Havildar
Indian and Pakistani rank insignia
Country	India Pakistan
Service branch	Army
Rank group	Enlisted rank
Next higher rank	Naib subedar
Next lower rank	Naik
Equivalent ranks	Sergeant Daffadar

Havildar or havaldar (Hindustani: हविलदार or हवलदार (Devanagari), حوالدار (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.^[1]

History

"Havildar" is a Persian word in origin and means "person in charge", or more loosely "chief", from the Arabic حواله ("charge", "responsibility") and the Persian دار (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 Presidency armies and British Indian Army, which has led to its current usage.

Appointments

References