Indian weights and measures
Encyclopedia
India
officially uses the metric system
of weights and measures. Other prominent systems that have been used historically include British Imperial units, the Akbar system, and many regional traditional systems, some of which have been used for thousands of years.
, one may divide the history of Indian systems of measurement into three main periods: the pre-Akbar 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 (specially the wheat berry and Ratti) 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 (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.
In 1966, The UN set One Sèr = 2.057 pounds on average. This is approximately 2 pounds and one ounce.
1 Maund = 40 Sèr = 100 Troy Pounds exactly. One Sèr = 80 Tolä; 1 Tolä = 11.66375 gram
4 Chawal (grain of rice) = 1 Dhan (weight of one wheat berry)
4 Dhan = 1 Ratti (Ratti is the seed of the 'Abrus precatorius'. It is a red seed with a black spot at one end. Abul Fazl refers to it as 'Surkh' in Ain-i-Akbari.).
8 Ratti = 1 Masha
12 Masha (96 Ratti) = 1 Tola
24 Ratti (96 Dhan) = 1 Tak
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 = ¼ Seer (Pav means ¼)
1 Adher = 2 Pav = ½ Seer
In Hindi ½ Seer = Adha (½) Seer, or Adher
1 Ser = 2 Adher = 4 Pav = 16 Chattank = 80 Tola = 933.1 grams
1 Savaser = 1 Ser + 1 Pav (1¼ Seer)
1 Savasher weighed 100 Imperial rupees
In Hindi 1¼ Seer = Sava (1¼) Seer, or Savaser
1 Dhaser = 2 Savaser = 2½ Seer
In Hindi 2½ Seer = Dhai (2½) 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
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 (width of 3 fingers) = 1 Girah
8 Girah = 1 Hath (elbow to the end of the middle finger, approximately 18" )
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
corn (Jau). For weights, he used the weight of a Jau, while the width of a Jau set the standard for length.
1. Length: Ilahi Gaz (33" to 34"); 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
12 māshās = 1 tolā (= 10.886227 grams)
80 tolas = 1 ser (= 870.89816 grams)
40 sers = 1 maund (= 34.835926 kilograms)
1 rattī = 1.75 grains (= 0.11339825 gram) (1 grain = 0.064799 gram)
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 kilograms.
.
Traditionally one maund represented the weight unit for goods which could be carried over some distance by porters or pack animals.
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, the 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 avoirdupois = 40 Bushel = 160 Stones
4 Stones = 1 Bushel = 56 Pound
1 hundredweight (cwt) = 112 Pounds = 2 Bushel + 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, Miles and Furlong
s 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 = (1 Chain) x (1 Furlong)
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
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
officially uses the metric system
Metric system
The metric system is an international decimalised system of measurement. France was first to adopt a metric system, in 1799, and a metric system is now the official system of measurement, used in almost every country in the world...
of weights and measures. Other prominent systems that have been used historically include British Imperial units, the Akbar system, and many regional traditional systems, some of which have been used for thousands of years.
History
Before the introduction of the Metric systemMetrication in India
Metrication or metrification is the process of converting to the metric system based on the International System of Units . India's conversion to the metric system occurred in stages between 1955 and 1962...
, one may divide the history of Indian systems of measurement into three main periods: the pre-Akbar 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 (specially the wheat berry and Ratti) 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
Company rule in India
Company rule in India refers to the rule or dominion of the British East India Company on the Indian subcontinent...
. 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 (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, the Government of India defined the Sèr as follows: One Sèr = 0.93310 kilogram exactly.In 1966, The UN set One Sèr = 2.057 pounds on average. This is approximately 2 pounds and one ounce.
1 Maund = 40 Sèr = 100 Troy Pounds exactly. One Sèr = 80 Tolä; 1 Tolä = 11.66375 gram
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 (grain of rice) = 1 Dhan (weight of one wheat berry)
4 Dhan = 1 Ratti (Ratti is the seed of the 'Abrus precatorius'. It is a red seed with a black spot at one end. Abul Fazl refers to it as 'Surkh' in Ain-i-Akbari.).
8 Ratti = 1 Masha
12 Masha (96 Ratti) = 1 Tola
24 Ratti (96 Dhan) = 1 Tak
Conversion
1 Tola = 11.66375 gram
3.75 Troy ounce
Troy ounce
The troy ounce is a unit of imperial measure. In the present day it is most commonly used to gauge the weight of precious metals. One troy ounce is nowadays defined as exactly 0.0311034768 kg = 31.1034768 g. There are approximately 32.1507466 troy oz in 1 kg...
= 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 = ¼ Seer (Pav means ¼)
1 Adher = 2 Pav = ½ Seer
In Hindi ½ Seer = Adha (½) Seer, or Adher
1 Ser = 2 Adher = 4 Pav = 16 Chattank = 80 Tola = 933.1 grams
1 Savaser = 1 Ser + 1 Pav (1¼ Seer)
1 Savasher weighed 100 Imperial rupees
In Hindi 1¼ Seer = Sava (1¼) Seer, or Savaser
1 Dhaser = 2 Savaser = 2½ Seer
In Hindi 2½ Seer = Dhai (2½) 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
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 (width of 3 fingers) = 1 Girah
8 Girah = 1 Hath (elbow to the end of the middle finger, approximately 18" )
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 barleyBarley
Barley is a major cereal grain, a member of the grass family. It serves as a major animal fodder, as a base malt for beer and certain distilled beverages, and as a component of various health foods...
corn (Jau). For weights, he used the weight of a Jau, while the width of a Jau set the standard for length.
1. Length: Ilahi Gaz (33" to 34"); 1 Gaz = 16 Grehs; 1 Greh = 2 pais
At the time of Shah Jahan
Shah Jahan
Shah Jahan Shah Jahan (also spelled Shah Jehan, Shahjehan, , Persian: شاه جهان) (January 5, 1592 – January 22, 1666) Shah Jahan (also spelled Shah Jehan, Shahjehan, , Persian: شاه جهان) (January 5, 1592 – January 22, 1666) (Full title: His Imperial Majesty Al-Sultan al-'Azam wal Khaqan...
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 (= 0.9071856 gram)12 māshās = 1 tolā (= 10.886227 grams)
80 tolas = 1 ser (= 870.89816 grams)
40 sers = 1 maund (= 34.835926 kilograms)
1 rattī = 1.75 grains (= 0.11339825 gram) (1 grain = 0.064799 gram)
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 kilograms.
.
Traditionally one maund represented the weight unit for goods which could be carried over some distance by porters or pack animals.
British System
Weight GoldBritish 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, the 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 avoirdupois = 40 Bushel = 160 Stones
4 Stones = 1 Bushel = 56 Pound
1 hundredweight (cwt) = 112 Pounds = 2 Bushel + 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, Miles and Furlong
Furlong
A furlong is a measure of distance in imperial units and U.S. customary units equal to one-eighth of a mile, equivalent to 220 yards, 660 feet, 40 rods, or 10 chains. The exact value of the furlong varies slightly among English-speaking countries....
s 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 = (1 Chain) x (1 Furlong)
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