I Owe My Life to the Very Elephant that Tried to Kill Me | Arjun Kamdar | TEDxHRCollege

[Music]

[Music] [Applause]

[Applause]

[Applause] imagine imagine yourself in the heart of

imagine imagine yourself in the heart of

imagine imagine yourself in the heart of a dense forest thick with undergrowth

a dense forest thick with undergrowth

a dense forest thick with undergrowth and tall soil trees shooting up into the

and tall soil trees shooting up into the

and tall soil trees shooting up into the sky a forest just like this you’re

sky a forest just like this you’re

sky a forest just like this you’re setting motion sensor camera traps in

setting motion sensor camera traps in

setting motion sensor camera traps in order to monitor Tigers and their

order to monitor Tigers and their

order to monitor Tigers and their behavior in the region when you hear the

behavior in the region when you hear the

behavior in the region when you hear the sweet melodic chirp of a fly catcher

sweet melodic chirp of a fly catcher

sweet melodic chirp of a fly catcher from the canopy above and you turn your

from the canopy above and you turn your

from the canopy above and you turn your head upwards in order to catch a glimpse

head upwards in order to catch a glimpse

head upwards in order to catch a glimpse of the bird when suddenly from the

of the bird when suddenly from the

of the bird when suddenly from the corner of your eye you see a large gray

corner of your eye you see a large gray

corner of your eye you see a large gray form rapidly advancing towards you I

raced blindly through the undergrowth my

raced blindly through the undergrowth my temples pounding heart thumping in my

temples pounding heart thumping in my

temples pounding heart thumping in my mouth I didn’t have to look back she let

mouth I didn’t have to look back she let

mouth I didn’t have to look back she let out a deep trumpet that reverberated

out a deep trumpet that reverberated

out a deep trumpet that reverberated through the forest floor making the

through the forest floor making the

through the forest floor making the ground under my feet quiver and quake

ground under my feet quiver and quake

ground under my feet quiver and quake like a thunderstorm I raced however

like a thunderstorm I raced however

like a thunderstorm I raced however within seconds she was upon me I threw

within seconds she was upon me I threw

within seconds she was upon me I threw my laptop back in an attempt to to decoy

my laptop back in an attempt to to decoy

my laptop back in an attempt to to decoy to confuse the elephant but she was a

to confuse the elephant but she was a

to confuse the elephant but she was a lot smarter than I anticipated

lot smarter than I anticipated

lot smarter than I anticipated then she rammed into me and with in an

then she rammed into me and with in an

then she rammed into me and with in an attempt to goad me and with a deft swing

attempt to goad me and with a deft swing

attempt to goad me and with a deft swing of a trunk I was propelled through the

of a trunk I was propelled through the

of a trunk I was propelled through the thorny thicket and landed belly down in

thorny thicket and landed belly down in

thorny thicket and landed belly down in the mud as she needed and grinded me

the mud as she needed and grinded me

the mud as she needed and grinded me into the ground I could hear the sounds

into the ground I could hear the sounds

into the ground I could hear the sounds of my bone snapping and getting crushed

of my bone snapping and getting crushed

of my bone snapping and getting crushed under her massive feet I couldn’t feel

under her massive feet I couldn’t feel

under her massive feet I couldn’t feel my arm in my leg and thought to myself

my arm in my leg and thought to myself

my arm in my leg and thought to myself that this is the textbook example of the

that this is the textbook example of the

that this is the textbook example of the paralysis that we were taught off that’s

