Sowar
Sowar (Hindi: सवार, Punjabi: ਸਵਾਰ, Urdu: سوار, also siwar meaning "the one who rides" or "rider", from Persian sawār)[1] was originally a rank during the Mughal Empire and Maratha Empire. Later during the British Raj it was the name in Anglo-Indian usage for a horse-soldier belonging to the cavalry troops of the native armies of British India and the feudal states. It is also used more specifically of a mounted orderly, escort or guard. It was also the rank held by ordinary cavalry troopers, equivalent to sepoy in the infantry — this rank has been inherited by the modern armies of India and Pakistan.
Sowar | |
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Sowar | |
Country | Delhi Sultanate Deccan Sultanates Mughal Empire India Pakistan |
Branch | Cavalry |
Equipment | Scimitar, Spear, Rifle, |
History
An image from the Carnatic Wars features a Sowar armed with a Musket.
Sowar has been used as the name of a line of wrist-watches by the Swiss West End Watch Co.
See also
- Shah Mustafa, nicknamed Sher-e-Sowar
- Suvari
- Sepoy
References
- Ostler, Nicholas (2010). The Last Lingua Franca: English Until the Return of Babel. Penguin UK. pp. 1–352. ISBN 978-0141922218.
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Sowar". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.