I am holding my photograph of Ram Prakash Singh and his beloved elephant Shyama – taken in 1990. Ram Prakash Singh was the ringmaster of « The Great Golden Circus » – The photograph was done in Ahmedabad India – This was part of my Indian Circus Project – I love India and I love the circus so photographing eighteen circuses all around India was an incredible experience – Unfortunately Shyama died a few months after this photograph was taken – Supposedly he succumbed to a poisoned chapatti – Ram Prakash Singh was heartbroken – me also. – Mary Ellen Mark