Balarama's Story
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A project of the
Clic Abroad Foundation 
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Follow the tale of Balarama in this captivating narration,
learn about the secret lives of elephants in the forest and why elephants matter to mankind!!! Elephants have long been a part of world culture, religion and the natural environment. Elephants are a "mammoth" presence in India's mythology, and folklore. The divinity in elephants is worshiped in the form of the elephant-headed god, Ganesha. However, it is also true that this gentle giant is now an endangered animal. "Balarama's Story" is the biography of an elephant that was uprooted from its natural home in the forest to later attain iconic status as a "royal elephant" in Dasara festival of the once Royal Mysore in India. |
CLIC Abroad Foundation is delighted to announce that more than 3000 copies of the award-winning book Balarama's Story: An Elephant's Journey in both English and Kannada are donated to school libraries in rural India.
Skipping Stones Honors Award
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Award Winning
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Balarama's Story: An Elephant's Journey has been named a Finalist in the 2019 Next Generation Indie Book Awards (NGIBA).
In addition to the Balarama's Story book, an exclusive coloring book is available for children under the age of 6.
"Dealing thoughtfully with the tensions between modern conservation needs and celebrations of heritage, this illustrated children's book tells the story of a young elephant captured in the forest and trained for an annual festival.
Based on a true story, this tale offers some charming and colorful details, particularly of Balarama’s early life, and it demonstrates the elephant’s importance in India’s mythology, folklore, and culture". |
Book Available for Purchase
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Coloring Book and Postcard Set for Sale HERE!
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Ballet on Balarama-
A visual treat, based on Balarama's Story
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Based on the true story of Balarama from the book, Dr. Veena Murthy Vijay, noted dancer and Kuchipudi exponent choreographed a fifty minute ballet involving over 45 talented artists. The performance is a musical and visual treat for the audience to get a greater appreciation for Balarama's role as pattada (Ambari) ane (elephant) as well as the people's favorite elephant.
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Mysuru Royal family is worshiping Goddess Chamundeshwari and Elephants from time immemorial. The family has been playing a significant role in conservation of forests, elephants and wild animals. This book depicts the journey of elephant Balarama from forests to the human habitat. It explains about the relationship between humans and elephants to young readers. Balarama is also described as the symbol of spiritual energy that carries the idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari placed inside the Golden Howdah on its caparisoned back.
The authors have likened Balarama to Gajendra, the mythological elephant which prays to Lord Vishnu when it was caught by a crocodile. The book also provides information about Balarama’s Mahout Sannappa who piloted him for many years. |
If You Love Elephants, You'll love this book! Delightful Illustrations, Easy Reading
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Fun for the whole family.
This charming book with its delightful illustrations sits in a prominent position on my coffee table. Visiting friends, adults and children, page through it with pleasure. They want to know the story. I tell them to read the book. It’s fast and fun. Elephants are iconic for kids, conservation and planetary health. They inspire all of us – what better educational tool for youth than this wonderful story. Bhaskar Krishnamurthy is a global expert on elephants plus a great storyteller. "Balarama's Story" is a beautifully written and illustrated book by a man who loves elephants. This is a complex story about the relationship of elephant and man, yet Bhaskar turns it into one that is both easy to understand and true. |
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Balarama's Story - News
Media | Reviews | Book Signing | News
Release of Kannada translation in Mysore
Balarama’s story will be released at the beginning of the world famous Dasara this evening by the Chief Minister of the State. An incredible honor to be in the front of this majestic palace. Congratulations to Alladi Jayasri Yathish Siddakatte and CLIC Abroad. Katherine Cleland #mysoredasara #palace #dasara2018 Ravi Sinha Tom Grant
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Silver AwardThe author has done an amazing job of presenting the story of Balarama by expressing the innocence of our wildlife and their continued adjustment to the imbalance created by us humans. Balarama had a happy life amongst his own kin, however the influence of humans took away Balarama's familiarities. With some effort and luck Balarama had to re-create a new sub-optimal life in the world of humans. I would highly recommend this story for children to understand the complexities that exist in today's world around issues of immigration, human-animal conflict, embracing indifference and so on. It leaves you wondering that with all the empathy we humans offer are our actions justified? Did the human actors really re-establish nature's equilibrium for Balarama at the end of this very thought-provoking story?
Samdev, Parent, Minneopolis |
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Our Work: Elephants in Our Lives- Elephants in the Coffee
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Elephants and Humans in Conflict
Elephants were once revered as the living god Ganesha. Now they are called the “elephant menace.” Blame the growth of agriculture, particularly coffee. 'Elephants in the Coffee' shows how growth of coffee plantations
in Southern India led to deadly conflicts between humans and elephants. Now those conflicts are forcing the world’s largest land mammal into the world’s largest cages. |
