|
Taka name of the currency of Bangladesh. The word is
derived from Sanskrit 'Tanka' which was in ancient, and even in medieval
times, a denomination of silver coin of four masha weight. The
term Taka was widely used in different parts of India but, of course,
with different meaning. In north India, Taka was a copper coin equal to
two paisa and in the south, it was an aggregate of four paisa
or one anna. It was only in Bengal where Taka was taken as a sliver
rupee. However, in all areas of India, Taka was used laxly for money in
general. But Bengal was the stronghold of Taka.
 |
Taka of different denominations |
Rupee was introduced by the Turko-Afghan rulers and strongly
upheld by the Mughals and the British rulers. The Bengal people always
called Rupee as Taka, be it of silver or of gold. ibn
batuta noticed that in Bengal people described gold coin (dinar)
as gold tanka and silver coin as silver tanka. In other words,
whatever might be the metallic content of the coin, the people called
it Taka. It is indeed noteworthy that the Bengali nation has borrowed
two crucial things from the very heart of its history and heritage - the
name of the state, Bangladesh; and the name of its currency, Taka.
[Sirajul Islam]
|
