New Delhi: The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) is launching Gaja-Lok: Elephant Lands and their Cultural Symbolism in Asia, a new initiative that explores the shared cultural, historical and ecological links surrounding the Asian elephant across countries in the region. Designed as a transnational culture-nature programme, Gaja-Lok aims to document how elephants have shaped narratives of heritage and resilience across Asia.
The Gaja-Lok Exhibition and Roundtable bring together academicians, cultural practitioners and conservation experts to begin a multi-country conversation that positions the Asian elephant as both a cultural icon and a symbol of ecological continuity. The exhibition features six thematic panels tracing the long human-elephant relationship, from prehistoric representations and ancient travel routes to shifts in artistic imagery and sacred traditions. It also highlights contemporary approaches, including Kerala’s robotic temple elephants, prompting visitors to reflect on heritage, compassion and imaginative pathways for coexistence today.
Project Gaja-Lok and its exhibition will be inaugurated by Vivek Agarwal, Secretary, Ministry of Culture, in the presence of Ashok Jairaj Singh, Chairman, INTACH, Ravindra Singh, Member Secretary, INTACH, Nerupama Y. Modwel, Principal Director, Intangible Cultural Heritage Division, INTACH, Manu Bhatnagar, Principal Director, Natural Heritage Division, INTACH, along with INTACH officials and invited guests.
The Gaja-Lok Roundtable brings together leading scholars and conservationists, including Prof. Raman Sukumar from the Indian Institute of Science, Vivek Menon of the IUCN Species Survival Commission and Wildlife Trust of India, Dr. Vinod Mathur, former Chairperson of the National Biodiversity Authority, Dr. Khalid Pasha of IUCN Asia, Ravi Singh of WWF-India, Dr. Sashi Bala of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Sujatha Shankar of INTACH Chennai, Dr. Nanditha Krishna of the C.P. Ramaswami Aiyar Foundation, Prof. Archana Shastri, Dr. N.V.K. Ashraf, Dr. Arun Venkataraman, Prof. Mahesh Rangarajan, Ina Puri, Prof. Ali Anooshahr and Dr. Suman Jain.
These sessions will examine historical, cultural, ecological and conservation-focused perspectives on the Asian elephant. The insights generated will shape the Gaja-Lok Dossier, a multidisciplinary compilation intended to support wider recognition of elephant-related heritage across national boundaries.
More than a cultural initiative, Gaja-Lok seeks to highlight the longstanding bond between humans and elephants. By linking art, environment, scholarship and international collaboration, INTACH aims to strengthen regional cooperation and inspire collective action for conservation and cultural heritage.
BI Bureau
