The title is not an oxymoron. It is a story of an elephant who spent his life chained to a temple tree.
As a child, 'Deceived', the elephant was chained and brought to the temple as the sacred elephant. All his childish playfullness disappeared as he spent days and weeks of his life chained to a temple tree. However hard the young elephant tried, he couldn't free himself from the strong chains bound to the strong temple tree. As the elephant grew older, he got used to the devotees of the temple, temple food, and the chain tied to his legs. He no longer tried to break the chains, as he knew they wouldn't give in.
When I visited the temple, the elephant was 7 years old. The chain still remained, but, was tied only on one end - his legs. The other end was left free! If 'Deceived' wished, he could, in his youthful vigour, break the chains and free himself even if they were tied to the tree. However, the memories of the childhood remained with him - he was chained strongly to the tree in his mind, though he was free in real! And he died chained.
- Aravindh
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