(006) История измерений и мер веса Индии. На англ. яз.
India weight and measurement history
India uses metric system. Historically, British System, and Akbar system were used for nearly five previous centuries
History
I do not plan to cover ancient systems. Last four weights and Measure Systems of significance are as follows:
During pre-Akbar period, weights and measure system varied from region to region, commodity to commodity, and rural to urban areas. The weights were based on the weight of various seeds (specially the wheat berry and Ratti) and lengths were based of the length of arms and width of fingers. Akbar realized a need for a uniform system. He elected the barley corn. Unfortunately, this did not replace the existing system. Instead, it just added another system.
British entered India as traders. They accepted barley corn as a unit 'Grain' for weighing gold. They minted coins using wheat berry as the standard. Eventually, British introduced their own system for weighing gold (Troy ounce), commodities (Pound/Cwt/Ton). Now, the roads had Furlong and Mile markers. In 1939, Government of India passed the Standards of weights Act, that came into effect in 1942. This allowed Tola/Seer/Maund system to coexist with Pound/Cwt/Ton system.
In 1941, the Punjab Weight and Measures act provided a sense of uniformity. In 1956, Government of India passed a Standards of Weights and Measures system to introduce metric system based on Punjab Act. The metric would begin in October 1958, making metric weight mandatory by October 1960, and the metric measures mandatory by April 1962.
Current Conversion Standard
In 1956, For metric conversion, Government of India defined the Seer as follows:
One Seer = 0.93310 kilogram exact
The UN (1966) set One Seer = 2.057 pounds on average. This is approximately 2 pounds and One ounce
1 Maund = 40 Seer = 100 Troy Pounds Exact
Pre Akbar System
I have included the weights and measures systems popular in North India. There were different system in Bengal, South, and Bombay. I have used some of the nomenclature that was prevalent in North India during 1940s, 50s, and 60s as I remember it.
1 Dhan (weight of one wheat berry) = 4 Grain of Rice
Ratti is seed of a plant 'Abrus precatorius'. It is pretty red with a black spot. Abul Fazl refers to it as 'Surkh' in Ain I Akbar. During Raj, the British called it 'Crab's eye'.
Conversion
1 Tola = 11.66375 gram
Weight of 64 Dhan (Wheat berries) = Weight of 45 Jau (Barley corns)
Weight of 1 Barley corn = 64.79891 milligrams
Commodity Weight System
1 Tola = 4 Siki
1 Adh-pav = 2 Chhatank = 1/8 Seer
1 Pav = 2 Adh-pav = ј Seer Pav means ј
In Hindi Ѕ Seer = Adha (Ѕ) Seer, or Adher
1 Ser = 2 Adher = 4 Pav = 16 Chattank = 80 Tola = 933.1 grams
1 Savaser = 1 Ser + 1 Pav (1ј Seer)
1Savasher weighed 30 Imperial rupees
In Hindi 1ј Seer = Sava (1ј) Seer, or Savaser
1 Dhaser = 2 Savaser = 2Ѕ Seer
In Hindi 2Ѕ Seer = Dhai (2Ѕ) Seer, or Dhaser
In Hindi 5 Seer = Panch(5) Seer, or Paseri for short
In Hindi 10 Seer = Das(10) Seer, or Daseri for short
1 Maund = 4 Daseri = 8 Pasri = 40 Seer
Rice and Grains Volume Measures
Grains were not weighed. Special hour-glass shaped measure were used to determine the volume.
Liquid Volume Measures
These were hour glass shaped measure used for Milk, Ghee, Oils. The bottom was round like an inverted dome, the top was like flared rim. This shape helped in pouting the liquids.
Length Measure
Measure of length is Gaz. To interpret Gaz, depends on what you are measuring and where you are. Bengal: 36", Bombay:27", Madras: 33", Government Average: 33". The hand measurements were used.
1 Girah = width of 3 fingers (Anguli)
1 Hath (elbow too the end of the middle finger) = 8 Girah
One Hath was approximately 18"
Akbar Weights and Measures
India Akbar weight and measure system
Akbar wanted to standardize the weights and measurements around the Barley corn (Jau). For weights, he would use the weight of Jau. The width of the Jau was used to set the standard for length.
1. Length: Ilahi Gaz (33" to 34")
3. Commodity Spices: Dam Dam was a copper coin. It was used as a weight as well as currency
4. Gold and expensive spices: Misqal. = 6.22 gram
British System
Weight Gold
British used weight of wheat berries as a standard to make currency coins. British chose Barley corn to weigh gold same as Akbar.
One Troy ounce = 480 Barley corn
In 1878, Troy Pound was abolished
Conversions
Weight of 1 Barley corn = 64.79891 milligrams
Weight of 1 Wheat berry = 45.561732 milligram
One Troy Ounce = 31.1034768 grams
64 Wheat berries = 45 Barley corns
Commodity weight
20 CWT = 1 Ton avoirdupoi = 40 Bushell = 160 Stones
4 Stones = 1 Bushell = 56 Pound
1 hundredweight (cwt) = 112 Pounds = 2 Bushell + 8 Stones
14 Pounds avoirdupois = 1 Stone avoirdupois
16 Ounces avoirdupois = 1 Pound avoirdupois
Conversion
1 Ounce avoirdupois = 28.349523 grams approx.
1 Pound avoirdupois = 453.59237 grams
1 Ton avoirdupois = 2240 pounds avoirdupois
Weight of 1 Barley corn = 64.79891 milligrams