2026, Vol. 7, Issue 1, Part A

One of the most enduring and varied traditions of material knowledge in the pre-modern world can be found in the history of chemical sciences in the Indian subcontinent. Indian academics, craftspeople, doctors, and metallurgists created sophisticated understandings of substances, transformations, and processes that are now included in the field of chemical science long before chemistry was formally recognized as a modern scientific discipline in nineteenth-century Europe. Ayurveda, Rasashastra (Indian alchemy and iatrochemistry), metallurgy, dyeing, ceramics, fermentation, and mineral processing are examples of larger intellectual systems that incorporated these insights. In order to provide a thorough academic overview of Indian traditional knowledge of chemical sciences, this literature review synthesizes classical textual sources, archaeological evidence, and contemporary scholarly interpretations. Primary Sanskrit texts, thematic areas like alchemy and metallurgy, methodological frameworks, epistemological underpinnings, and the applicability of this knowledge to worldwide scientific histories are all critically examined. In particular, the review highlights the need for interdisciplinary approaches that connect textual scholarship, archaeology, and contemporary analytical chemistry. It also identifies historiographical debates and future research directions.