Sardar, also spelled asSardaar (Persian:سردار,Persian pronunciation:[særˈdɑr], 'commander', literally 'headmaster'), is a title ofroyalty andnobility that was originally used to denoteprinces,noblemen, chiefs,kings and otheraristocrats. It has also been used to denote a chief or leader of a tribe or group. It is used as a Persian synonym of the titleEmir of Arabic origin.
Amongst Sikhs, the term began to be adopted due to Afghan influence in the mid-18th century to signify a leader of aJatha orMisl and gradually replaced other prior used terms for these positions, such as 'Jathedar' and 'Misldar'.[3] The termsardar was used bySikh leaders and generals who held important positions in variousSikh Misls. The title is still commonly used by Sikhs today. Though historically signifying one's military rank or membership of a locally important family, in the contemporary period the title is used widely in India and neighbouring countries for any respected Sikh male.Sardar was also used to refer to generals of theMaratha Empire. After the decline offeudalism,sardar later indicated aHead of State, aCommander-in-chief, and an armymilitary rank. As a military rank, asardar typically marked theCommander-in-Chief or the highest-rankingmilitary officer in an army, akin to the modernField Marshal,General of the Army orChief of Army. The more administrative titleSirdar-Bahadur denoted aGovernor-General orChief Minister of a remote province, akin to a BritishViceroy.
InHimalayanmountaineering, asirdar is a local leader of theSherpas.[4] Among other duties, he records the heights reached by each Sherpa, which factors into their compensation.
Portrait of aSikhsirdar, ca.1820InBalochistan, the titleSardar marked the chief of his tribe.
In theRoyal Afghan Kingdom, the originalNishan-i-Sardari (Order of the Leader), founded byKing Amanullah in 1923, was bestowed for exceptional service to the Crown by the Afghan monarch. Recipients enjoyed the titles ofSardar-i-Ala orSardar-i-Ali before their names and also received grants of land. The original Order was disbanded in 1929, and was later revived byKing Muhammad Zahir Shah.
InOttoman Turkey, Serdar was a rank inBosnia Eyalet withHerzegovina Eyalet, laterBosnia Vilayet, encompassing entireBosnia and Herzegovina, and parts ofMontenegro andSerbia, as well as in other parts Ottoman Montenegro, Serbia, and other lands. Serdar was also used in thePrincipality of Montenegro and thePrincipality of Serbia as an honorary "title" below that ofVojvoda. For example,Janko Vukotić who was a military leader and former prime minister of Montenegro with title ofSerdar. However, these were not noble titles as there was no nobility in Serbia and Montenegro and no hereditary titles apart from those borne by members of the reigning families of both countries.
InPunjab, village chiefs, military commanders, and noble personalities were referred to as Sardars. The title is commonly used by both Muslims and Sikhs.
The earlyfeudalMaratha Empire prior toPeshwa administration (1674–1749) used the titleSardar to identify an imperial courtminister with military and diplomatic functions. If granted land (jagir), the titleSardar also marked afeudal superior responsible for administration, defense and taxing of the granted territory (equivalent to the European titleCount, from the Frenchcomte meaning the "companion" or delegate to theEmperor that administered acounty). TheseSardars of the earlyMaratha Empire werelife peers; the title was not hereditary.
In theHazara Division of Pakistan, the wordSardar is used by theKarlal tribe, traditionally, to stress their upper-caste status.
In the districts ofPoonch andSudhanoti,Kashmir,Sardar is used by the hybridSudhan tribe andDouli tribe. Also, other tribal families in Poonch useSardar at the beginning of their names.
SimilarlySardar is used byKhattar tribe noble men, native to the districts ofAttock and adjacent areas ofRawalpindi.
Sardar was used for important political, tribal, military and religious officers rankings by theSikhs during the period of MaharajaRanjit Singh.
Vallabhbhai Patel, the first Deputy Prime Minister of India was referred to as Sardar Patel; he is also now known as the "Iron Man of India".
Sadr-e-Riyasat was the title of one ConstitutionalHead of State of the princely state ofKashmir, Yuvaraj Shri Karan Singhji Bahadur, who was appointed as Heir Apparent in 1931. After his father had acceded to India, ending the sovereign Monarchy, Regent in 1949 to 1956.Sardar-i-Riyasat 1956 to 1965 (succeeded on the death of his father as Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir, 1961, no longer carrying any hereditary power), next Governor of the Indian constitutive State ofJammu and Kashmir 1965 to 1967.
Saparmurat Niyazov, the authoritarian ruler ofTurkmenistan in 1990–2006, carried a few glorifying titles, one of which wasSerdar (“Leader”).[6]
SardarSulakhan Singh Puar of Sikh Empire had the title of Sardar. Among Sikhs, Sardar is the title used by Sikh nobles, Military leaders & village chiefs.
The titleSerdar is also common amongstOttomans in referring to a Commander-in-Chief. TheSerbs adopted this usage from the Ottomans (e.g.Serdar Janko Vukotić).
In Turkish,Serdar orSerdar-i-Ekrem was the title of the Commander-in-Chief in several military operations throughout the Ottoman Empire history.
During the time ofMaharaja Ranjit Singh, the term Sardar became even more common as a title given to Sikh men. Although it was officially reserved to address a high-ranking official or a commanding chief such as a general or officer.[7]
The termSardar is today used to refer to adult male followers of the religion ofSikhism, as a disproportionate number of Sikhs have honorably served in many high-ranking positions within the Indian Army. Notable examples include GeneralsJoginder Jaswant Singh andHarbaksh Singh.
InHimalayanmountaineering, aSirdar is the local leader of theSherpas and porters.[8] Among other duties, he records the heights reached by individual Sherpas, which dictates the amounts the Sherpas will be paid.
The titleSardar was granted to various writers and poets during Rana rule in Nepal
"Siridar" is a title of planetary rulers in Frank Herbert'sDune. ThePadishah Emperor's elite troops are also called theSardaukar.
Sardar is now used for leaders of a tribe in Pakistan, Afghanistan, India. Many communities and tribes in indian subcontinent, especially inPunjab andKashmir, use this title, includingDogar,Jat,Gujjar,Mughal andSikh.
^Cummings, Sally N. (2010).Symbolism and Power in Central Asia: Politics of the Spectacular. Milton, United Kingdom: Routledge. pp. 91–92.ISBN978-0415575676.
