Silladar Cavalry

Silladar means “bearer of arms” in Persian and was given to native cavalrymen (sowars) of irregular regiments.

A recruit or "Khudaspa" was supposed to provide his own mount and weapons as well as stabling attendant, forage, tent and clothing.

The irregular cavalry regiments were almost entirely composed of Muslims, because "the Hindoos are not, generally speaking, as disposed as the Mahomedans to the duties of a trooper.

[8] They were primarily recruited among Hindustani Musalman biradaris, such as the Ranghar(Rajput Muslims), Lalkhani, Sheikhs, Sayyids, Mughals, and Hindustani Pathans, who made up three-fourths of the cavalry branch of the British army.

From 1823 to 1840 irregular cavalry were officially designated 'Local Horse' and included the founder's name in brackets as in 1st (Skinner's) Rgt.

From 1851, the privately owned matchlocks were replaced by government carbines and ammunition to ensure greater uniformity.

The benoker sillidar bought mount, arms and further equipment to lease them to a paid substitute (a bargir) who was to serve as sowar then.

VCOs and men regularly failed to pay their required financial securities for large amounts advanced to them.

The opportunity to disavow debts by changing allegiance was a constant temptation in traditional Indian armies.