paralysis that we were taught off that’s

paralysis that we were taught off that’s it

it

it this is it this is it man I thought to

this is it this is it man I thought to

this is it this is it man I thought to myself this is it it’s all over this is

myself this is it it’s all over this is

myself this is it it’s all over this is how I died

how I died

how I died of course I’d used other words then but

of course I’d used other words then but

of course I’d used other words then but I can’t reproduce them here

anyway so you know how all of us here we

anyway so you know how all of us here we dream of winning the lottery and then

dream of winning the lottery and then

dream of winning the lottery and then finally going up to your boss one day

finally going up to your boss one day

finally going up to your boss one day and telling him that’s it man I’ve quit

and telling him that’s it man I’ve quit

and telling him that’s it man I’ve quit I’m out no more well this accident was

I’m out no more well this accident was

I’m out no more well this accident was that it was that turning point in life

that it was that turning point in life

that it was that turning point in life for me that was a life inflection point

for me that was a life inflection point

for me that was a life inflection point as I spent those few months in bed

as I spent those few months in bed

as I spent those few months in bed recuperating which gave me a lot of time

recuperating which gave me a lot of time

recuperating which gave me a lot of time for introspection I realized that I had

for introspection I realized that I had

for introspection I realized that I had won my lottery I knew what I wanted to

won my lottery I knew what I wanted to

won my lottery I knew what I wanted to do in life and I also learned three

do in life and I also learned three

do in life and I also learned three things that I believe are very relevant

things that I believe are very relevant

things that I believe are very relevant to all of us here in the room today and

to all of us here in the room today and

to all of us here in the room today and I’ll share these three things with you

I’ll share these three things with you

I’ll share these three things with you the first is fear so fear is something

the first is fear so fear is something

the first is fear so fear is something that all of us are well-acquainted with

that all of us are well-acquainted with

that all of us are well-acquainted with right it is that part of our body’s

right it is that part of our body’s

right it is that part of our body’s defense mechanism that has its roots in

defense mechanism that has its roots in

defense mechanism that has its roots in our evolutionary past the

our evolutionary past the

our evolutionary past the hunter-gatherer that fled the fastest at

hunter-gatherer that fled the fastest at

hunter-gatherer that fled the fastest at the sound of leaves rustling lived to

the sound of leaves rustling lived to

the sound of leaves rustling lived to tell the tale but the one that stopped

tell the tale but the one that stopped

tell the tale but the one that stopped to ask the question why or analyze the

to ask the question why or analyze the

to ask the question why or analyze the situation logically ended up dead in the

situation logically ended up dead in the

situation logically ended up dead in the jaws of a predator however in today’s

jaws of a predator however in today’s

jaws of a predator however in today’s times no more are these super fast

times no more are these super fast

times no more are these super fast reflexes the sole key to survival rather

reflexes the sole key to survival rather

reflexes the sole key to survival rather the calm questioning thought process and

the calm questioning thought process and

the calm questioning thought process and the logical flow of reason proved to be

the logical flow of reason proved to be

the logical flow of reason proved to be the cutting edge and when we let fear

the cutting edge and when we let fear

the cutting edge and when we let fear this very natural emotion get the better

this very natural emotion get the better

this very natural emotion get the better of us we actually end up losing control

of us we actually end up losing control

of us we actually end up losing control over a being over the situation because

over a being over the situation because

over a being over the situation because then we end up focusing not on the what

then we end up focusing not on the what

then we end up focusing not on the what is but rather on the what-ifs not on the

is but rather on the what-ifs not on the

is but rather on the what-ifs not on the task before us but on the consequences

task before us but on the consequences

task before us but on the consequences of it not getting done in the wild we

of it not getting done in the wild we

of it not getting done in the wild we have this phrase that encapsulate this

have this phrase that encapsulate this

have this phrase that encapsulate this perfectly I think it says it’s better to

perfectly I think it says it’s better to

perfectly I think it says it’s better to make the wrong decision than to make no

make the wrong decision than to make no

make the wrong decision than to make no decision at all because even a wrong

decision at all because even a wrong

decision at all because even a wrong decision will provide you with the

decision will provide you with the

decision will provide you with the information of way of laws lay and what

information of way of laws lay and what

information of way of laws lay and what the right path could be whereas no

the right path could be whereas no

the right path could be whereas no decision will leave you stagnated and no

decision will leave you stagnated and no

decision will leave you stagnated and no less ignorant

less ignorant

less ignorant and of course if you’re on a chicken

and of course if you’re on a chicken

and of course if you’re on a chicken you’re meant to the sandwich right so

you’re meant to the sandwich right so

you’re meant to the sandwich right so being nervous is a critical waste of

being nervous is a critical waste of

being nervous is a critical waste of energy especially in these trying times

energy especially in these trying times

energy especially in these trying times what you ought to do is channelize your

what you ought to do is channelize your

what you ought to do is channelize your energy

energy

energy we’re on what can be done or not and not

we’re on what can be done or not and not

we’re on what can be done or not and not on what could have been done right so so

