This episode establishes the historical scope, the social concerns and the form of the series.
We meet the anchor people and the reporters, and see them engaged in preparatory research to tell us the story of science and technology in South Asia through the ages.
A song based on the metaphor of journey through time and places takes us to the ancient Kanheri caves, Jaipur's Jantar Mantar and an impressive modern construction site.
The methods of knowing the past are outlined, highlighting the importance of material evidence. An attempt is made to sift myth from history through an interview with B.B. Lal, excavator of sites mentioned in the Ramayana and the Mahabharata.
Excavations by the Deccan College, Pune, at Inamgaon reveal ancient house plinths and M.K. Dhavalikar discusses indications of drought three thousand years ago.
We understand how carbon dating of organic remains determines their age, and D.P. Agrawal shows us the process carried out at the Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad.
A discussion among the anchor people and the reporters gives us glimpses of things to come—places to be visited, questions to be explored.
