Ressaidar Explained

Ressaidar was a Viceroy's commissioned officer's (VCO) rank in the British Indian Army. Ressaidar denoted a junior commander of a risala or risalah (a body of horse,^[1] regardless if troop or regiment^[2]) in Persian.

This native Officer's rank existed in Cavalry only, there was never a corresponding position in the other arms. A Ressaidar was a junior troop commander, so he could be regarded as native junior 'Captain'.^[3] He was usually the head of the second troop of a squadron, while the first troop was led by a Risaldar, who was a native senior 'Captain'.^[4]

During the British Raj, a Ressaidar ranked above Jemadar or Naib-Risaldar (rank abolished in 1865^[5]) and below Risaldar (with the latter he was sometimes confused with, even by authors of military literature). A Ressaidar was roughly equivalent to a 'Captain, 2nd Class' or 'Captain lieutenant', but in World War I, he was classified as native 'Lieutenant'.^[6] Nevertheless, all VCO's were always outranked by the lowest british Officer with a full commission.

The rank of Ressaidar was abolished with effect from 1st April 1921. Indian Officers then holding that rank were to be promoted to Risaldar.^{[7] [8]}

Notes and References

1. Book: Francis Joseph Steingass. A Comprehensive Persian-English Dictionary, Including the Arabic words and phrases to be met with in literature. 1892. 5th [1963]. Routledge & Kegan Paul. London. 575. 2022-07-06. Apparently there is a 2015 edition from Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers, New Delhi,
2. Book: Carman, W.(William) Y.. Indian Army Uniforms Under the British from the 18th Century to 1947: cavalry.. 1961. Leonard Hill. London. 226.
3. Book: Carman, W.(William) Y.. Indian Army Uniforms Under the British from the 18th Century to 1947: cavalry.. 1961. Leonard Hill. London. 225.
4. Book: Cardew, Lt. Francis Gordon. 161. A Sketch of the Services of the Bengal Native Army to the Year 1895. 1903. Office of the Superintendent of Government, India. Calcutta.
5. Book: Cardew, Lt. Francis Gordon. 165, 333. A Sketch of the Services of the Bengal Native Army to the Year 1895. 1903. Office of the Superintendent of Government, India. Calcutta.
6. Book: Plumon, Eugène. Vade-mecum for the Use of Officers and Interpreters in the Present Campaign: French and English Technical and Military Terms. 1914 . Librairie Hachette & Cie . London. 10.
7. Kate Morris (2006), Illustrated Dictionary of History, New Delhi: Lotus press, p.173, ISBN 81-89093-37-1
8. Journal of the United Service Institution of India, by the United Service Institution, Volume 50-51, New Delhi 1921, p. 365