Title: GAJENDRA
Genre: Picture Book
Word count: About 700 words
Logline: A timeless classic featuring Gaja who goes from being a lonely vagabond to a king, but finds the biggest challenge in the jaws of a crocodile.
Deep, deep in the dense green jungle far, far from humans lived Gaja. With long tusks, broad ears, powerful legs, and gentle eyes. Handsome!
But, for long as he recalled he had been wild, alone, and roaming the jungle. Usually, trampling saplings, pushing trees, breaking branches and sometimes pausing..
mid-stride, as if thinking, trying to recall a dream, perhaps a wish unfulfilled, a nameless feeling, of something lost, of being lonely.
Calling out, Gaja muffled it deep in earth. Could the feeling be buried away?
Gaja walked on until a herd crossed his path. He ran away from the male who rumbled, raced, chased, trumpeted, and challenged.
Would Gaja walk away?
Gaja answered with a deep rumble from his throat. A contest of trumpets, trashing trunks, clash of ivory, wrestling, and…
Victory!
Gaja, the elephant became Indra, the king.
Gaja-Indra! Gajendra!
The herd watched as Gajendra patted a calf, nodded at the ladies. He held trunk-touch to the youth and walked with them. Gentle and jovial, decided the ladies.
The herd plodded down the path Gaja treaded. Over the parched grasslands, into the cool, emerald canopied valleys, siphoning and squirting from the foaming rivers.
Soon it was the season of heat. And the season for dating, mating, and birth.
Celebrations!
New mates…New routes…New valleys…
Content ladies, mischievous calves, caring aunts and teasing teenagers all followed Gajendra through an ancient route.
Over the grassland, through the bamboo, across the forests, towards the large lake, Gaja led as if he knew.
This is so beautiful! I love the ancient legend feel it has to it - reminds me of some of the picture books I had growing up. I can tell it will be great for reading out loud.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed this. Great visuals! My favorite description of Gaja is "...powerful legs, and gentle eyes". I can see him leading the animals--sounds like an elephant I'd like to know! :)
ReplyDeleteI got a bit confused. " He ran away from the male" "Would Gaja walk away? " and then he doesn't run away or walk away.
ReplyDeleteGreat imagery though. I enjoyed it.