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| Velayudhan, Ayyappankavu, Mathur, Thrissur |
13 were the mahouts sent to the other world by the elephant Vazhayil Kochayyappan. To tame it in its new captivity came new mahout Velayudhan. Brushing aside the valid concerns of onlookers and well wishers, he approached the elephant. A look, a gentle massage – that was sufficient to befriend the ununderstood elephant. And with that the pint-sized Velayudhan had won the respect of his peers too.
More than 100 would be the elephants that 58-year-old Velayudhan has managed during his career. That includes temporary assignments to bring around rogue elephants. And he has done it successfully all these years without using any of the instruments of pain that his profession usually carries. His advice to the would-be mahouts who are itching to take up the stick: “first know the elephant. Otherwise the elephant will recognize it. And that will be disastrous.”
Velayudhan, who belongs to Mekkonam, Kottayi, Palakkad, started his training at the age of 10˝ under guru Valiyapadam Vella. After two years he came to Thrissur. Further training under other masters enabled him to master the technique of winning the love and respect of elephants.
As decades rolled on, his ability became known even outside the State. He was invited to the temple at Pazhani along with the tuskers. And he was invited by the Forest Department to Muthumala to share his knowledge and wisdom with the younger generation.
After 15 years with the elephant Vazhayil Kochayyappan he bid farewell to that assignment for personal reasons. By then the relationship between the man and the animal had developed to such an extent that the elephant would recognize his arrival even while he alighted from the bus some distance away. Within 10 days of the separation, the elephant announced its displeasure by the next manslaughter. Velayudhan had to be called to control the raging beast.
He now resides at Ayyappankavu, Mathur with wife Devu. His daughter Bindu had once donned the role of mahout at a festival.
Courtesy:
K.R.Prahladan (text), V.K.Aji (photo), Mathrubhumi, May 27, 2007
Contributed by: Administrator
