The Jathedar of the Akal Takht () is the head of the Akal Takht and head of the Sikhs worldwide. The jathedar has the de facto power as the supreme spokesperson of the Khalsa to summon, try and sentence any person who identifies as a Sikh from the Akal Takht.

The current jathedar, Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, was appointed by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) on 7 March 2025. Jagtar Singh Hawara, was declared jathedar of the Akal Takht by the Sarbat Khalsa on 10 November 2015, But due to the imprisonment of Hawara, Dhian Singh Mand, appointed by the Sarbat Khalsa, has been serving as the acting jathedar. The jathedars of the five takhts generally make important decisions in consultation within the framework of the Sikh Rehat Maryada while considering the collective will of the Sikhs.

The position of jathedar is not established by any constitutional document, but exists only by long-established convention, whereby a Sarbat Khalsa or an institution authorised by it appoints a person most likely to command the confidence of the Sikhs. The jathedar is supported by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee and heads the other four jathedars of the takhts. The jathedar also commands the Akali Nihangs, an armed Sikh warrior order started from the Akal Takht by the sixth Sikh Guru, Guru Hargobind.

The Akal Takht, the building directly opposite the Darbar Sahib, was founded by Guru Hargobind, as a symbol of political sovereignty and where spiritual and temporal concerns of the Sikh people can be addressed.Fahlbusch E. (ed.) "The encyclopedia of Christianity." Eerdmans, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 2008. Along with Baba Buddha and Bhai Gurdas, the sixth Guru built a concrete slab. When Guru Hargobind revealed the platform on 15 June 1606, he put on two swords: one indicated his spiritual authority (piri) and the other, his temporal authority (miri).

History and development Title and etymology The word jathedar is a compound of and , meaning leader of a troop or group as a collective. The title is used for a general or commander of a Sikh military unit and applies to a head of a takht.

Origin After the execution of the fifth Guru, Guru Arjan, his son and successor Guru Hargobind bearing the two swords of and declared himself sovereign and defied the imperial edict of the Mugal Empire in 1606. Recognising the necessity of coordinating efforts against the Mughal empire, the Guru simultaneously began the process of militarising the Sikhs. The first hukamnama issued from the Akal Takht on 30 June 1606 commanded the Sikhs to offer arms and horses. The position of jathedar was established, when the Guru appointed Bhai Gurdas as the first custodian of the Akal Takht, which was then known as the Akal Bunga. However, Guru Hargobind had to leave the Akal Takht in 1634 due to the hostilities of the Mughal rulers, and the institution came under the control of the Minas, followers of Prithi Chand, the excommunicated brother Guru Arjan.

Following the establishment of the Khalsa, which took effect on 13 April 1699, the tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh sent Bhai Mani Singh to Amritsar with instructions to take possession of the Darbar Sahib and the Akal Takht from the Minas. The Sikhs assigned Bhai Mani Singh as the head granthi of Harmandir Sahib and the jathedar of the Akal Takht. After the passing of Guru Gobind Singh, the Sikh divisions accepted the common leadership and sovereignty of the head of the Akal Takht.

Sarbat Khalsa In 1733, Zakariya Khan Bahadur attempted to negotiate truce with the Sikhs by offering them a jagir, the title Nawab to their head, and unimpeded access to Amritsar. After discussion at a Sarbat Khalsa, Kapur Singh Virk was chosen head of the Sikhs and took the title of Nawab. He combined the various Sikh militias into two groups; Taruna Dal for under 40 years of age and the Buddha Dal for over 40 years of age, which would collectively be known as Dal Khalsa. The Taruna Dal was further divided in five jathas, each with 1300 to 2000 men and a separate drum and banner. Considering Hari ke Pattan, where the Sutlej and Beas rivers meet as a reference point, the Taruna Dal was assigned to control the eastern area while the Buddha Dal controlled the west.

On 23 March 1748, a Sarbat Khalsa appointed Jassa Singh Ahluwalia to take the command of Dal Khalsa and become the head of the Sikhs. Ahluwalia proclaimed the title of Sultan-ul-Qaum (Authority of the Nation) when the Sikhs under his leadership defeated the Afghan forces of Ahmad Shah Abdali and took Lahore without resistance in September 1761. The 40,000 allied forces of Baghel Singh, Jassa Singh Ahluwalia and Jassa Singh Ramgarhia conquered the Red Fort in Delhi and hoisted the Nishan Sahib atop on 11 March 1783. The condition of their retreat included the construction of seven gurdwaras marking Sikh historical sites in Delhi.

Dispute

A Sarbat Khalsa convened by Sikh organisations opposed to the influence of Shiromani Akali Dal over Sikh religious institutions in 2015 appointed Jagtar Singh Hawara as the Jathedar of Akal Takht. The SGPC president at that time, Avtar Singh Makkar, however condemned the convening as against the principles of Sikhism and its decisions null and void. He added that the removal of Jathedars came under Sikh Gurdwaras Act, 1925 and no one could challenge the authority of the SGPC. Giani Gurbachan Singh continued to remain in his post until his resignation on 18 October 2018. On 23 October, the SGPC appointed Giani Harpreet Singh as the acting jathedar of Akal Takht.

