Elephant and The Toad

Upendrakishore Ray Chowdhury (1863-1915) was a renowned Bengali writer, entrepreneur and leading light of the Bengali Renaissance. He is perhaps best known for the verses he wrote for children in Tuntuni's Boi, his translation of the Hindu epics Ramayana and Mahabharata and the stories from Hindu mythology he presented in "Puraner Golpo".This iconic black-and-white illustration is from Tuntunir Boi (The Tailor-bird’s Book), first published in 1911. It specifically illustrates the story "Hati o Bang-er Galpo" (The Elephant and the Toad). This artwork is a masterclass in visual irony and contrast, a hallmark of Upendrakishore’s pioneering block-making style. The massive, heavily textured elephant; symbolizing brute force and arrogance; is physically looming over the frame. Yet, its expression and curled trunk suggest confusion or irritation. A tiny Tuntuni bird who is the narrator and also a witness, perches confidently on the elephant’s tusk, while a toad sits defiantly on the ground. Their placement at the extremities of the elephant's massive form highlights the theme that the "small" can penetrate the defenses of the "great." It represents the classic Bengali folk motif where wit and intelligence (represented by the small creatures) invariably triumph over size and power (the elephant). In this story, the toad humbles the arrogant elephant by reciting a boastful, nonsensical rhyme to make himself seem terrifyingly powerful. The original Bengali verse goes: "Baper hate boro ghora, Tar upore bohir ghora, Tor moto koto hati, Chibiye kheyechi bati." Paraphrase in English: "My ancestors were so mighty they rode great steeds with grand saddles. Compared to them, even a massive elephant like you is nothing but a small snack to be chewed and swallowed whole!". This poem is meant to be a humorous and absurd "bluff" that the tiny toad uses to scare the elephant, ultimately leading the giant animal to flee in terror from a creature it once mocked.