@skidwayy is here now to talk about ‘Complexities Around Translating Scientific Knowledge in 19th Century British India’ #ScienceInUrdu #BSHSGlobalHist
@skidwayy 1/12 While Sir Sayyid Ahmad Khan (1817-1898), founder of @AligarhMuslimUn, is a well-known figure in South Asia, his contributions to science education and popularization are relatively unexamined. Today, I am going to introduce us to some examples #histSTM #BSHSGlobalHist 
@skidwayy @AligarhMuslimUn 2/12 In 1844 he published an Urdu translation of a Persian text titled ‘Tashil fi Jar-e Saqil.’ In it, he covered 5 machines/contraptions that could lift heavy loads, compress material & break hard matter #BSHSGlobalHist
@skidwayy @AligarhMuslimUn 3/12 One of the machines is the 'Mehvaar.' It could lift roughly 373 KG. He outlined what materials were required to build it, how to put it together, tie the rope and use it. He followed this pattern for the other machines in the text. #BSHSGlobalHist
@skidwayy @AligarhMuslimUn 4/12 In 1846 he published ‘Fawa'id Al-afkarfi iImal Al-firjar' (Advice for the use of the [mathematical] compass). This text was an Urdu translation of a Persian source, but this time the original was compiled by his maternal grandfather, Khawaja Fariduddin #BSHSGlobalHist
@skidwayy @AligarhMuslimUn 5/12 From the text: pictured is the circle, as drawn by a mathematical compass, and the corresponding names for the sections. Using this circle as the basic diagram, the rest of the text provides more complicated examples. #BSHSGlobalHist
@skidwayy @AligarhMuslimUn 6/12 In 1847, he published an archeological study of Delhi titled 'Asar-al-Sanadid' in Urdu. The 2nd vol, published in 1854, was significantly different from the 1st. It earned him an honorary membership in the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain in 1865 #BSHSGlobalHist
@skidwayy @AligarhMuslimUn 7/12 In 1848, he published 'Qaul-i-Matin dar Ibtal-i-Harkat I Zamin' (Firm Assertion with Regards to the False Motion of the Earth). In it, he argued that the Earth was stationary. Later, he would criticize his own position. #BSHSGlobalHist
@skidwayy @AligarhMuslimUn 8/12 In 1865, he published The Mahomedan Commentary on the Holy Bible. In it, he tried to show similarities between the Qur'an and the Bible. In the text there are arguments about the relationship between scientific inquiry and religious scriptures. #BSHSGlobalHist
@skidwayy @AligarhMuslimUn 9/12 RE: argument against a motionless Earth from 1848: in The Commentary, he didn't claim that Islamic scriptures were incorrect on the matter of Earth’s motion, but outlined how developments in Greek astronomy shaped early Islamic interpretations on the topic #BSHSGlobalHist
@skidwayy @AligarhMuslimUn 10/12 In 1864 Sayyid Ahmad established The Scientific Society in Ghazipur. Goal: to ensure scientific & historical texts are accessible to natives of India by translating them from English to Urdu. Areas of focus: history, natural philosophy & political economy. #BSHSGlobalHist
@skidwayy @AligarhMuslimUn 11/12 jumping ahead: In 1896, Sayyid Ahmad published an article titled “Adna Halat se Alla Halat per Insaan ki Taraqi” (The Stages of Human Development from an Inferior to Superior State). This was about human development from a lower form & he referenced Darwin! #BSHSGlobalHist
@skidwayy @AligarhMuslimUn 12/12 To summarize: there are many examples of Sayyid Ahmad's science popularization efforts. What does that mean in comparison to the arguments in Victorian England around the professionalization of science in the 19th c? Read my dissertation to find out more! #BSHSGlobalHist
