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.

This article is about the Indian military title. For the magazine, see Sowar (magazine).
Sowar
CountryDelhi Sultanate
Deccan Sultanates
Mughal Empire
India
Pakistan
BranchCavalry
EquipmentScimitar, Spear, Rifle,
A Deccani courtier, c.1600.
A sowar of the 6th Madras Light Cavalry, serving the British East India Company, circa 1845.

History

An image from the Carnatic Wars features a Sowar armed with a Musket.

The Sowar name has been used as the moniker for a line of wrist-watches by the Swiss West End Watch Co.

See also

References
  1. Ostler, Nicholas (2010). The Last Lingua Franca: English Until the Return of Babel. Penguin UK. pp. 1–352. ISBN 978-0141922218.
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