on what could have been done right so so

on what could have been done right so so however as I was taken to the hospital

however as I was taken to the hospital

however as I was taken to the hospital when the doctors were fixing up all my

when the doctors were fixing up all my

when the doctors were fixing up all my spare parts they couldn’t believe how

spare parts they couldn’t believe how

spare parts they couldn’t believe how narrowly I had escaped I was less than

narrowly I had escaped I was less than

narrowly I had escaped I was less than two centimeters away from certain death

two centimeters away from certain death

two centimeters away from certain death or paralysis I had missed my spinal cord

or paralysis I had missed my spinal cord

or paralysis I had missed my spinal cord by a few centimeters less than two and

by a few centimeters less than two and

by a few centimeters less than two and coming so close to death has changed its

coming so close to death has changed its

coming so close to death has changed its perception in my mind I do not it’s not

perception in my mind I do not it’s not

perception in my mind I do not it’s not as daunting as before the fragility and

as daunting as before the fragility and

as daunting as before the fragility and impermanence of our lives is visible all

impermanence of our lives is visible all

impermanence of our lives is visible all around and how abysmally small an amount

around and how abysmally small an amount

around and how abysmally small an amount of control do we actually have on our

of control do we actually have on our

of control do we actually have on our existence so it brings me to what else I

existence so it brings me to what else I

existence so it brings me to what else I want to talk about if the truth of life

want to talk about if the truth of life

want to talk about if the truth of life is that an elephant can strike anytime

is that an elephant can strike anytime

is that an elephant can strike anytime and we have no control over when this

and we have no control over when this

and we have no control over when this elephant can strike but what we do need

elephant can strike but what we do need

elephant can strike but what we do need to note is we must recognize this

to note is we must recognize this

to note is we must recognize this elephant it is not a pink cute cuddly

elephant it is not a pink cute cuddly

elephant it is not a pink cute cuddly one but a huge 5000 kilo heavy large one

one but a huge 5000 kilo heavy large one

one but a huge 5000 kilo heavy large one rippling with muscle that is all out to

rippling with muscle that is all out to

rippling with muscle that is all out to kill you and if it does succeed what

kill you and if it does succeed what

kill you and if it does succeed what will you miss the most before me as I

will you miss the most before me as I

will you miss the most before me as I spent all the time you know figuring out

spent all the time you know figuring out

spent all the time you know figuring out whether I’ll ever be back on my feet

whether I’ll ever be back on my feet

whether I’ll ever be back on my feet again I realized another thing how how

again I realized another thing how how

again I realized another thing how how fleeting and ephemeral our life on this

fleeting and ephemeral our life on this

fleeting and ephemeral our life on this planet is how how we must do if we have

planet is how how we must do if we have

planet is how how we must do if we have to do anything in our life if you want

to do anything in our life if you want

to do anything in our life if you want to do anything in your life it has to be

to do anything in your life it has to be

to do anything in your life it has to be now right

so the unpredictability of of death the

so the unpredictability of of death the it’s it’s unpredictable that’s one thing

it’s it’s unpredictable that’s one thing

it’s it’s unpredictable that’s one thing that we all know the strike of death is

that we all know the strike of death is

that we all know the strike of death is unpredictability and this in

unpredictability and this in

unpredictability and this in discriminatory in its nature

discriminatory in its nature

discriminatory in its nature from you can see this throughout history

from you can see this throughout history

from you can see this throughout history look at the people who seem to have had

look at the people who seem to have had

look at the people who seem to have had it all in life from John Lennon to Todai

it all in life from John Lennon to Todai

it all in life from John Lennon to Todai and come in everyone for who can tell me

and come in everyone for who can tell me

and come in everyone for who can tell me with any amount of certainty that they

with any amount of certainty that they

with any amount of certainty that they will live tomorrow it’s not happening in

will live tomorrow it’s not happening in

will live tomorrow it’s not happening in fact just this morning I was on my way

fact just this morning I was on my way

fact just this morning I was on my way here and I picked up the newspaper and

here and I picked up the newspaper and

here and I picked up the newspaper and this was the headline can n can I think

this was the headline can n can I think

this was the headline can n can I think this epitomizes it perfectly now I share

this epitomizes it perfectly now I share

this epitomizes it perfectly now I share this story here with you today

this story here with you today

this story here with you today because I feel that all of us in our

because I feel that all of us in our

because I feel that all of us in our lives have such an elephant the death of

lives have such an elephant the death of

lives have such an elephant the death of a loved one failed businesses

a loved one failed businesses

a loved one failed businesses relationships school exam and so on the

relationships school exam and so on the

relationships school exam and so on the list is endless and there will always be

list is endless and there will always be

list is endless and there will always be these factors that are beyond your realm

