Ganesha, the elephant-headed god in the Hindu pantheon, is revered as the removal of obstacles, but in many Ganesha temples in India, particularly in the state of Kerala, birthplace of Sangita Iyer, live elephants are held, shackled as prisoners. In other instances, elephants are kept by entertainment entrepreneurs to perform in numerous festivals. To Iyer, this is enslavement of beings who really are godlike in their majesty, patience, and intelligence.
Listen in to hear how “elephant people” inspired this former TV news reporter to found Voice for Asian Elephants Society, make the award-winning documentary, Gods in Shackles, and write the book Gods in Shackles, a recent number 1 bestseller on Amazon. You’ll also learn what elephants are doing to stem climate change, and why the World Bank says that every elephant is worth $1.75 million for their role in carbon sequestration.
About the Guest
SANGITA IYER is the founder of Voice for Asian Elephants Society whose mission is to protect endangered Asian elephants and foster peaceful coexistence. She is also the author of the 2022 Amazon #1 bestseller Gods in Shackles: What Elephants Can Teach Us About Empathy, Resilience, and Freedom and the globally acclaimed and multi-award-winning film Gods in Shackles.
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