Jathedar

A Jathedar (Punjabi: ਜਥੇਦਾਰ) is a leader of a Jatha (a group, a community or a nation). Among the Sikhs, a Jathedar is an ordained leader of the clergy and leads a Takht, a sacred and authoritative seat.

Sikh clergy consists of five Jathedars, one each from five takhts or sacred seats. The Jathedar of Akal Takht makes all the important decisions after consultations with the Jathedars of the other four Takhts. The highest seat of the Sikh community is called Akal Takht.

History

During the 18th century, Jathedars of Takhts were appointed by the Sarbat Khalsa, a biannual deliberative assembly of Sikhs held at Amritsar in Panjab.

From 1921, Jathedars of Takhts have been appointed by Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), an elected body of the Sikhs controlled by Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), a political party in the state of Punjab and an ally of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

In November 2015, the Sikhs appointed four interim Jathedars through the traditional Sarbat Khalsa at Chabba village on the outskirts of Amritsar, Panjab. Some 100,000 ^[1] to 500,000 Sikhs attended the event from around the world. A few Sikh organizations did not attend and refused to recognize the resolutions of the event. The congregation of Sarbat Khalsa 2015 dismissed the SGPC Jathedars and appointed interim Jathedars for Akal Takht, Damdama Sahib and Anandpur Sahib.

Jathedars of Akal Takht

Bhai Gurdas (1618–1636)
Mani Singh (1721–1734)
Darbara Singh (1722–1734)
Kapur Singh Virk (1737–1753)
Jassa Singh Ahluwalia (1753–1783)
Phula Singh (1800–1823)
Hanuman Singh (1823–1845)
Prahlad Singh (1845–)
Arur Singh Naushera (1906–1921)
Teja Singh Bhuchar (1920–1921)
Teja Singh Akarpuri
(1921–1923) & (1926–1930)
Udham Singh Nagoke
(1923–1924) & (1926)
Acchar Singh
(1924–1926) & (1955–1962)
Didar Singh (1925)
Jawaher Singh Mattu Bhaike (1926)
Gurmukh Singh Musafir (1931–1934)
Wasakha Singh Dadehar (1934)
Mohan Singh Nagoke (1935–1952)
Partap Singh (1952–1954)
Mohan Singh Tur
Sadhu Singh Bhaura (1964–1980)
Gurdial Singh Ajnoha (1980–1983)
Kirpal Singh (1983–1986)
Jasbir Singh Rode (1988–1989)
Darshan Singh (1989–1990)
Manjit Singh (1994–1997)
Ranjit Singh (1997–1999)
Puran Singh (1999–2000)
Joginder Singh Vadanti (2000–2008)
Gurbachan Singh (2008–2018)

Giani Harpreet Singh Ji(2018-)

Acting Jathedars of Akal Takht

Partap Singh (1938–1948)
Kirpal Singh (1963–1965)
Gurdev Singh Kaunke (1986–1993)
Gurbachan Singh Manochahal (1986–1987)
Darshan Singh (1986–1988)
Dhian Singh Mand (2015–Incumbent)
Harpreet Singh (2018–Incumbent)
Jagtar Singh Hawara (2015–Incumbent)

Jathedars of Budha Dal

Jathedars of Damdami Taksal

Guru Gobind Singh
Baba Deep Singh
Bhai Gurbax Singh
Bhai Soorat Singh
Bhai Gurdas Singh
Bhai Sant Singh
Sant Daya Singh
Sant Giani Bhagovan Singh
Sant Harnam Singh Bedi
Sant Bishan Singh
Sant Giani Sundar Singh Bhindranwale
Sant Gurbachan Singh Bhindranwale
Sant Kartar Singh Bhindranwale
Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale
Baba Thakur Singh
Baba Harnam Singh Khalsa

References

^ "What sounds like a religious schism in Punjab could be a cry for better political leadership". The Economist. 28 November 2015. Retrieved 15 October 2016.

External links

[The_Economist-1] "What sounds like a religious schism in Punjab could be a cry for better political leadership". The Economist. 28 November 2015. Retrieved 15 October 2016.

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