23. Glimpses of India's Deep Natural History

Did you know that ostriches originated in India, and co-existed with the first humans in the subcontinent? Or that early ancestors of whales and dolphins lived in the present-day Kutch and the Himalayas? Did you know that the granite countertop in your kitchen is likely two billion years old?  Pranay Lal returns to BIC Talks and regales host Pavan Srinath with numerous stories from India and the World's deep past, with geological tales of wonder that are as old as the Earth, to stories of microscopic life that changed the world as we know it, to stories of elephants of rhinoceroses competing in the Indian subcontinent. Pranay takes listeners on a journey through the wonders of the natural world and makes a compelling case for how natural history appreciation can deepen our thinking on climate change, environmental conservation, and more.  Pranay Lal is a biochemist and an artist, who works on public health and the environment. He is the author of Indica, A Deep Natural History of the Indian Subcontinent. He was previously on Episode 19 of BIC Talks, 'Virus Rhapsody', where he shared wonders of world of viruses, and how these sub-microscopic creatures influence even global climate. BIC Talks is brought to you by the Bangalore International Centre. Visit the BIC website for show notes, links and more information about the guest.