Jathedar
A jathedar (Punjabi: ਜੱਥੇਦਾਰ) is a leader of high regard chosen to head and ensure discipline within a jatha, a troop of Sikhs.[1]
History
During the early-to-mid 18th century, the term was used to refer to a leader of a Jatha.[2] However, it began to be replaced by titles, such as Sardar, due to Afghan influence from the mid-18th century onwards.[2] The terms "jatha" and "jathedar" were revived during the Singh Sabha Movement to refer to "bands of preachers and choirs", an association which survives until the present-day.[2] However, during the later Gurdwara Reform Movement, the terms began to take on a martial tone once again, resuscitating and harking back to the 18th century's context for the word.[2]
Jathedars of the Akal Takht
- Gurdas Bhalla (c. 1606–c. 1637)
Usurped by Minas from 1640 to 1698
- Mani Singh (c. 1699–c. 1737)
- Darbara Singh (c. 1722–1734)
- Kapur Singh Virk (1733–1748)
- Jassa Singh Ahluwalia (1748–1783) †
- Phula Singh (c. 1800–1823) †
- Hanuman Singh (1823–1846) †
- Prahlad Singh (1846–1865) †
Usurped by Sarbarahs appointed by the British Indian Government from 1859 to 1920
- Teja Singh Bhuchar (1920–1921) X
- Teja Singh Akarpuri (1921–1923) & (1926–1930)
- Udham Singh Nagoke (1923–1924) & (1926-short period)
- Acchar Singh (1924–1926) & (1955–1962)
- Didar Singh (1925-short period)
- Jawaher Singh Mattu Bhaike (1926-short period)
- Gurmukh Singh Musafir (1931–1934)
- Wasakha Singh Dadehar (1934)
- Mohan Singh Nagoke (1935–1952)
- Partap Singh (1938–1948) (1952–1954) X
- Mohan Singh Tur (1962–1963)
- Sadhu Singh Bhaura (1964–1980)
- Kirpal Singh (1963–1965) (1983–1986)
- Gurdial Singh Ajnoha (1980–1982)
- Jasbir Singh Rode (1986–1989)
- Gurdev Singh Kaunke (1986–1993)
- Gurbachan Singh Manochahal (1986–1987) †
- Darshan Singh (1986–1988) (1986–1988) (1989–1990)
- Manjit Singh (1994–1997)
- Ranjit Singh (1994–1999)
- Puran Singh (1999–2000)
- Joginder Singh Vedanti (2000–2008)
- Gurbachan Singh (2008–2018)
- Jagtar Singh Hawara (2015–Incumbent)
- Dhian Singh Mand (2015–Incumbent)
- Harpreet Singh (2018–2023)
- Raghbir Singh (2023–Incumbent)
Jathedars of Takht Kesgarh Sahib
- Karam Singh
- Kharak Singh
- Budh Singh
- Puran Singh
- Puran Singh
- Resham Singh
- Partap Singh
- Bir Singh
- Ajit Singh
- Fauja Singh
- Bachitar Singh
- Guridal Singh
- Harcharan Singh
- Shavinder Singh
- Labh Singh[3] †
- Balbir Singh
- Manjit Singh
- Tarlochan Singh
- Giani Mal Singh (2013-2017)
- Amrik Singh Ajnala (2015–2017)
- Raghbir Singh (2017–2023)
- Giani Sultan Singh (2023-Present)
Jathedars of Takht Damdama Sahib
- Deep Singh †
- Sudh Singh
- Karam Singh
- Natha Singh †
- Ran Singh
- Bhagwaan Singh
- Baghel Singh
- Diwan Singh
- Ram Singh
- Harchand Singh Longowal X
- Jagir Singh
- Avtar Singh Brahma[4] †
- Sabh Lakha Singh †
- Jaswant Singh
- Sanjh Hakam Singh
- Mehar Singh
- Kewal Singh
- Balwant Singh Nandgarh[5]
- Gurmukh Singh[6]
- Baljit Singh Daduwal (2015–2020)
- Harpreet Singh (2018–Incumbent)[7]
Jathedars of Takht Patna Sahib
- Iqbal Singh (–2019)[8]
- Ranjit Singh (2019–2022)[9][10]
- Baldev Singh (2022–Incumbent)
Jathedars of Takht Hazur Sahib
- Santokh Singh (1709–1715)
- Khushal Singh (1715–1722)
- Lal Singh (1722–1730)
- Bakhtawar Singh (1730–1736)
- Charat Singh (1736–1786)
- Mohar Singh (1786–1793)
- Ram Singh (1793–1804)
- Dharam Singh (1804–1812)
- Charat Singh (1812–1817)
- Sahib Singh (1817–1818)
- Aaya Singh (1818–1824)
- Jassa Singh (1824–1839)
- Isher Singh (1839–1841)
- Waryam Singh (1841–1844)
- Tara Singh (1844–1858)
- Atar Singh (1858–1867)
