Nikhil Joseph Dharan

Cain Fellow

Nikhil Joseph Dharan is a historian of the chemical sciences, focusing on colonialism, industrialization, technical education, and environmental history in South Asia.

More from Nikhil Joseph Dharan

A shirtless man standing with a gun on his shoulder

DISTILLATIONS MAGAZINE

The Soapy Origins of a Sandalwood Smuggler

A war between police and a notorious outlaw riveted South India for more than a decade. At the conflict’s roots was a centuries-old saga of scarcity and control.

Color illustration of a man and women in South Asian attire

DISTILLATIONS MAGAZINE

Matchmaking in Colonial India

An inconspicuous technology sparks revolution on the subcontinent.