Thechikottukavu Ramachandran

Thechikkottukavu Ramachandran (born c. 1964) is an elephant owned by Thechikottukavu devasom, a temple in Kerala.[1] Commonly known as simply Raman, he is the tallest living captive elephant in Asia , standing at 321.5 cm. [2] they have also given Ramachandran the title Ekachatradhipathi (transl. The Only Emperor).[3]

Thechikottukavu Ramachandran
SpeciesElephas maximus (Asian elephant)
SexMale
Bornc. 1964
Bihar, India
Nation fromIndia
Years active1984–present
Known forThrissur Pooram, other Poorams
OwnerThechikkottukavu Devasom, Kerala, India
Height321 cm (10 ft 6+1⁄2 in)
Named afterRaman

The partly blind elephant plays a key role in several Pooram festivals; in 2018, 50,000 spectators gathered to watch Ramachandran kickstart Thrissur Pooram at Thrissur’s Vadakkumnathan temple.[4] However, he has been banned from public display on multiple occasions.[5][6][7]

Incidents

Due to Ramachandran's popularity, temples in Kerala have wanted Raman to carry God’s idol during temple festivals to attract a crowd. He has previously been banned by the authorities for causing the death of spectators. Subsequently, the ban was lifted and Raman was allowed to continue participating in festivals.

People close to Raman have claimed that the elephant is innocent in the majority of cases, claiming that the elephant has never killed people intentionally, but rather accidentally. Both Raman and his mahouts are subjected to criticism and harassment by the media and other elephant owners. However, Raman remains a widely loved and celebrated elephant in Kerala.

An attempt was made to kill Ramachandran by mixing blades in its feed.[8]

Role in Thrissur Pooram

Thrissur Pooram is the largest Pooram festival. Since 2011, Ramchandran has performed the Poora Vilambaram, when the elephant pushes open the south entrance gate of the Vadakkunnathan Temple, marking the beginning of Thrissur Pooram. After a 2019 incident in which Ramachandran trampled two people to death, the animal was banned from being paraded at temple festivals after a panel of medical experts deemed it medically unfit. The elephant was given conditional permission to participate in Thrissur Pooram on May 11, after a team of three veterinarians had the elephant pass a fitness test and conducted a medical examination of the tusker.[9]

See also

References
  1. "Gajakesari Thechikkottukavu Ramachandran". elephant-kerala.com. Archived from the original on July 10, 2011.
  2. Balakrishnan, Reghu (2014-03-09). "Jumbo-size growth in this economy". Business Standard India. Retrieved 2021-01-08.
  3. "Kerala's star elephants are a 'jumbo' hit on the internet - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
  4. "Kerala's celebrity elephant: Meet Ramachandran, who kickstarted Thrissur Pooram". The Times of India. Retrieved 2018-04-24.
  5. "ഇടത്കണ്ണിന് പൂർണ്ണമായും വലത് കണ്ണിന് ഭാഗികമായും കാഴ്ച ശക്തിയുള്ള,4 ആനകളെ കുത്തിയിട്ടുള്ള, 7 മനുഷ്യജീവനെടുത്ത, അസ്സമുകാരനായ രാമചന്ദ്രൻ.(4 ആനകളെ കുത്തിയത് ആനക്ക് മടപ്പാട് ഉണ്ടാകുന്നതിന് മുമ്പ് ആണ്.ഇതിനെ ഇടക്കോൾ എന്നു വിളിക്കുന്നു". Mathrubhumi.
  6. "Ban on celebrity jumbo threatens to take sheen out of Thrissur Pooram". Hindustan Times. May 8, 2019.
  7. "Kerala's celebrity elephant: Meet Ramachandran, who kickstarted Thrissur Pooram". The News Minute. 2018-04-24. Retrieved 2021-01-08.
  8. https://englisharchives.mathrubhumi.com/amp/news/kerala/thechikottukavu-ramachandran-s-mahout-shibu-ends-life-1.470816
  9. Balan, Saritha S (May 11, 2019). "Celebrity elephant Ramachandran likely to be paraded for Vilambaram ritual in Pooram". www.thenewsminute.com.
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