India’s history of elephant diplomacy [OLD – 1 March 2019]

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1. SS: Historian Nikhil Menon details how postcolonial India, under PM Jawaharlal Nehru, used “elephant diplomacy”, to foster international goodwill and strengthen its image during the Cold War era. In the 1950s, India gifted baby elephants to countries such as Japan, Canada, and the Netherlands, often prompted by whimsical requests from children that gained public attention and favourable press. This practice, aimed at portraying India as generous and friendly while seeking global aid and maintaining non-alignment, was sometimes complicated by unauthorised promises made by Indian citizens abroad. High-profile cases included the arrival of Murugan in Amsterdam in 1954 and Ambika in Canada in 1955, both calves welcomed with great enthusiasm. The practice ended with a 2005 ban on gifting animals across borders, but during Nehru’s tenure, it effectively underscored India’s diplomatic outreach and image-building as a young nation.

   My thoughts/non-thoughts: Nehru’s elephant diplomacy showcased how animals served as ambassadors of peace, reflecting a practice deeply rooted in ancient Indian statecraft, as discussed by Kautilya in the Arthashastra, where hostages and symbolic exchanges were tools of foreign policy. Elephants like Ambika and Murugan, sent to Canada and the Netherlands, represented India’s postcolonial spirit of generosity and desire to foster friendly relations. It is poignant that Canada, an early recipient of this gesture, now finds its relations with India strained amid the Khalistani separatism issue and allegations of Indian interference and targeted actions on Canadian soil. This diplomatic discord stands in sharp contrast to the goodwill gestures of the past, highlighting how geopolitical tides can shift.

   The modern parallel lies in China’s use of panda diplomacy, where pandas symbolise cooperation and strategic leverage. While India gifted an elephant to China (as Menon notes), it seems like it has never received a panda in return – perhaps a telling sign of the asymmetry in their relations. It sparks the thought: would India’s current foreign policy architects like Modi, Jaishankar and Doval envision [returning with pandas in tow](https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/disengagement-opens-possibility-for-other-steps-jaishankar-on-india-china-ties-101730640060703.html) as a contemporary emblem of renewed, balance engagement?

   In other news, India’s [upcoming transfer of tigers](https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/tigers-set-for-return-to-kingdom-s-forests-in-biodiversity-coup) to Cambodia this month is a unique and significant gesture of trust, marking the only exception to the 2005 ban on cross-border animal gifts (please correct me if I am wrong). This commitment highlights an aspiration towards a deeper bilateral relationship with a country that shares civilisational links with India. Since the ban was put in place to curb wildlife exploitation, this tiger reintroduction project stands out as a testament to India’s confidence in Cambodia’s dedication to ecological restoration and sustainable wildlife management. It also signals a modern evolution of animal diplomacy, prioritising collaborative conservation while fostering strategic ties.

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