Qualifications and selection

The jathedar serves at the Khalsa's pleasure, meaning the post does not have a fixed term, and once appointed, the jathedar remains in service until they resign, are dismissed, or die.

Chapter IV, Article V of the Sikh Rehat Maryada only permits an initiated Sikh to enter the hallowed enclosures of a takht; therefore, only a Khalsa Sikh of high regard can become a jathedar. Prior to 1921, jathedars were appointed by the Sarbat Khalsa, a biannual deliberative assembly of the Sikhs held at Amritsar. Since 1921, the jathedar of takhts have generally been appointed by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee.

Role and authority Chapter XIII, Article XXVII of the Sikh Rehat Maryada allows for an appeal against a local decision concerning the Sikhs to be made to the Akal Takht. The jathedar of the Akal Takht has the de facto power to summoned Sikhs including those who hold a position of authority to be trialed. Hukamnamas issued by the jathedar from the Akal Takht which are binding may order an acquittal, penalty or excommunication. The Khalsa can hold individuals accountable for violating the decisions of the Akal Takht.

List Colour key

+ Portrait Name Term Assigned by Start End Duration 1 Gurdas Bhalla 1606 1637 31 years Guru Hargobind Usurped by Mina leaders Harji and his sons from 1640 to 1698. 2 Mani Singh 1699 1737 38 years Guru Gobind Singh 3 Darbara Singh 1722 1734 12 years Sarbat Khalsa 4 Kapur Singh 1737 29 March1748 14 years Sarbat Khalsa 5 Jassa Singh Ahluwalia 29 March1748 23 October1783 Sarbat Khalsa 6 Phula Singh 1800 1823 23 years Sarbat Khalsa 7 Hanuman Singh 1823 1846 23 years Buddha Dal 8 Prahlad Singh 1846 1865 19 years Buddha Dal Usurped by Sarbarahs appointed by the British Indian Government from 1859 to 1920: Jodh Singh (1859–1862), Mangal Singh Ramgarhia (1862–1879), Man Singh Waraich (1879–1890), Arjan Singh Chahal (1890–1896), Jawala Singh (1896–1902) and Arur Singh Shergill (1902–1920). 9Teja Singh Bhuchar 12 October1920 29 April1921 Sarbat Khalsa 101 of 2 Teja Singh Akarpuri 1921 1923 SGPC 111 of 2 Udham Singh Nagoke 1923 1924 SGPC 121 of 2 Acchar Singh 1924 1926 SGPC —2 of 2 Udham Singh Nagoke 1926 short period Less than a year SGPC —2 of 2 Teja Singh Akarpuri 1926 1930 SGPC 13 Didar Singh 1925 short period Less than a year SGPC 14 Jawaher Singh Mattu Bhaike 1926 short period Less than a year SGPC 15 Gurmukh Singh Musafir 1931 1934 3 years SGPC 16 Vasakha Singh Dadehar 1934 1934 SGPC 17 Mohan Singh Nagoke 1935 1952 17 years SGPC 181 of 2 Partap Singh 1938 1948 10 years SGPC —2 of 2 Partap Singh 1952 1954 2 years SGPC —2 of 2 Acchar Singh 1955 1962 SGPC 19 Mohan Singh Tur 1962 1963 1 year SGPC 201 of 2Kirpal Singh 1963 1965 2 years SGPC 21 Sadhu Singh Bhaura 1964 1980 16 years SGPC 22 Gurdial Singh Ajnoha 1980 1982 SGPC —2 of 2 Kirpal Singh 1982 1986 4 years SGPC 23 Jasbir Singh Rode 1986 1988 Sarbat Khalsa 24 Gurdev Singh Kaunke 1986 1993 Sarbat Khalsa 25Gurbachan Singh Manochahal 1986 1987 Sarbat Khalsa 261 of 2 Darshan Singh 1986 1988 SGPC —2 of 2 Darshan Singh 1989 1990 1 year SGPC 27 Ranjit Singh 1994 1999 5 years SGPC 28 Manjit Singh 1994 1997 3 years SGPC 291 of 2 Puran Singh 1999 1999 SGPC —2 of 2 Puran Singh 1999 2000 SGPC 30 Joginder Singh Vedanti 2000 2008 SGPC 31 Gurbachan Singh 2008 2018 SGPC Why a road-safety rule has upset some Sikhs 32 Jagtar Singh Hawara 2015 Incumbent Sarbat Khalsa 33 Dhian Singh Mand 2015 Incumbent Sarbat Khalsa 34 Harpreet Singh 2018 2023 SGPC 35 Raghbir Singh 2023 2025 SGPC 36 Kuldeep Singh Gargaj 2025 Incumbent SGPC

Timeline of jathedars

The following timeline depicts the progression of the jathedars.

Notes

References