sirdar

sirdar A high-ranking person in India and other areas of west-central Asia; a chief, a headman.
1905 August 8th, w:The Times|The Times, № 37,780, “Women and Early Marriage”, http://www.newspapers.com/image/32646335/ page 6/1:

Only last week a paper on the question of early marriage in India was read by a young Sikh Sirdar of Kapurthala, in which this supremely important and delicate subject was treated with a tact and frankness which did him the utmost credit. …¶…¶…¶ During the discussion on Sirdar Arjun Sing’s paper, occasion was taken to protest against the erroneous view, too often taken in Europe, as to the abased position of Mahomedan women generally.

Pottinger’s guide, who turned out to be married to the daughter of the Sirdar, or headman, insisted on entering the village first, explaining that it was customary with strangers in this dangerous region.