Jathedar Baba Balbir Singh Ji Akali
14 th and the Current Jathedar of Shiromani Panth Akali Budha Dal
Born in Patiala in the year 1964, Baba Balbir Singh Ji Akali 96 Crori (Krori) was sworn in as the 14th Jathedar of Budha Dal by his predecessor Singh Sahib Baba Santa Singh Ji. Baba Balbir Singh Ji Akali 96 Crori is a son of Baba Assa Singh Ji and Bibi Kulwant Kaur. He is a well versed and a dynamic leader with a vision to take Budha Dal to the new heights. He joined Budha Dal when he was 10 years old and was a Hajoori Swak from 1977-1996.
He trained many of the Punjab Police personnel in Horse Riding and other martial arts. He is actively taking forward the activities started by predecessor. May Wahe Guru bless him with a long and a cheerful life to lead the Budhadal well into the new horizons.
Jathedar Singh Sahib Baba Santa Singh Ji
13th Jathedar
96 Crori Singh Sahib Baba Santa Singh, the 13th Jathedar was born in 1928. Son of Sardar Baghwan Singh and his mother Pritpal Kaur, belongs to the village Kila Miya Singh (Distt. Gujranwala, now in Pakistan). At the age of 10, he joined Budhadal and served it under the leadership of Baba Chet Singh Sahib. He started a printing press at Guru Da Bagh, at Ananadpur Sahib to propegate the message of Guru(s). He got published many religious literature(s) and distributed them among the common people, free of cost. Now all publications are printed from Patiala. He has started, a monthly magazine (rasala) of Nihang’s (Nihang Singh Sandesh).
He was actively involved in getting a factory started in Patiala that is making various types of shastras for the entire Nihang community. Factory makes Swords and Bhala’s (Zepline). He appreciates and supports all the technically qualified persons, who comes for the help. Many Gurudwaras and Sarovars are also being constructed under the able guidance of him. He has kept the old saying of the gurus by providing Langar to the general public at various gurduwaras under a very soothing environment. He has bought many acres of land to serve his own community as well.
Jathedar Baba Chet Singh Ji
12th Jathedar
Baba Chet Singh was born in 1914, son of Sardar Gurdit Singh and his mother was Pradhan Kaur Sabo (from Talwandi). He served the Jatha with heart and soul. He bought a piece of land, in front of Anandpur Sahib Railway station, from the Sodhies and named it as Guru Da Bagh (Guru’s Park). He lead a normal life spanning 54 years and passed away in 1968. His gurudwara is located in Damdama Sahib, the place of his birth.
Baba Sahib Ji Kaladhari
11th Jathedar
Baba Sahib ji Kaladhari was born in 1876, son of Kishan Singh and his mother was Athar Kaur. He graduated from Lahore and became the first Tehsildar of Patiala. After leaving his first job, he joined the Budhadal, later on he became the Jathedar of Akal Takht. He suffered lot of injuries during his Jathedari. Britishers imprisoned him and his Jatha, thinking that, he must be hatching a conspiracy to turn the British Empire. Baba Sohan Singh served him, during the captivity period. He lead a normal life spanning 66 years and passed away in 1942. His Gurudwara is located in Amritsar, near the burj of Akali Phula Singh.
Jathedar Baba Teja Singh Ji
10th Jathedar
Baba Teja Singh was born in 1839, son of Khazan Singh, and his mother was Sugo from Rawalpindi (Pakistan). He became the Jathedar of Budhadal in 1907. He used to perform Kirtan in a very un-usual manner by banging kada with glass. He remained as the Jathedar of Budhadal for 22 years. He lead a normal life spanning 90 years and passed away in 1929. His Gurudwara is located in Amritsar, near the burj of Akali Phula Singh.
Jathedar Baba Gian Singh Ji
9th Jathedar
Born in Mulanpur, Baba Gian Singh Ji came from a Deol family. The town from where he came from had a common cast of Tatlay. He along with his friend Baba Prem Singh came to Punjab after getting baptized. Baba Fathay Singh of Mahilpur, who was a well renowned Nihang Singh in Punjab gave five highly precious horses to Baba Gian Singh Ji as a sign of friendship. Baba Gian Singh Ji was given full support by Fathay Singh Ji to form a strong Sikh foundation in the Punjab. Before Baba Gian Singh Ji came to Punjab, Baba Fateh Singh Ji and Baba Sadhu Singh Ji had got back the Shad Bagh from the Sodhies. Now the fourth generation of Baba Gian Singh Ji is now taking care of Shahid Bagh.
