Silladar Cavalry (original) (raw)

The Silladar Cavalry, also known as the Risalah, was a term describing a mounted force of irregular cavalry regiments in some moment in Indian history. 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. It was opposed to having them provided for them by any local or central group or command. They were recruited from local dominant landowning clans, who were cultivators and who traditionally owned weapons and provided military service to local feudal chiefs. The irregular cavalry regiments were almost entirely composed of Muslims, because "the Hindoos are not, generally speaking, as disposed as the Mah