Drona--Balarama's predecessor

Stuffed Skull of Elephant Drona
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Drona was one the Lead Dasara Elephants of the Famous Jamboo Savari of Mysore Dasara. He preceded Balarama in carrying the Golden Howdah.

Drona was named after Dronacharya, the great guru of Mahabharata. In the epic, Dronacharya is a priest, but he was so mature and intelligent that he taught warfare for a livelihood. The elephant Drona was named so because of his amazing ability to learn and correct himself.

Drona was captured in a khedda operation in the Kakanakote forest area of H.D. Kote taluk in 1971, Drona was used for a brief period in Shimoga to carry timber. Doddappaji was Drona's Mahout. Doddappaji's association with Drona began from the day it was captured, as his father, Chennakeshavaiah, was in charge of taming it. Having grown up together, he understood the animal better than anyone else.

Drona was first introduced to dasara festivities in 1982 and since then he has set a record for carrying the Golden Howdah for more than a decade consecutively. A handsome creature of massive proportions with tusks that glistened like perfectly shaped swords just unsheathed from their scabbards, he was the cynosure of a million eyes every time he walked, with an imperial gait, at the end of the 2 km long procession on the auspicious Vijayadashami day.

One day in 1998 Drona went grazing in a village of Balle and pulled down a trunk of a tree to eat the leaves. The falling trunk also brought down a high-tension power cable and instantly electrocuted the celebrated bull. Drona was mourned in the Karnataka state just like any other celebrity.

The Mahout Doddappaji, who once handled Drona, has refused to take part in the Dasara festivities since Drona was tragically electrocuted. A third generation mahout and an expert in taming wild elephants, Doddappaji is haunted by memories of Drona. After the death of Drona , he has requested senior officials not to ask him to participate in the "Jamboo Savari." The mahout says he has not come across another elephant that matches the size and strength of Drona, whom people adored for his gentle behaviour.

Drona trivia:

* Drona attained celebrity status in Karnataka for its majestic gait, grace and timid behavior.

* The elephant was very sensitive, he just wouldn’t relish the idea of anybody other than his mahout sitting atop him. Drona would shrug and shake his back, if any of us ‘lesser mortals’ tried hitching a ride.

* Drona had amazing ability to learn and correct himself. When the Golden Howdah shifted left or right during the procession, Drona could move his muscles selectively and stabilize the weight. His trainers were very surprised because they had not trained Drona in this skill.

* Drona also practiced energy conservation techniques, he would walk slow early in the procession to conserve energy.

* Drona had rigid eating habits, he was very particular about his diet, and always ate in solitude.

* Drona's Mahout did not wear slippers while mounting the animal as it was considered sacred.

* Drona had a perfect curve on its back to carry the 800 KG Golden Howdah.