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Before theintroduction of the metric system, 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 the Indian pre ancient period, weights and measure systems varied from region to region, commodity to commodity, and rural to urban areas. The weights were based on the weight of various seeds (in particular thewheat berry andRatti) and lengths were based on the length of arms and width of fingers. During his reign, the Mughal emperor Akbar realized a need for a uniform system, and used the weight of the barley corn as a standard. This did not replace the existing system; rather, it simply added another system of measurement.
When the British first begantrading in India, they acceptedbarley corn as a unit for weighing gold. Eventually, the British introducedtheir own system for weighing gold. In 1956, the government of independent India passed the Standards of Weights Act, which would come into effect in 1958. The metric system was made mandatory for weights in October 1960, and for measures in April 1962.
In 1956, for metrication, the Indian government defined the Standards of Measurements Act (No. 89 of 1956, amended 1960, 1964) as follows:
| Indian System | Metric System |
|---|---|
| 1Tola | 11.6638038 g |
The current definitions as per the UN are:
| Indian System | Metric System |
|---|---|
| 1Tola | 11.664 g |
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 until the metric system was established:
Grains were not weighed. Special hour-glass shaped measure were used to determine the volume.
Smallest unit = 1 Nilve
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.
Measure of length is Gaz. To interpret Gaz, depends on what one is measuring and where they are. Bengal: 36", Bombay: 27", Madras: 33", Government Average: 33". The hand measurements were used.
Akbar standardised weights and measurements using abarley corn (Jau). For weights, he used the weight of aJau, while the width of aJau set the standard for length.
1. Length: Ilahi Gaz (33 to 34 inches or 840 to 860 millimetres); 1 Gaz = 16 Grehs; 1 Greh = 2 pais
At the time ofShah Jahan there existed three different Gaz:[1]
| Indian System | Metric System |
|---|---|
| Shahi gaz | 101.6 cm |
| Shahijahani/Lashkari | 95.85 cm |
| Aleppogaz | 67.73 cm |
| Indian System | British/ troy system | imperial system | Metric System |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1rattī | 0.003(6) t oz | 0.004(0) oz | 0.113(4)gram |
| 1 māshā | 0.029(2) t oz | 0.032(0) oz | 0.907(2) gram |
| 1 tolā | 0.3500(0) t oz | 0.3840(0) oz | 10.88(6) gram |
| 1 Ser (80Tolas) | 28.000(0) t oz | 1.920(0) lb | 870.89(8) gram[2] |
| 1 Maund (40 Sers) | 93 t lbs 4.00(1) t oz | 5.4857(12) St | 34 kilograms 835.(9)grams |
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.[3] Traditionally one maund represented the weight unit for goods which could be carried over some distance by porters or pack animals.
