Havildar facts for kids

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

A Havildar (also spelled havaldar) is an important military rank in the armies of India, Pakistan, and Nepal. It is similar to a Sergeant in many other armies around the world. This rank is not used in cavalry units, where the equivalent rank is called a Daffadar.

Just like a British sergeant, a havildar wears three special marks called chevrons on their uniform. These chevrons show their rank and authority.

What is a Havildar?

The word "Havildar" comes from the Persian word meaning "person in charge" or "chief." It combines the Arabic word "hawala" (meaning "charge" or "responsibility") with the Persian word "dar" (meaning "holder").

Long ago, during the time of the Mughal Empire, a havildar was a senior commander. They were often in charge of a fort. When the British ruled India (British Raj), they started using "havildar" as the equivalent of a sergeant. This is how the rank is still used today.

Special Roles in the Army

Havildars can also be given special jobs or "appointments" that give them more responsibility. These appointments are like extra roles on top of their regular rank.

Indian Army Roles

In the Indian Army, some important appointments for havildars used to be:

• Company Quartermaster Havildar (CQMH): This role was similar to a company quartermaster sergeant. The CQMH helped the quartermaster manage all the supplies for their company. Their insignia had three chevrons with an Ashoka lion emblem above them.

• Company Havildar Major (CHM): This was the most senior non-commissioned officer (NCO) in a company. It was like a company sergeant major. The CHM's insignia was just an Ashoka lion emblem.

• Regimental Quartermaster Havildar (RQMH): This role was similar to a regimental quartermaster sergeant.

• Regimental Havildar Major (RHM): This role was similar to a regimental sergeant major.

Historically, the two most senior havildars in a company would become the CQMH and CHM. However, these were special jobs, not permanent ranks. A commanding officer could change who held these appointments.

Today, these appointments still exist in the modern Indian Army. But now, havildars are usually promoted directly to junior commissioned officer (JCO) rank. JCOs now handle many of the duties that these historical appointments used to cover.

Pakistan Army Roles

In the Pakistan Army, senior havildars can also be given special appointments. These include:

• Company quartermaster havildar
• Company havildar major
• Battalion quartermaster havildar
• Battalion havildar major

Each of these appointments has its own special insignia. The exact insignia can sometimes be different depending on the specific unit.

Images for kids

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  Company Quartermaster Havildar insignia

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  Company Havildar Major insignia

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  Regimental Quartermaster Havildar insignia

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  Regimental Havildar Major insignia

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  Pakistan Army Company Quartermaster Havildar insignia

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  Pakistan Army Company Havildar Major insignia

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  Pakistan Army Battalion Quartermaster Havildar insignia

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  Pakistan Army Battalion Havildar Major insignia