Jainthology

Author(s): Ganesh Lalwani
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 24

"The cause of the changes can be traced, at least in part, to plate tectonics, the movement of the great crustal plates that ride on the earth's semi-molten mantle and provide its solid outer shell. Some 45 million to 50 million years ago, the plate that carries the Indian subcontinent was pushing up into the underbelly of Asia, slowly thrusting up the massive mountain range now called the Himalayas. This new barrier to global wind circulation helped change weather patterns, altering average temperatures around the world. By about 14 million years ago, climates that had been tropical had turned largely temperate jungles had thinned out, and fruits and puts normally available year round began to appear only seasonally.
"The changing food supply offered new opportunities for feeding outside the forest. Some of the forest-dwelling apes began venturing into the savanna, or grasslands, in search of food such as roots, seed and finally the meat of other animals.
The entire episode including the stratigraphic position of fossil man has illuminated a history that is fascinating and enigmatic from diverse points of view. Nevertheless, the general view-point with regards to the life of our ancestors may not appear satisfying if the emphasis is given on food-quest only. One may be eager to learn about their inspiration and evaluation of ethics, justice and what is beautiful. While the upper Palaeolithic art of France, Spain and other places will throw
Painted bison in its moment of inexplicable glory in the
palaeolithic cave at Altamira in Spain.
JAINTHOLOGY/ 3