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A havildar or havaldar (Hindi: हविलदार حوِلدار ) is a rank in the Indian and Pakistani armies, equivalent to a sergeant. It is not used in cavalry units, where the equivalent is daffadar. Like a British sergeant, a havildar wears three rank chevrons.
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Historically, a havildar was a senior commander, being in charge of a fort during the times of the Mughal Empire and later Maratha Empire. It was used as the equivalent of a sergeant in the British Raj, which has led to its current usage.
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”).
Appointments in the Indian Army
Havildars could be further appointed to positions of higher authority. However, these ranks are currently not in active use.
The 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.
The company havildar major (CHM) was the most senior non-commissioned officer in a company, equivalent to a company sergeant major. The insignia was an Ashoka lion emblem.
The regimental quartermaster havildar (RQMH) was equivalent to a regimental quartermaster sergeant.
The regimental havildar major (RHM) was equivalent to a regimental sergeant major.
Historically, the two senior-most havildars of a company became the CQMH and the CHM. However, these were just appointments and the CO could promote or demote any of these ranks at his discretion.
The appointments of company quartermaster havildar and company havildar major also existed in the British Indian Army.
These appointments still technically exist in the Indian Army. However, they have fallen out of use and havildars are now promoted directly to junior commissioned officer ranks, by whom the duties of these historical appointments are now carried out.
Appointments in the Pakistan Army
Havildar is the third highest enlisted or Non Commissioned Officer military rank in the Pakistan Army. Usually a Havaildar have three Naiks under him and each Naik have ten soldiers under him, making it a military unit of thirty four personnel. Lance Naik and Lance Havildars are higher grades with pay increases awarded to soldiers and Naiks respectively with a good record and performance by Company Commander and Battalion Commander respectively. Every Havildar might have a Lance Havildar out of three Naiks under him and each Naik might have at least one Lance Naik out of ten soldiers under him.
Appointments for Havildars in Pakistan Army are:
Company Quartermaster Havildar
Company Havildar Major
Battalian Quartermaster Havildar
Battalion Havildar Major
In a Company there are seven to eight Havildars. Out of these Havildars, a senior Havildar would act as a Company Quartermaster Havildar while a more senior Havildar would be appointed as Company Havildar Major responsible for the discipline, morale and training of all the soldiers within his Company.
In a Battalion there are usually twenty four to twenty eight or twenty nine Havildars. A senior Havildar would be appointed as Battalion Quartermaster Havildar and the most senior Havildar of the Battalion or the most qualified Havildar would be appointed as its Battalion Havaildar Major having power over all the soldiers in his Battalion regardless of his actual responsibility of thirty four strong military unit.
All of these appointments have different insignia.