Explore the fascinating journey of particle physics in this comprehensive lecture tracing the development of the Standard Model from the discovery of the electron in 1897 to the Higgs boson in 2012. Delve into the fundamental building blocks of matter, types of particles, and interactions as explained by renowned particle physicist Sreerup Raychaudhuri. Gain insights into gauge bosons, quantum electrodynamics, strong interactions, and the quark model. Discover the evolution of our understanding of the universe, from the atom to the particle zoo, and learn about the eightfold way and periodic table of particles. Examine the concepts of quark confinement, strange selection, and electromagnetic interactions. Understand the reasons for expecting physics beyond the Standard Model, including hints from cosmology, all presented in simple, non-technical terms with minimal mathematics.