these factors that are beyond your realm

these factors that are beyond your realm of control and they will continue to be

of control and they will continue to be

of control and they will continue to be but one thing that is and always will be

but one thing that is and always will be

but one thing that is and always will be in your control and not in the hands of

in your control and not in the hands of

in your control and not in the hands of feet of an F of an elephant is how you

feet of an F of an elephant is how you

feet of an F of an elephant is how you is what you make of it right so I urge

is what you make of it right so I urge

is what you make of it right so I urge you all find your elephant because I

you all find your elephant because I

you all find your elephant because I don’t think that anyone requires an

don’t think that anyone requires an

don’t think that anyone requires an elephant to kick meaning into their

elephant to kick meaning into their

elephant to kick meaning into their lives although I won’t deny it it does

lives although I won’t deny it it does

lives although I won’t deny it it does help a little bit right so I’m always a

help a little bit right so I’m always a

help a little bit right so I’m always a little apprehensive about speaking about

little apprehensive about speaking about

little apprehensive about speaking about this accident because I believe that it

this accident because I believe that it

this accident because I believe that it perpetuates the incorrect notion about

perpetuates the incorrect notion about

perpetuates the incorrect notion about the wild that it’s an unsafe place with

the wild that it’s an unsafe place with

the wild that it’s an unsafe place with all these wild animals all out to get

all these wild animals all out to get

all these wild animals all out to get you you know in each tree hides a

you you know in each tree hides a

you you know in each tree hides a leopard waiting to pounce on you

leopard waiting to pounce on you

leopard waiting to pounce on you behind each boulder is an elephant

behind each boulder is an elephant

behind each boulder is an elephant waiting to maul you

waiting to maul you

waiting to maul you in each shrub is a perfectly camouflaged

in each shrub is a perfectly camouflaged

in each shrub is a perfectly camouflaged pit viper waiting to strike at you and

pit viper waiting to strike at you and

pit viper waiting to strike at you and all of this is absolutely untrue nothing

all of this is absolutely untrue nothing

all of this is absolutely untrue nothing could be further from the truth yes of

could be further from the truth yes of

could be further from the truth yes of course one must be aware about the

course one must be aware about the

course one must be aware about the potential dangers just as much as one

potential dangers just as much as one

potential dangers just as much as one would

would

would B while crossing the road outside for

B while crossing the road outside for

B while crossing the road outside for who can guarantee me with any amount of

who can guarantee me with any amount of

who can guarantee me with any amount of certainty that I am NOT going to get run

certainty that I am NOT going to get run

certainty that I am NOT going to get run over by a celebrity or his driver well

over by a celebrity or his driver well

over by a celebrity or his driver well huh when I cross the road outside here

huh when I cross the road outside here

huh when I cross the road outside here so now as I make my way back to the

so now as I make my way back to the

so now as I make my way back to the forest to pick up to continue where I

forest to pick up to continue where I

forest to pick up to continue where I left off I’m often asked this question

left off I’m often asked this question

left off I’m often asked this question I’m often asked these two questions

I’m often asked these two questions

I’m often asked these two questions actually by my friends family colleagues

actually by my friends family colleagues

actually by my friends family colleagues no the first one is how are you still

no the first one is how are you still

no the first one is how are you still alive man and the other one is are you

alive man and the other one is are you

alive man and the other one is are you not afraid of going back and to both I

not afraid of going back and to both I

not afraid of going back and to both I can answer only with these three

can answer only with these three

can answer only with these three sanskrit words told to me by a noble

sanskrit words told to me by a noble

sanskrit words told to me by a noble forest guard in Pella beat tiger reserve

forest guard in Pella beat tiger reserve

forest guard in Pella beat tiger reserve it says prakruti rukhsati rakshata

it says prakruti rukhsati rakshata

it says prakruti rukhsati rakshata nature protects those who protect her

nature protects those who protect her

nature protects those who protect her and i now leave you with the one word

and i now leave you with the one word

and i now leave you with the one word that i began this talk with imagine