I have not been keeping up with the blog, and there is much, much to write, and frankly i don't know where to begin..and so, i will start at the very beginning...with the Origin of Species.
Mystified?
Well, i am being a wee bit dramatic, but this was such a super exciting event in my London Calender: to hear great-great-grandson of Charles Darwin, Randal Keynes OBE, FLS is a British conservationist, author, scholar. He spoke about Darwin's apes, and how this one young orangutan in the London Zoo played a part in shaping his evolution theory. Darwin, apparently, was keen to 'compare' and observe a young ape to a child--how they grow, emote, feel, think; but one gathered it wasn't the polite to do so with one's offspring. So, it was with some relief when Darwin had a young daughter, who unwillingly--was enlisted for the great cause of science.
Randal Keynes also spoke passionatly about the natural world, the imperative to conserve, apes..all music to my ears, followed by another brief talk on conserving apes and other species by the zoo director.
This is part of a super initiative by Ruth Padel and ZSL, who organised a series of 'Writers Talks on Endangered Species
The day before i had gone on frantic hunt for books-- Randall Keynes', Charles Darwin's, and of course Ruth Padel's (who had kindly invited me, and whose writing i love and enjoy)---well,i did not get the books, but i did come across this delightful bookshop 'Any Amount of Books'. News books,second hand books,bargain books, collector's editions...this little shop has them al.
This is in the heart of London's hip theater district, and quite close to Charring Cross, are some of the finest sellers of old books: First editions, and collector's editions kinds. Not for the likes of you and me, but lovey to stroll by and perhaps browse in..there is other interesting stuff too: military antiques, and Charles and Diana wedding coins!
To get back to Darwin, the next day i had a wonderful evening with Ruth Padel, her brother, anthropologist Felix Padel who has deep ties with India, and works with tribes in Orissa. He also wrote the book 'Out of the Earth, : East India Adivasis and the Aluminum Cartel.
I discovered another talent of Felix: Cooking. He fed us a simple but utterly delicious meal of well, a khichdi of sorts: Rice, dal, vegetables, herbs spices..yummmmm, and downed with heavenly wine from Portugal.
We talked politics, people, environment, the fate of India's tigers, elephants, the tigers vs tribals debate, the environment 'vs' development debate, the absolute exploition of natural resources..all cheerful dinnertime conversation!
It was a super evening, another highlight being Ruth reading one of her yet unpublished poems on water. I am frankly an ignoramus, do not really read poetry but was so moved, and enchanted by Ruth's writings on water..wish i could narrate an extract, but it's not mine to do so, but here, given below is an extract of her poem published in 'The New Yorker'.
Every choice is a loss. The past is not where you left it.
That corridor you didn’t follow, the gate to unknown
woods, shadow grin of a winding stair, the door you never
found time to open—they whirl within, cracking the floor.
Incidentally, if you haven't red her Tigers in Red Weather, pick it up, like right now..
and here i am, back where i started, with THE Charles Darwin..
This is at London's Natural History Museum, I haven't even started to explore it, was there for a mere two hours, and this franks demands days...it is the finest, i have been to. a must must go.
I will take that up later..but just as a teaser, even its absolute magnificent building is etched and carved with creatures from the animal kingdom.
Tomorrow, i take you on a different track...keep reading!
Mystified?
Well, i am being a wee bit dramatic, but this was such a super exciting event in my London Calender: to hear great-great-grandson of Charles Darwin, Randal Keynes OBE, FLS is a British conservationist, author, scholar. He spoke about Darwin's apes, and how this one young orangutan in the London Zoo played a part in shaping his evolution theory. Darwin, apparently, was keen to 'compare' and observe a young ape to a child--how they grow, emote, feel, think; but one gathered it wasn't the polite to do so with one's offspring. So, it was with some relief when Darwin had a young daughter, who unwillingly--was enlisted for the great cause of science.
Randal Keynes also spoke passionatly about the natural world, the imperative to conserve, apes..all music to my ears, followed by another brief talk on conserving apes and other species by the zoo director.
This is part of a super initiative by Ruth Padel and ZSL, who organised a series of 'Writers Talks on Endangered Species
The day before i had gone on frantic hunt for books-- Randall Keynes', Charles Darwin's, and of course Ruth Padel's (who had kindly invited me, and whose writing i love and enjoy)---well,i did not get the books, but i did come across this delightful bookshop 'Any Amount of Books'. News books,second hand books,bargain books, collector's editions...this little shop has them al.
This is in the heart of London's hip theater district, and quite close to Charring Cross, are some of the finest sellers of old books: First editions, and collector's editions kinds. Not for the likes of you and me, but lovey to stroll by and perhaps browse in..there is other interesting stuff too: military antiques, and Charles and Diana wedding coins!
To get back to Darwin, the next day i had a wonderful evening with Ruth Padel, her brother, anthropologist Felix Padel who has deep ties with India, and works with tribes in Orissa. He also wrote the book 'Out of the Earth, : East India Adivasis and the Aluminum Cartel.
I discovered another talent of Felix: Cooking. He fed us a simple but utterly delicious meal of well, a khichdi of sorts: Rice, dal, vegetables, herbs spices..yummmmm, and downed with heavenly wine from Portugal.
We talked politics, people, environment, the fate of India's tigers, elephants, the tigers vs tribals debate, the environment 'vs' development debate, the absolute exploition of natural resources..all cheerful dinnertime conversation!
It was a super evening, another highlight being Ruth reading one of her yet unpublished poems on water. I am frankly an ignoramus, do not really read poetry but was so moved, and enchanted by Ruth's writings on water..wish i could narrate an extract, but it's not mine to do so, but here, given below is an extract of her poem published in 'The New Yorker'.
Every choice is a loss. The past is not where you left it.
That corridor you didn’t follow, the gate to unknown
woods, shadow grin of a winding stair, the door you never
found time to open—they whirl within, cracking the floor.
Incidentally, if you haven't red her Tigers in Red Weather, pick it up, like right now..
and here i am, back where i started, with THE Charles Darwin..
This is at London's Natural History Museum, I haven't even started to explore it, was there for a mere two hours, and this franks demands days...it is the finest, i have been to. a must must go.
I will take that up later..but just as a teaser, even its absolute magnificent building is etched and carved with creatures from the animal kingdom.
Tomorrow, i take you on a different track...keep reading!
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