Sowar (, also sawar or siwar meaning "the one who rides" or "rider", from Persian language sawār, from the Sasanian Empire Middle Persian Aswaran, from the Achaemenid Old Persian Asabāra) was originally a rank during the Mughal 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. The rank higher is Acting Lance Daffadar.
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