to manage these conflicts.
Known for her exceptional skill in taming wild elephants, she has become a respected figure not only in Assam but also in neighbouring states like West Bengal and Odisha.
Barua’s expertise often saw her assisting forest officials in driving elephants away from agricultural fields and safely returning them to the forests.
Her remarkable journey caught the attention of British author and naturalist Mark Roland Shand, who documented her story in his book Queen of the Elephants (1996).
This book inspired a widely acclaimed BBC documentary, further cementing her legacy.
Today, after decades of tireless work as a mahout, Parbati Barua remains an influential voice in wildlife conservation.
She is an active member of the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Asian Elephant Specialist Group, continuing her mission to protect these gentle giants and their habitats.
Parbati Barua’s life is a testament to resilience and passion, proving that breaking barriers can lead to meaningful change in even the most traditional fields.
