Daffadar
Daffadar (Hindustani: दफ़ादार (Devanagari) ; دفعدار (Nastaliq)) is the equivalent rank to sergeant in the Indian and Pakistani cavalry, as it was formerly in the British Indian Army. The rank below is lance daffadar. The equivalent in infantry and other units is havildar. Like a British sergeant, a daffadar wears three rank chevrons.[1]
The etymology of the word is unclear. The -dar suffix, found in havildar and other words, means "holder". Thus the word means "holder of dafa' ". The intended meaning of dafa' is, however, unclear. In Arabic it means "pay" or "push", while in Persian, the more obvious source of the word, it means repulsion. It is unclear what role, if any, the word daffadar indicated in the Mughal Empire before it was used as a British Raj rank.
In Indian Government Service, Daffadar is an assistant of District Collector and requires to work as a personal assistant to the Collector. Daffadar must be present whenever the Collector is at the office, managing visitors and ensuring everything is in order, often working like the Collector's shadow. Whether it’s day or night, Daffadar has no fixed working hours.[1][2] Usually, women not aplay for the post of Daffadar. Recently, in 2024, K. Siji was appointed in the post in Kerala and it made a history to Kerala Government Service.[1][2]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Meet K Siji - Kerala's first female dafadar". Mathrubhumi. 12 November 2024.
- ^ a b "Powerlifting champion becomes first woman dafadar". Keralakaumudi. 12 November 2024.
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