Daftardar

/ˈdɑf.tɑr.ˌdɑr/ noun

Definition

An official in charge of a daftar (office or record-keeping department); a clerk or administrative officer in South Asian governance.

Etymology

From Persian 'daftar' (office) + '-dar' (holder, keeper), literally 'office-keeper'. Common in Mughal and British-Indian administrative systems.

Kelly Says

This compound word perfectly shows how Persian administrative vocabulary persisted through the Mughal period into British India and beyond—a 'daftardar' was often a crucial intermediary between British officials and Indian governance systems.

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