Jathedar

Jathedar (Punjabi: ਜਥੇਦਾਰ), refers to 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 nation is called Akal Takht.

History

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

From 1920 to 2008, Jathedars were appointed by Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), an elected body of the Sikhs sometimes called "Parliament of Sikhs".

In November 2015, the Sikh diaspora appointed four interim Jathedars through the traditional Sarbat Khalsa at the 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)
Baba Darbara Singh Ji 96Krori (1722–1734)
Nawab Kapur Singh Ji Virk 96Krori (1737–1753)
Sardar Jassa Singh Ahluwalia 96Krori (1753–1783)
Akali Baba Phula Singh Ji 96Krori (1800–1823)
Akali Baba Hanuman Singh Ji 96Krori (1823–1845)
Akali Baba Prahlad Singh Ji 96Krori (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 (2008–2019)

Vice 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–)

Jathedars of Shiromani Panth Akali Buddha Dal - Panjva Takhat Chalda Vaheer Chakarvarti

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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