Jathedar
A jathedar (Punjabi: ਜੱਥੇਦਾਰ) is a leader of high regard chosen to head and ensure discipline within a jatha, a body of Sikhs.
History
During the early-to-mid 18th century, the term was used to refer to a leader of a Jatha. However, it began to be replaced by titles, such as Sardar, due to Afghan influence from the mid-18th century onwards. 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. 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.
Jathedars of the Akal Takht
- Gurdas Bhalla (c. 1606–c. 1637)
- Mani Singh (c. 1699–c. 1737)
- Darbara Singh (c. 1722–1734)
- Kapur Singh Virk (1734–1748)
- Jassa Singh Ahluwalia (1748–1783)
- Phula Singh (c. 1800–1823)
- Hanuman Singh (1823–1846)
- Prahlad Singh (1845–1865)
- Arur Singh Naushehra (1907–1920)
- Teja Singh Bhuchar (1920–1921)
- 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)
- Mohan Singh Tur (1962–1963)
- Sadhu Singh Bhaura (1964–1980)
- Kirpal Singh (1963–1965) (1983–1986)
- Gurdial Singh Ajnoha (1980–1983)
- 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 (1997–1999)
- Puran Singh (1999–2000)
- Joginder Singh Vadanti (2000–2008)
- Gurbachan Singh (2008–2018)
- Jagtar Singh Hawara (2015–Incumbent)
- Dhian Singh Mand (2015–Incumbent)
- Singh Sahib Giani Harpreet Singh Ji (2018–2023)
- Singh Sahib Giani Raghbir Singh Ji (2023-Present)
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
- Balbir Singh
- Manjit Singh
- Tarlochan Singh
- Singh Sahib Giani Mal Singh Ji (2013-2017)
- Amrik Singh Ajnala (2015–2017)
- Raghbir Singh (2017–2023)
- Singh Sahib Giani Sultan Singh Ji (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
- Jagir Singh
- Avtar Singh Brahma
- Sabh Lakha Singh
- Jaswant Singh
- Sanjh Hakam Singh
- Mehar Singh
- Kewal Singh
- Balwant Singh Nandgarh
- Gurmukh Singh
- Baljit Singh Daduwal (2015–2020)
- Harpreet Singh (2018–Incumbent)
Jathedars of Takht Patna Sahib
- Iqbal Singh (–2019)
- Ranjit Singh (2019–2022)
- 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
- Baba Gurbaksh Singh
- Baba Soorat Singh
- Baba Gurdas Singh
- Baba Sant Singh
- Baba Daya Singh
- Baba Bhagovan Singh
- Baba Harnam Singh Bedi
- Baba Bishan Singh Muralewale
- Baba Sundar Singh Bhindranwale (1905-1930)
- Baba Gurbachan Singh Bhindranwale (1930-1961)
- Baba Kartar Singh Bhindranwale (1969–1977)
- Baba Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale (1977–1984)
- Baba Thakur Singh Bhindranwale (Karajkari 1984–2004)
- Baba Harnam Singh Bhindranwale (Karajkari 2004–Incumbent)
Jathedars of Budha Dal
- Baba Binod Singh (1708–1716)
- Baba 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 Giana Singh (1865–1907)
- Akali Teja Singh (1907–1929)
- Akali Sahib Singh Kaladhari (1929–1942)
- Akali Chet Singh (1942–1969)
- Akali Santa Singh (1969–2005)
- Akali Surjit Singh (2005–2014) (Disputed)
- Baba Balbir Singh (2007–Present) (Disputed)
- Akali Joginder Singh (2014-incumbent) (Disputed)
- Akali Prem Singh (2014-2019) (Disputed)
- Akali Mann Singh (2019-incumbent) (Disputed)
Jathedars of Taruna Dal
- 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
- Makhan Singh
- 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)