WHO says we no more study pure science subjects like physics and chemistry? If not physics, chemistry is being studied with great enthusiasm, even by half educated village traders who do wholesale business on the side line. Food is their favourite area of study.  Look at these extremely talented businessmen-cum-chemists working hard to apply their knowledge of chemistry in shady shops to keep our fruits, fishes, meat, milk and grains from decaying fast. Not only they save our precious food from decaying, they even do more! They apply another variety of chemicals to ensure that the chemically treated fish, chicken, eggs, banana, apple, milk etc., stay longer on the shelves. What a service to humanity! These scientists travelled far and wide to take lessons in chemistry and then dedicated their lives to the service of fellow humans.

These lungi-clad alchemists spraying chemicals on food and fruit to change their natural properties remind us of their old world counterparts who delved in the science of chemistry in backyard makeshift laboratories.  During those days, their first and foremost occupation was to create gold from other base metals. A great deal is written about this in books. We may quote a little from the Internet (Wikipedia) to have some idea about the pioneers in this branch of science and how they might have influenced our lungi-clad chemists.  

Quote: “The defining objectives of alchemy are varied but historically have typically included one or more of the following goals: the creation of the fabled philosopher's stone; the ability to transmute base metals into the noble metals (gold or silver); and development of an elixir of life, which would confer youth and longevity.

…Alchemy played a significant role in the development of early modern science. It is recognized as a protoscience that contributed to the development of modern chemistry and medicine. Alchemists developed a structure of basic laboratory techniques, theory, terminology, and experimental method, some of which are still in use today.

…Modern discussions of alchemy are generally split into an examination of its exoteric practical applications and its esoteric aspects. The former is pursued by historians of the physical sciences who have examined the subject in terms of protochemistry, medicine, and charlatanism. The latter interests psychologists, spiritual and new age communities, hermetic philosophers, and historians of esotericism.

Scientific apparatus in the alchemist's workshop, 1580.
…Practical applications of alchemy produced a wide range of contributions to medicine and the physical sciences. The alchemist Robert Boyle is credited as being the father of chemistry. Paracelsian iatrochemistry emphasized the medicinal application of alchemy (continued in plant alchemy, or spagyric).  Studies of alchemy also influenced Isaac Newton's theory of gravity. Academic historical research supports that the alchemists were searching for a material substance using physical methods.

….It is a popular belief  that alchemists made contributions to the "chemical" industries of the day—ore testing and refining, metalworking, production of gunpowder, ink, dyes, paints, cosmetics, leather tanning, ceramics, glass manufacture, preparation of extracts, liquors, and so on (it seems that the preparation of aqua vitae, the "water of life", was a fairly popular "experiment" among European alchemists). Alchemists contributed distillation to Western Europe. The attempts of alchemists to arrange information on substances, so as to clarify and anticipate the products of their chemical reactions, resulted in early conceptions of chemical elements and the first rudimentary periodic tables. They learned how to extract metals from ores, and how to compose many types of inorganic acids and bases.

…During the 17th century, practical alchemy started to disappear in favor of its younger offshoot chemistry, as it was renamed by Robert Boyle, the "father of modern chemistry". In his book, The Skeptical Chemist, Boyle attacked Paracelsus and the natural philosophy of Aristotle, which was taught at universities. However, Boyle's biographers, in their emphasis that he laid the foundations of modern chemistry, neglect how steadily he clung to the scholastic sciences and to alchemy, in theory, practice and doctrine. The decline of alchemy continued in the 18th century with the birth of modern chemistry, which provided a more precise and reliable framework within a new view of the universe based on rational materialism.” Quote ends.

So, we have learned a few things about the “chemistry forefathers” and their work as given in the Net. What is interesting in the context of Bangladesh is the fact that though most of the food growers and traders at the field level dropped out of school before getting any certificate, they have taken the trouble of taking some lessons on chemistry which they apply to  food items with great devotion. Big traders would even employ a chemistry graduate or two to ensure that chemicals are applied in right quantity so their businesses can flourish, and bring in more profit.      

Now, this more profit thing has another side of the story we never looked at. These businessmen-cum-alchemists with their golden touch are keeping the wheels of economy turning, generating plenty of money, employing jobless people, hiring chemistry graduates and thereby  contributing to the economy of the country! Aha! So, you see how unfortunate they are!All their efforts to make your mango look ripe, banana look yellow, fish look fresh, eggs look yummy are going in vain! They should be garlanded for their service to humanity! Oh, there is yet another side of the story we overlooked. They should be recommended for bigger awards for their contribution to shortening our life in this war-torn, disease infested world through slow poisoning us with chemicals! Another service to the humanity, indeed! Bravo brothers.  

The writer is Special Supplements Editor, The Daily Star. He can be reached at [email protected]