История измерений и мер веса Индии. На англ. яз. (13 июня 2010 23:49:49)
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:
1. Pre- Akbar
2. Akbar period
3. British System
4. Metric system
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
1 Seer = 80 Tola
1 Tola = 11.66375 gram
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
1Ratti = 4 Dhan
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'.
1 Masha = 8 Ratti
1 Tola = 12 Masha = 96 Ratti
1 Tak = 24 Ratti = 96 Dhan
Conversion
1 Tola = 11.66375 gram
3.75 Troy ounce = 10 Tola
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 Kancha = 5 Siki
1 Chhatank = 4 Kancha
1 Chattank = 5 Tola
1 Adh-pav = 2 Chhatank = 1/8 Seer
1 Pav = 2 Adh-pav = ј Seer Pav means ј
1Adher = 2 Pav = Ѕ Seer
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
1 Paseri = 2 Adisari = 5 Seer
In Hindi 5 Seer = Panch(5) Seer, or Paseri for short
1 Daseri = 2 Pasri = 10 Seer
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.
Smallest unit = 1 Nilve
1 Kolve = 2 Nilve
1 Chipte = 2 Kolve
1 Mapte = 2 Chipte
1 Ser = 2 Mapte
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.
1 Pav = 4 Chhatank
1 Seer = 4 Pav
1 Maund = 40 Seer
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
1 Gaz = 2 Hath
One Hath was approximately 18"
One Kathi = 5 5/6 hats
One Pand = 20 Kathi
One Begah = 20 pand
Two Karam = 3 Gaz
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
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")
2. Commodity weight: Ser
3. Commodity Spices: Dam Dam was a copper coin. It was used as a weight as well as currency
Dam = 20 grams
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
1 Troy Ounce = 120 carats
1 Troy pound = 12 Troy ounce
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
3.75 Troy ounce = 10 Tola
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
One Troy Ounce = 31.1034768 grams
3.75 Troy ounce = 10 Tola
Length
In 1950s, Mile and Furlong 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, is not quite an inch.
1 Foot = 12"
1 Yard = 3 Feet
1 Furlong = 660 feet
1 Mile = 1,760 yards, or 5,280 feet
1 Mile = 8 Furlong
1 Chain = 22 yard
1 Acre = (1 Chain) x (1 Furlong)
Conversion
1" = Span of 6 Barley corns side by side by thickness, It really does not work.
1 inch = 2.54 centimeters
1 Foot = 30.48 cm
1 Yard = 0.914 meter
1 Mile = 1.61 Kilometer
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