Sardars

Sardar, plural Sardars, is a title and surname used across Persianate and South Asian cultures to denote a leader, chief, or person holding authority. The term is commonly associated with command and leadership in historical contexts. Etymologically, it derives from Persian sardar, meaning commander, with connections to Turkic forms such as serdar or sirdar.

Historically, Sardars were military or administrative leaders in Iran, Afghanistan, parts of Central Asia, and the Indian subcontinent under various rulers. In the Indian subcontinent, the title was widely used among rulers, nobles, and elders, and over time became a general honorific for men in Punjabi-speaking communities. In Sikh and Punjabi usage, “Sardar” is a common term for men and is not exclusively tied to Sikh identity, though it is often associated with Sikhs in popular discourse. The term also appears as a given name or surname in India, Pakistan, and among the diaspora.

In Pashtun and other communities, “Sardar” has functioned as a tribal title for a local leader or headman, sometimes reflecting village or clan leadership roles. Variant spellings such as sirdar or serdar exist across languages in the region. In modern usage, Sardars may be referred to by the title in formal or informal speech, and the plural Sardars can describe multiple individuals who hold the title or who bear the name.