Havildar
Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates {{#invoke:Hatnote|hatnote}} Template:Infobox military rank
Havildar or havaldar (Hindustani: {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} or {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (Devanagari), {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (Perso-Arabic)) is a rank in the Indian and Pakistani armies, equivalent to sergeant. It is not used in cavalry and armoured units, where the equivalent is daffadar.
Like a British sergeant, a havildar wears three rank chevrons.<ref name=havildar>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
HistoryEdit
"Havildar" is a Persian word in origin and means "person in charge", or more loosely "chief", from the Arabic {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} ("charge", "responsibility") and the Persian {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (dâr, "holder"). Historically, a havildar was a senior commander, being in charge of a fort during the times of the Mughal Empire. It was used as the equivalent of a sergeant in the British Indian Army, which has led to its current usage.
AppointmentsEdit
Indian ArmyEdit
Havildars could be further appointed to positions of higher authority. The appointments of company quartermaster havildar and company havildar major existed in the British Indian Army.<ref name=ranks/> Historically, the two senior-most havildars of a company became the CQMH and the CHM. However, these were just appointments and the commanding officer could promote or demote any of these ranks at his discretion.<ref name=ranks/> These appointments still technically exist in the modern Indian Army.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> However, havildars are now promoted directly to junior commissioned officer rank, as the duties of these historical appointments are now carried out by JCOs.<ref name=havildar/><ref name=ranks/><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
File:Company Quartermaster Havildar.gifThe company quartermaster havildar (CQMH), equivalent to a company quartermaster sergeant, assisted the quartermaster in managing the company stores. The insignia was three chevrons with an Ashoka lion emblem above.<ref name=ranks>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
File:Company Havildar Major.gifThe company havildar major (CHM) was the most senior non-commissioned officer in a company, equivalent to a company sergeant major.<ref name=ranks/> The insignia was an Ashoka lion emblem.<ref name=ranks/>
File:Regimental Quartermaster Havildar.gifThe regimental quartermaster havildar (RQMH) was equivalent to a regimental quartermaster sergeant.<ref name=ranks/>
File:Regimental Havildar Major.gifThe regimental havildar major (RHM) was equivalent to a regimental sergeant major.<ref name=ranks/>
Pakistan ArmyEdit
Senior havildars might also be appointed company quartermaster havildar, company havildar major, battalion quartermaster havildar or battalion havildar major in the Pakistan Army. All of these appointments have different insignia and may vary from unit to unit.
File:04.Pakistan Army-SSG.svg Company quartermaster havildar
File:05.Pakistan Army-SFC.svg Company havildar major
File:06.Pakistan Army-MSG.svg Battalion quartermaster havildar
File:07.Pakistan Army-SGM.svg Battalion havildar major
