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{{Short description|Title used in military system in the Indian subcontinent}}
{{Short description|Title used in military system in the Indian subcontinent}}
'''Jemadar''' or '''jamadar''' is a title used for various military and other officials in the Indian subcontinent.
'''Jemadar''' or '''jamadar''' ([[Urdu]]: جیمادار, [[Persian language|Persian]]: جِمادار, [[Arabic language|Arabic]]: جمادار)) is a title used for various military and other officials in the Indian subcontinent.


== Etymology ==
== Etymology ==
The word stems from [[Urdu]] ({{lang|ur|جمعدار}}), which derives through [[Persian language|Persian]] ''jam'dar'' from [[Arabic]] ''jamā‘a(t)'' 'muster' + [[Persian language|Persian]] ''-dār'' 'holder'.
The word stems from [[Urdu]] ({{lang|ur|جمعدار}}), which derives through [[Persian language|Persian]] ''jam'dar'' from [[Arabic]] ''jamā‘a(t)'' 'muster' + [[Persian language|Persian]] ''-dār'' 'holder'.


== Pre-colonial ==
==Pre-colonial==
[[File:Indian Army (1920-1950) Naib Subedar & Naib Risaldar.svg|thumb|upright 0.3|Rank insignia of a British Indian Army Jemadar, 1920–1950]]
A jemadar was originally an armed official of a [[zamindar]] (feudal [[lord]]) in India who, like a [[General officer|military general]], and along with [[Mridha]]s, was in charge of fighting and conducting [[warfare]], mostly against the rebellious peasants and common people who lived on the lord's land.<ref>{{cite book
A jemadar was originally an armed official of a [[zamindar]] (feudal [[lord]]) in India who, like a [[General officer|military general]], and along with [[Mridha]]s, was in charge of fighting and conducting [[warfare]], mostly against the rebellious peasants and common people who lived on the lord's land.<ref>{{cite book
| last          = Chatterjee
| last          = Chatterjee
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* [[List of Koli states and clans]]
* [[List of Koli states and clans]]
* [[Hatem Ali Jamadar]] (1872–1982), Bengali politician
* [[Hatem Ali Jamadar]] (1872–1982), Bengali politician
* [[Peter Jamadar]], Trinidadian judge


== References ==
== References ==
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[[Category:Military of the Mughal Empire]]
[[Category:Military of the Mughal Empire]]
[[Category:Military ranks of Pakistan]]
[[Category:Pakistan Army ranks]]
[[Category:Military ranks of British India]]
[[Category:Military ranks of British India]]
[[Category:Military ranks of the Indian Army]]
[[Category:Military ranks of the Indian Army]]

Latest revision as of 05:23, 14 March 2026

Jemadar or jamadar (Urdu: جیمادار, Persian: جِمادار, Arabic: جمادار)) is a title used for various military and other officials in the Indian subcontinent.

Etymology[edit | edit source]

The word stems from Urdu (جمعدار), which derives through Persian jam'dar from Arabic jamā‘a(t) 'muster' + Persian -dār 'holder'.

Pre-colonial[edit | edit source]

Rank insignia of a British Indian Army Jemadar, 1920–1950

A jemadar was originally an armed official of a zamindar (feudal lord) in India who, like a military general, and along with Mridhas, was in charge of fighting and conducting warfare, mostly against the rebellious peasants and common people who lived on the lord's land.[1] Also, this rank was used among the thuggees as well, usually the gang leader.

Later, it became a rank used in the British Indian Army, where it was the lowest rank for a Viceroy's commissioned officer. Jemadars either commanded platoons or troops themselves or assisted their British commander. They also filled regimental positions such as assistant quartermaster (jemadar quartermaster) or assistant adjutant (jemadar adjutant).

Post-colonial[edit | edit source]

The rank remained in use in the Indian Army until 1965 as the lowest rank of junior commissioned officer. The rank of jemadar was later renamed in both the Indian Army and the Pakistan Army as naib subedar in infantry units, and naib risaldar in cavalry and armoured corps units. Jemadar remains a warrant officer rank in the Nepal Army.

Other uses[edit | edit source]

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. Chatterjee, Partha. A Princely Impostor?. Permanent Black. ISBN 978-8178240848.
  2. Mike Dash, Thug: the true story of India's murderous cult, ISBN 1-86207-604-9, 2005