Why did Israeli writer pen a book on Kerala elephant for her grandson?

Malappuram: “Nadav, in Kerala an elephant is called ‘Aana’. Have you seen its trunk? It is like a long, thick pipe, so powerful! Is this in the picture a flag or a cloth? It is neither; it is the ear of an elephant,” said an Israeli grandmother, describing the giant creature to her three-year-old grandson, who had never seen one in real life.

Moreover, she wrote a book about an elephant, “An Adventure with Unnikannan, the Wondrous Elephant”, written especially for her grandson Nadav.

Melila Hellner Eshed, is a well-known writer and human rights activist from Israel. She was inspired to write the book after seeing the elephant Unnikannan during the Vishwambhara temple festival at Kottakkal last year. She was deeply moved by Unnikannan. That experience made her want to explain elephants to her grandson in a way he could imagine and understand.

The book, now also translated into English, narrates the traits and special features of elephants in a simple, engaging style that children can follow easily. Interestingly, it also includes a photograph taken 25 years ago when her daughter Halleli, Nadav’s mother, was just a child, standing beside a baby elephant during a trip to Kerala. She also expresses a wish to explore India and Kerala together. The caricatures of the elephant in the book were drawn by Melila’s husband.

The book also portrays the beauty, skin tones, and charm of children in Kerala, helping little Nadav visualise them.

At the age of 24, Melila came to Ahmedabad to learn Indian classical dance at ‘Darpana Academy’, where she trained under renowned dancer Kottakkal Sasidharan. That bond continued over the years, and she has visited India more than 35 times, often making her way back to Kerala.

Melila, a prolific writer, also has deep knowledge about Indian culture, mythology, and the arts.