Abstract
Abstract This article explores the transformation of the kīmīyā concept across Persian and Urdu intellectual worlds in South Asia. It shows how kīmīyā, a premodern alchemical tradition, transformed in the nineteenth century to become the primary Urdu translative equivalent to chemistry and a popular synonym for wealth. The article argues that these changes were a result of changing conditions of knowledge production, specifically the expansion of print, as well as the arrival of new forms of knowledge, such as chemistry and political economy. In doing so, the article offers a new case study to think about the semantic and conceptual transformation of premodern bodies of scientific knowledge in colonial modernity.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
