The Naked Ape by Desmond Morris was a sensation when it appeared in the 1960s. It arrived at a moment defined by free love, the Vietnam War protests, the hippie movement, rising race consciousness, and a broader rethinking of gender. Into this atmosphere, Morris dropped the provocative idea that humans are no different from apes … Continue reading Desmond Morris’ ‘The Naked Ape’
When Columbus reached the Americas in 1492, the ecosystems of the Western and Eastern hemispheres had remained isolated for millennia and were strikingly different. His voyage set in motion what has come to be known as the Columbian Exchange, a vast transfer of plants, animals, people, and diseases between the Old and New Worlds. This … Continue reading The Columbian Exchange and the Dawn of the Homogenocene
We don’t walk much these days. I mean, humans as a species. With the rise of modern transportation and our frenzied lifestyles, our sense of space and the time needed to cover vast distances has also been lost. Rahul Gandhi, in his Bharat Jodo Yatra managed to cover an average of 25kms over 4 months … Continue reading The ‘Out of Eden’ Walk
