Before the introduction of the Metric system, one may divide the history of Indian systems
of measurement into three main periods: the pre-Akbar's period, the period of the Akbar
system, and the British colonial period. 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 and lengths were based on 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
barleycorn 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, commodities.
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 TolaMaund system to coexist with
PoundTon 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, the Government
of India defined the Standards of Weights and Measures Act as follows:
The current definitions as per the UN are: Pre Akbar System
These are the weights and measures popular in North India before the adoption of the
metric system. There were different systems in Bengal, the Presidency of Madras, and Bombay.
The following nomenclature was prevalent in North India till the metric system came in:-
4 Chawal = 1 Dhan 4 Dhan = 1 Ratti.
8 Ratti = 1 Masha 12 Masha = 1 Tola
24 Ratti = 1 Tak Conversion
1 Tola = 11.66375 gram 3.75 Troy ounce = 10 Tola
Weight of 64 Dhan = Weight of 45 Jau Weight of 1 Barley corn = 64.79891 milligrams
Commodity Weight System 1 Tola = 4 Siki 1 Kancha = 5 Siki 1 Chhatank
= 4 Kancha 1 Chattank = 5 Tola 1 Adh-pav = 2 Chhatank = 1/8 Seer 1 Pav = 2 Adh-pav = ¼
Seer 1 Adher = 2 Pav = ½ Seer In Hindi ½ Seer = Adha Seer, or Adher 1 Ser
= 2 Adher = 4 Pav = 16 Chattank = 80 Tola = 933.1 grams 1 Savaser = 1 Ser + 1 Pav 1
Savasher weighed 100 Imperial rupees In Hindi 1¼ Seer = Sava Seer, or Savaser
1 Dhaser = 2 Savaser = 2½ Seer In Hindi 2½ Seer = Dhai Seer, or Dhaser 1
Paseri = 2 Adisari = 5 Seer In Hindi 5 Seer = Panch Seer, or Paseri for
short 1 Daseri = 2 Pasri = 10 Seer In Hindi 10 Seer = Das 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. Smallest unit = 1 Nilve
2 Nilve = 1 Kolve 2 Kolve = 1 Chipte
2 Chipte = 1 Mapte 2 Mapte = 1 Ser
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 pouring the liquids. 4 Chhatank = 1 Pav
4 Pav = 1 Seer 40 Seer = 1 Maund
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.
Anguli = 1 Girah 8 Girah = 1 Hath
5 5/6 Hath = One Kathi 20 Kathi = One Pand
20 Pand = One Begah 2 Hath = 1 Gaz
3 Gaz = Two Karam 3 Karams = 1 Kan
3 Square Kans = 1 Marla 20 Marlas = 1 Kanal
8 Kanals = 1 Ghamaon 9 Kanals 12 Marlas = 1 Acre
4 Kanals = 1 Begah Akbar Weights and Measures
Akbar standardized weights and measurements using a barley corn. For weights, he used
the weight of a Jau, while the width of a Jau set the standard for length.
1. Length: Ilahi Gaz; 1 Gaz = 16 Grehs; 1 Greh = 2 pais
At the time of Shah Jahan there existed three different Gaz:
a) Shahi gaz = 101.6 cm; b) Shahijahani or Lashkari = 95.85 cm; c) Aleppo gaz = 67.73 cm
2. Commodity weight: Ser = 637.74 grams 3. Commodity Spices: The Dam was a copper
coin used as a weight as well as currency. 1 Dam = 20 grams
4. Gold and Expensive Spices: Misqal = 6.22 grams
Weights before 1833 8 rattīs = 1 māshā
12 māshās = 1 tolā 80 tolas = 1 ser
40 sers = 1 maund 1 rattī = 1.75 grains
From 1833 the rupee and tolā weight was fixed at 180 grains, i.e. 11.66382 grams. Hence
the weight of 1 maund increased to 37.324224 kilogram. . Traditionally one maund represented
the weight unit for goods which could be carried over some distance by porters or pack animals.
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
1 Troy Ounce = 120 carat 1 Troy pound = 12 Troy ounce
In 1878, the Troy Pound was abolished. Conversions
Weight of 1 Barley corn = 64.79891 milligram Weight of 1 Wheat berry = 45.561732 milligram
One Troy Ounce = 31.1034768 gram 64 Wheat berries = 45 Barley corns
3.75 Troy ounce = 10 Tola Commodity weight
20 CWT = 1 Ton avoirdupois = 40 Bushel = 160 Stones
4 Stones = 1 Bushel = 56 Pound 1 hundredweight = 112 Pound = 2 Bushel + 8
Stones 14 Pounds avoirdupois = 1 Stone avoirdupois
16 Ounces avoirdupois = 1 Pound avoirdupois Conversion
1 Ounce avoirdupois = 28.349523 gram approx. 1 Pound avoirdupois = 453.59237 gram
1 Ton avoirdupois = 2240 pounds avoirdupois Weight of 1 Barley corn = 64.79891 milligram
One Troy Ounce = 31.1034768 gram 3.75 Troy ounce = 10 Tola
Length In 1950s, Miles and Furlongs were common markers
on the roads in India. Minimum length = 1 Inch
No-one can say how it evolved. Yinch was the thickness of the thumb, not quite one inch.
12 Inches = 1 Foot 3 Feet = 1 Yard
660 Feet = 1 Furlong 5,280 Feet = 1 Mile
1,760 Yards = 1 Mile 1 Mile = 8 Furlongs
22 Yards = 1 Chain 1 Acre = x
Conversion 1 Inch = Span of 6 Barley corns side by side
by thickness, although barleycorns are not a reliable standard of measurement.
1 Inch = 2.54 centimeters 1 Foot = 30.48 cm
1 Yard = 0.914 meter 1 Mile = 1.61 Kilometer
References 1 coss= 2000 yards http:books.google.co.in/books?id=QtMzAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA47&lpg=PA47&dq=coss+2000+yard&source=bl&ots=rbfhxO2_j_&sig=tQKGaLXagBuNSzH_g_8v4Rgmjxc&hl=en&sa=X&ei=MngUVIrQE_jbsASbu4HoBA&ved=0CBEQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=coss%202000%20yard&f=false
http:books.google.co.in/books?id=x_8nAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA370&dq=India+furlong+yard&hl=en&output=html_text&sa=X&ei=fC0UVOOeFMfkuQSes4DwAw&ved=0CDwQ6AEwBg Notes
Sources Prinsep, James: Essays on Indian Antqities,
Historic, Numismatic, and Palaeographic, of the late James Prinsep, F.R.S., to which are
added his Useful Tables illustrative of Indian History, Chronology, Modern Coinages, Weights,
Measures etc. Two Volumes, Reprint, Indological Book House, Delhi and Varanasi, 1971. Originally
published in London, 1858. External links
http:www.indiacurry.comindiahistoricweightsmeasure.htm