Hathi Basti's Struggle to Preserve Its Elephant Heritage

Hathi Basti, a neighborhood in Delhi, grapples with the erosion of its elephant-keeping tradition. This decline followed a 2019 court order mandating the relocation of elephants. The community now faces challenges such as poor infrastructure and the loss of a unique cultural identity.

Hathi Basti, perched on the bank of the Yamuna near ITO, bears the marks of time’s indifference. Once famed for its thriving elephant-keeping tradition, the area has faded from view as residents go about their hectic routines in Delhi.

The tradition that lent Hathi Basti its name began to wane after 2019, when the Delhi High Court ruled that privately-owned elephants must be relocated from the capital. Amir, a 35-year-old descendent of mahouts, now tends a tea shack by the Yamuna, a vestige of the old ways. His father, known as Chunna ji, is the last mahout from that forgotten generation, reflecting on times when elephants were part of Delhi’s daily scene.

Chunna ji recounts how, after the court ruling, his elephants were moved to wildlife centers outside Delhi, forcing him to find new ways to sustain his family. The loss was a cultural departure for many, such as the 32-year-old Zakir, who, after losing his elephant Hiragaj, now rents out camels for events. Hathi Basti faces frequent challenges like poor sanitation, erratic power supply, and monsoon flooding, all while coping with a dwindling past and evolving identity.