Hinduism's inclusive theory of evolution

Charles Darwin starts "The Descent of Man" by demonstrating the anatomical continuity between man & other animals & continues applying the same logic to mental continuity also. But Alfred Wallace, his contemporary & co-discoverer of evolution by natural selection, though agreeing with the first part, disagreed with the second, suggesting that "The Noble Human Mind" was created by some higher being.

Wallace's views come as no surprise as the Semitic religions, Judaism, Christianity & Islam, by & large, deny any soul (or intelligence) to non-human creation. In the creation theory of Hinduism, the first three divine incarnations of Vishnu were, the Fish, the Tortoise & the Boar. Not only were the animals divine  incarnations, but many were also notable devotees of God, like the elephant in the "Gajendra Moksha" story, who prayed to God when grabbed by a crocodile & was saved.

Not only Hinduism, but even non-vedic religions originating in India, include animals also in the (human) evolutionary ladder. Buddha recounts his earlier incarnations as various animals in the mesmerising "Jataka Tales."

Jainism reveres animals so much that not only are they strict vegetarians, but the Sadhus & Sadhvins wear a mask over their nose & mouth (even in pre-Covid days) to avoid inhaling even micro-organisms!

So Charles Darwin gave scientific validity to the truth already realised by the ancient Indian (Vedic & non-Vedic) religions.