Tradition of Domesticating Elephants and its Inherent Association with the Folklore of Assamese Society

Abstract

Elephants, one of the biggest animals to have walked on the planet, have always been part and parcel of human evolution. They are one of the most respected animals for different reasons for diverse communities. Right from prehistoric times the relations between human and elephant has been documented in various forms like folklore, art, music or written manuscripts. It has been a status symbol signifying the higher sect of the society. For many others it is also a living God, mainly for the Indian people and in particular the North East people. This study is an attempt to study this relationship and the current roadblocks it is facing.