With Dodda beside him, Arjuna got back his confidence

MYSURU: It was a relationship very few understood but one that was cherished and nurtured with love and patience. On Thursday, howdah elephant Arjuna lost his mahout, Dodda Masti.
A Jenu Kuruba, Dodda Masti was Arjuna's mahout for seven years and helped the tusker make the cut as the howdah elephant in the 2012 edition of Dasara. The mahout died at Balle elephant camp in Nagarahole tiger reserve.
After Arjuna accidentally killed a mahout, he was taken off howdah duty.
Dasara officials then handed over the stressful job to Balarama. But it was Dodda Masti's confidence in Arjuna that made officials reconsider the elephant for the job again in 2012. The tusker had his redemption and so did the mahout. Dodda Masti took care of Arjuna like a member of his family.
Though he had retired in 2014, he shouldered the responsibility in the 2015 edition as foresters wanted Dodda to tame the tusker known for his temper. He fell ill in November 2015 and was operated upon.
He was suffering from lung cancer and brain tumour, Nagaragole Tiger Reserve vet Dr K S Umashankar stated. The end came at 6am, he added.
Nagarahole director S Manikandan and other officials including vet D N Nagaraj visited the tribal hamlet and paid their respects.
Arjuna is now being taken care of by Dodda Masti's son, Mahesh.