The elephant crown: Wodeyar kingship, hunting and the politics of preservation under British colonialism

This article examines the evolution of elephant preservation in Mysore and contends that following the Rendition of Mysore (1881), leveraged the colonial elephant preservation legislation to assert their kingship and sovereignty. Despite the end of the war elephant and the ensuing decrease in their importance to Indian kingship, it shows how elephants continued to remain integral to expressions of kingship in Mysore. Examining the close links between the state's much-celebrated khedda operations and elephant preservation policy, the article demonstrates how they facilitated the reinterpretation of traditional kingship practices within the region while showcasing collaborative British rule. Reviewing state policies on elephant hunting, it illustrates how the Elephant Preservation Act of 1874 allowed the maharaja to assert his sovereign authority. The article highlights the Wodeyars' dynamic adaptation of traditional practices to colonial challenges, illustrating complex interactions between colonialism, hunting, conservation and sovereignty in the context of elephant preservation.