kotwal

{{Short description|Indian military title}}

{{for|the surname 'Kotwal' |Kotwal (surname)}}

{{Expand language|topic=|langcode=bn|otherarticle=কোতোয়াল|date=March 2023}}

The Kotwal also spelled as Cotwal, or Kotval, was a title used in medieval and early modern period for the leader of a Kot or fort. Kotwals often controlled the fort of a major town or an area of smaller towns on behalf of another ruler. It was similar in function to a British Indian Zaildar{{cite book|last=Massy|first=Charles Francis|title=Chiefs and families of note in the Delhi, Jalandhar, Peshawar and Derajat divisions of the Panjab|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QPcYAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA417|access-date=29 May 2010|year=1890|publisher=Printed at the Pioneer Press|pages=407}} From Mughal times the title was given to the local ruler of a large town and the surrounding area. However, the title is also used for leaders in small villages as well. Kotwal has also been translated as Chief police officer.{{cite book|last1=Saudā|first1=Mirzā Muḥammad Rafiʻ|last2=(Major)|first2=Henry Court|title=Selections from the Kulliyat, or, Complete works of Mirza Rafi-oos-Sauda: being the parts appointed for the high proficiency examination in Oordoo|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vrpDAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA20|access-date=29 May 2010|year=1872|publisher=Printed by J. Elston, "Station Press,"|pages=20–}} The post of Kotwal was known since ancient times as Kota pala who was the chief of Police.{{Cite book|last=Shah|first=Giriraj|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0sHAmkBpUoIC|title=Image Makers: An Attitudinal Study of Indian Police|date=1993|publisher=Abhinav Publications|isbn=978-81-7017-295-6|pages=95|language=en}}

Among members of the Koli caste, Kotwal is a title, derived from the occupation of fort-keepers or protectors of forts and village leader.{{Cite book |last1=Somanaboina |first1=Simhadri |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=H5tIEAAAQBAJ&dq=Kotwal+Koli&pg=PT443 |title=The Routledge Handbook of the Other Backward Classes in India: Thought, Movements and Development |last2=Ramagoud |first2=Akhileshwari |date=2021-11-15 |publisher=Taylor & Francis |isbn=978-1-000-46280-7 |location=New Delhi, India |language=en}}{{Cite book |last=Rao |first=B. S. S. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PuydzvIol0gC&dq=Kotwal+Koli&pg=PA161 |title=Television for Rural Development |publisher=Concept Publishing Company |year=1992 |isbn=978-81-7022-377-1 |location=New Delhi, India, Asia |pages=161 |language=en}} Even when a Koli man retired as a Kotwal, he and his descendants would use "Kotwal" as a surname as it signified prestige.{{Cite book |last=Shah |first=A. M. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zePZAAAAMAAJ |title=Exploring India's Rural Past: A Gujarat Village in the Early Nineteenth Century |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2002 |isbn=978-0-19-565732-6 |location=New Delhi, India |pages=82–91 |language=en}} Kolis were Kotwal from the times of Mughal rule in Gujarat{{Cite book |last=Khān |first=ʻAlī Muḥammad |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=P-ZjAAAAMAAJ |title=Mirat-i-Ahmadi: A Persian History of Gujarat |publisher=Oriental Institute |year=1965 |location=New Delhi, India, Asia |pages=831 |language=en}} and were hereditary Kotwal of the royal palaces of Rajkot, Morvi and Bhavnagar Princely states.{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4_htAAAAMAAJ |title=Vanyajāti |publisher=Bharatiya Adimjati Sevak Sangh. |year=1989 |location=New Delhi, India, Asia |pages=26 |language=en}} Kolis of Maharashtra also served as Kotwal in Ahmadnagar Sultanate and controlled the forts.{{Cite book |last=Shyam |first=Radhey |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5C4hBqKdkEsC&dq=Kotwal+Kolis&pg=PA376 |title=The Kingdom of Ahmadnagar |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publications |year=1966 |isbn=978-81-208-2651-9 |location=New Delhi, India, Asia |pages=376 |language=en}}