- Prem Singh (1867–1875)
- Deva Singh (1875–1876)
- Brij Singh (1876–1877)
- Jawahar Singh (1877–1883)
- Nanu Singh (1883–1890)
- Maan Singh (1890–1913)
- Daya Singh (1913–1914)
- Hari Singh (1914–1919)
- Hira Singh (1919–1945)
- Bahadur Singh (1945–1946)
- Hira Singh (1946–1950)
- Harnam Singh (1950–1956)
- Joginder Singh (1956–1984)
- Hajura Singh (1984–2000)
- Kulwant Singh (2000–Incumbent)
Jathedars of Damdami Taksal
- Baba Deep Singh Ji †
- Baba Gurbaksh Singh
- Soorat Singh
- Gurdas Singh
- Sant Singh
- Daya Singh
- Bhagwan Singh
- Harnam Singh Bedi
- Bishan Singh Muralewale
- Sundar Singh Bhindranwale (1905-1930)
- Gurbachan Singh Bhindranwale (1930-1961)
- Kartar Singh Bhindranwale (1969–1977)
- Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale (1977–1984)
- Thakur Singh Bhindranwale (1984–2004)
- Harnam Singh (2004–Incumbent)
Jathedars of Budha Dal
- Binod Singh (1708–1716) †
- Darbara Singh (1716–1734) †
- Nawab Kapur Singh (1737–1753)
- Jassa Singh Ahluwalia (1753–1783)
- Akali Naina Singh (1783–1800)
- Akali Phula Singh (1800–1823) †
- Akali Hanuman Singh (1823–1846) †
- Akali Prahlad Singh (1846–1865) †
- Akali Gian Singh (1865–1907)
- Akali Teja Singh (1907–1929)
- Akali Sahib Singh Kaladhari (1929–1942)
- Akali Karam Singh (1942–1944)
- Akali Chet Singh (1944–1969)
- Akali Santa Singh (1969-2007)
- Akali Surjit Singh (2007–2014)
- Akali Joginder Singh Raqbewale (2014–Incumbent)
Jathedars of Tarna Dal
- Baba Deep Singh †
- Gurbakhsh Singh †
- Sudha Singh
- Karam Singh
- Natha Singh
- Ram Singh Bedi
- Jassa Singh
- Nand Singh
- Ram Singh
- Gurmukh Singh
- Sadhu Singh
- Bishan Singh
- Kirtan Singh (1994-2001)
- Makhan Singh (2001-2016)
- Gajjan Singh (2016-2023)
- Joga Singh (2023-current)
Jathedars of Bidhi Chand Dal
- Bidhi Chand Chhina
- Lal Chand
- Gurdial Chand
- Hukam Chand
- Jeoun Singh
- Jaspat Singh
- Bhag Singh
- Labh Singh
- Natha Singh
- Sohan Singh
- Daya Singh Sur Singh (1975-2014)
- Avtar Singh Sur Singh (2014-Incumbent)
References
- ^ Nabha, Kahn Singh (30 December 2014). Guru Shabad Ratnakar Mahan Kosh. Patiala: Panjabi University. Archived from the original on 8 December 2022. Retrieved 8 December 2022.
- ^ a b c d Singh, Harbans. The Encyclopedia of Sikhism. Vol. 2: E-L. Punjabi University, Patiala. pp. 362–3.
- ^ Journal of Government and Political Studies. Department of Political Science, Punjabi University. 1989. p. 23.
- ^ Journal of Government and Political Studies. Department of Political Science, Punjabi University. 1989. p. 23.
- ^ "Nandgarh installed Jathedar". The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Punjab. 6 January 2003. Archived from the original on 2020-09-28. Retrieved 2022-09-02.
- ^ Rambani, Vishal; Nagpal, Atul (2017-04-21). "Giani Gurmukh Singh removed as Takht Damdama Sahib jathedar; he hits back". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 2023-08-19.
- ^ "Takhat Sahiban Jathedar". Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee www.dsgmc.in. Archived from the original on 2022-09-02. Retrieved 2022-09-02.
- ^ "Court reinstates Takht Patna Sahib former Jathedar Giani Iqbal Singh". Tribuneindia News Service. Archived from the original on 2022-09-02. Retrieved 2022-09-02.
- ^ "Ranjit Singh is Takht Patna Sahib jathedar". Tribuneindia News Service. Archived from the original on 2022-09-02. Retrieved 2022-09-02.
- ^ "Amid opposition, Giani Ranjit Singh reinstated as Takht Patna Sahib jathedar". Hindustan Times. 2022-11-19. Archived from the original on 2022-11-21. Retrieved 2022-11-21.