THRISSUR: The anakotta (elephant yard) of Guruvayur devaswom where the annual ‘sughachikitsa’(rejuvenation therapy) for the elephants belonging to the devaswom is set to begin on July 1, will be in focus for a special reason this time.
For the first time in the 47-year-old history of the facility, a woman has been appointed as the manager of the facility and she will be supervising the sughachikitsa this year. The devaswom appointed Laiju Mol, a Guruvayur resident, as the manager of anakotta recently.
She along with deputy administrator Pramod will be supervising the sughachikitsa for the 44 elephants at anakotta. For Laiju Mol, there is nothing unfamiliar about elephants and the anakotta. Her father late Raveendran Nair, father-in-law Sankaranaraynan and husband Prasad were all mahouts with the devaswom.
In fact, her father had met with a tragic death when a vehicle hit him as he was accompanying an elephant as mahout on near Thaikkad in 1996.
Interestingly, the devaswom had decided to transfer another woman staff to this post initially. But she declined saying women are not generally posted at anakotta. There were objection from some other quarters also against the posting of a woman there.
However, Laiju Mol, a devaswom staff, readily agreed to take up the assignment when it came her way. “We think such posts should not remain inaccessible to women any more,” said devaswom chairman Prof V K Vijayan. “I had been coming to the anakotta right from my childhood days along with my father. And most of the staff here treat me as their daughter or sister. I’m sure they all will help to carry out my duties effectively,” Laiju Mol said.
There are about 116 mahouts with Guruvayur devaswom. Veterinarians have also been posted to ensure good health of the elephants. Laiju Mol will have to perform largely an administrative role. Asked about the allegations that many of the mahouts are liquor addicts and ill-treat elephants, Laiju Mol said, “In fact, only very few mahouts belong to this category, and during my tenure I will strive to transform them too.”
