THE SUBCONTINENT COUNTING SYSTEM

THE SUBCONTINENT COUNTING SYSTEM

Once upon a time the scientific community in most of the world when it said billion, it denoted a million million (10 to the power 12; i.e. one followed by twelve zeroes), but the Americans meant one thousand million (10 to the power 9). In scientific communications, publications, symposia etc. this led to confusion. The meaning of the word billion had to be standardised in the world wide scientific community. It was agreed by scientists from all countries (including India) that in scientific papers and international symposia, the word billion means one thousand million (10 to the power 9).

This use of the term billion has filtered into the mainstream of many countries on the planet. So when an American refers to billion, it means the same as when a German or South Africa uses that term.

The terms Crore and Lakh are used in the subcontinent instead of talking about millions and billions. The subcontinent has adopted other weight & measures systems from other cultures e.g. Kilometres and Kilograms etc. Should the subcontinent come into line on the matter of dealing with large numbers?

India and Pakistan obviously want to be on the world stage, and India is a major industrial and economic power. My question is whether India should consider changing to the counting system used by the rest of the planet. What does India (or Pakistan) gain by sticking with their current counting system? Is it a matter of national pride, just tradition?

How do Indians in the diaspora (living outside India) feel about this matter?

Please note: I am less interested in which side of the debate you come down on, and more interested in the rationale for your decision. So, you are invited to share your views.

india for once is on the right side of the things.. USA is on the wrong side.. they tried to change their existing system to metric and found the cost to be staggering $125B. they gave up!!!

For commercial purposes, lakh, million, crore and billion all are used depending on whether it's a local or foreign client you are dealing with. It's just like using local language when dealing with local client and using English when dealing with foreign client, so I don't think there is any scope for confusion. I don't know what Indians do when publishing in scientific journals, Indian or International, but given that any scientific journal published in English can have an international audience, I'd like to think that they do use millions and billions instead of lakhs and crores.

Originally posted by: Summer3

Frankly I would prefer if everyone come to a common understanding and standardize all measurements. There are many things that need to be standardized.

The Americans and British should also decide as to which side of the road they wish to stick to.

It is either left hand or right hand driving.

Standardize gun laws and get rid of firearms too !

Ban smoking throughout the world !😆

Perhaps even religion can be standardized.

I say we keep our counting system. When we become super powers, rest of the world will start using our counting system. there will be a day when all the gold in this world is owned by house wifes of India. Probably we start lending money to other countries.