In this letter, Jawaharlal Nehru explains the evolution of animals and how they adapted to their surroundings over time. He begins by describing the early life forms on Earth, which were simple sea animals like jellyfish. These animals needed water to survive and could not live on dry land. Over time, those with tougher skins were able to survive longer outside water, leading to the gradual disappearance of softer animals. This process of adaptation allowed animals to evolve in ways that helped them survive in different environments.

Nehru discusses how animals change their characteristics, like color and fur, to blend with their surroundings or to survive in cold climates. He provides examples such as birds turning white in icy regions and tigers being camouflaged by their striped, yellow coats in the jungle.

As Earth cooled and dried up, animals evolved further. He explains that the first animals lived in water, then some adapted to live on both land and water, like frogs and crocodiles. Eventually, land animals and birds appeared. Nehru highlights how a frog's life cycle mirrors the transition from water animals to land animals, as it starts as a fish-like creature and later breathes with lungs.


He also mentions that ancient forests turned into coal over time and describes the massive reptiles and lizards that lived during those periods, some as long as 100 feet. Nehru concludes by discussing mammals, the group that includes humans, noting that early mammals were much larger than today's animals. He reflects on the theory that humans evolved from apes, emphasizing that while we consider ourselves different from animals, we share a common ancestry with them.

 

In this letter, Nehru explains how life began on Earth, a topic that's challenging but fascinating. He begins by discussing what defines life, noting that humans, animals, and plants are all living beings. Some life forms, like certain plants and animals, blur the line between animal and plant, making it hard to classify them. He mentions the scientist Sir Jagadish Bose, who believed even stones might have life, though this is difficult to prove. Nehru then explores how life likely started after the Earth cooled down. The first living things were probably simple, jelly-like organisms without bones or shells, which lived in the sea. These primitive life forms multiplied by dividing themselves in two, and while they left no fossils, similar jelly-like organisms still exist today. As time passed, more complex animals like shellfish, crabs, and worms appeared, followed by fishes and other creatures with hard shells or bones. Nehru explains how fossils of these creatures have been preserved in rocks, which scientists use to understand Earth's early life forms. He concludes by promising to explain in future letters how these simple animals evolved into more complex beings.

In this letter, Nehru explains to his daughter the origins and formation of the Earth, the solar system, and celestial bodies. He begins by describing how the Earth revolves around the Sun, along with other planets, and how the Moon orbits the Earth as its satellite. This collection of planets and their moons, bound by the Sun, forms the solar system. He differentiates between stars and planets, explaining that stars shine on their own due to their heat, while planets, including the Earth and Moon, reflect sunlight. Nehru further explains that the Earth and planets were once part of the Sun, formed when pieces of the Sun's fiery mass broke away. These pieces remained connected to the Sun through gravitational pull, just like a rope. Over time, these fragments, including the Earth, cooled down, making it possible for life to eventually develop. He also touches on the formation of the Moon, possibly from a portion of the Earth, and the creation of oceans from water vapor that condensed after the Earth's cooling. Nehru concludes by hinting that life began on Earth after this long cooling process, which he will explore in his next letter.

 

In this letter, Nehru explains how early history was written by observing the natural world. He refers to nature as a "book" that reveals the Earth's ancient history, where rocks, mountains, rivers, and other natural elements tell stories of a time when no humans or animals existed. As time progressed, animals appeared, followed by early humans, who were initially similar to animals but developed the power of thought, which made them stronger and more capable. Nehru describes how, through experience and learning, humans advanced by discovering fire, farming, clothing, and building shelters. As people gathered in groups, cities emerged, and eventually, writing systems developed. However, for a long time, there was no paper, and people wrote on tree bark or palm leaves. Books were rare because they had to be copied by hand. With the rise of cities, nations formed, and people began to feel superior to others from different places, leading to wars—a foolish practice that continues even today. Nehru mentions that although few ancient books survive, stone inscriptions, such as those by King Ashoka, help us understand the past. He emphasizes India's rich history, citing the times when great epics like the Ramayana and Mahabharata were written and the country was powerful. Nehru contrasts this with the present, where India is poor and under foreign rule, but expresses hope that with effort, India could become free again and improve the lives of its people. Nehru promises to delve deeper into the early history of the earth In his next letter.

 

Starting "Letters From a Father" in English!  Letter #1 "The Book of Nature"  

In this letter, Nehru writes to his daughter Indira that he would  share the story of the earth through letters. Since living far apart, they can no longer have their usual conversations, he hopes to broaden her understanding of the world beyond India and England, emphasizing the interconnectedness of all countries and peoples.

Nehru introduces the concept of Earth's ancient history, noting that before human life, there were animals, and before that, no life at all. He describes how scientists study fossils, rocks, and the Earth's natural elements to understand this history. These natural elements—like mountains, rivers, and stones—are akin to a "book" that can be read to understand Earth's past.

He encourages Indira to learn the "alphabet" of nature to read its stories, using a small, smooth pebble as an example of how nature tells its history. He explains how the pebble, once a rough rock, became smooth through the movement of rivers, illustrating the dynamic processes that shape the Earth. Through this analogy, Nehru highlights the richness of nature's stories and the importance of observing and understanding the world around us.