During the reign of Baba Gian Singh Ji people in general were sawing tobacco, Baba Ji didn’t liked what they were doing for their earnings. He refused to take any eatables from these people. He advised that they should stop cultivating tobacco, instead they should produce other eatables and that would yield a healthier food. He had enough persuasive power to mould the entire general public to what he liked. The Gurudawara of Baba Gian Singh Ji is located at Sahib Shahid Bagh, Anandpur Sahib.
Jathedar Baba Prahlad Singh Ji
8th Jathedar
The eighth Jathedar of Budha dal Baba Prahlad Singh Ji was a son of Sardar Jagat Singh and Sardarni Bishan Kaur. In the year 1846 he was assigned as the jathedar of the Budhadal. He was one of the most successful Jathedar of his own time. During his reign he became the Jathedar of Akal Takhat also. Later during his reign as a Jathedar Baba Ji was attacked by Baba Ala Singh, for which the former had to response. They fought a very heavy war in which both of them were executed. After their death rioting became one of the most ever changing scenario. Military was brought in to control Singhs – many were killed and wounded during these riots and some were taken prisoners and were jailed in Hyderabad fort. Few who survived were hiding in the woods.
Some of the Sikhs remained under the Hukum of Guru and remained near to Hajur Sahib and Sikhs who were not involved in these rioting in Punjab kept the love for peace and prosperity flowing through the generations. Gurudwara of Baba Ji is situated near the Gurudwara of Baba Nidhan Singh Ji at Shri Abchal Sahib.
Jathedar Baba Hanuman Singh Ji
7th Jathedar
The seventh jathedar of Budhadal was born in 1756 in a village Naurang Singh Wala, Distt. Zira. Baba Hanuman fought his battle in 1845 against the British. He proved too much for the British. Many British soldiers were killed during this battle. As he returned to Patiala along with his army he was fired at by the British cannons and 1500 Sikhs were killed. However, Baba Hanuman Singh managed to escape unhurt and reached Ghudam and fought another battle with the British. In the battle of Kumbada (Suhana) he was executed along with 500 other Sikh soldiers. During his appointment as the jathedar of Budhadal he also served the Akal Takhat (Amritsar). His gurudwara is situated in Suhana.
Jathedar Akali Phula Singh Ji Jathedar Akali Phula Singh Ji
6th Jathedar
The sixth Jathedar of Budhadal was born on the 14th Day of January 1761 in a village Sinha. His father was sardar Ishwar Singh died when he was just 9 years old. Akali Phula Singh Ji got baptised from Baba Naina Singh Ji and remained with him at Anandpur Sahib. In 1800AD he came to Amritsar and fought a war with the cruel Shiat Muslim in 1809. He fought many other battle(s) with the Muslim rulers in alliance with Maharaja Ranjit Singh ji.
In the battle of Naushire in 1823 he was sacrificed. His gurduwara is situated on the banks of river Loonday. When he was sacrificed he was a Jathdar of Akal Takhat.
Jathedar Baba Naina Singh Ji
5th Jathedar
The fifth Jathedar Baba Naina Singh ji came into the Budhadal at the age of 20 years. His brother was Bhup Singh who was also a saint at that time and had two sons – Chidth Singh and Kharagh Singh. Kharagh Singh remained with Baba Naina Singh ji. Baba Naina Singh, who was born in a village named KhudiKurd, near Barnala belonged to a Sidhu family. Kudi Khurd was established under a queen named Rani Chand Kaur, wife of a great king Ala Singh. Khudi Khurd comes under distt. Sangrur. Gurdwara of Baba Naina Singh Ji is situtated on the banks of river Bibay Kasar in Amritsar.
Jathedar Sardar Jassa Singh Ahluwalia
4th Jathedar
Jathedar Sardar Jassa Singh AhluwaliaThe fourth Jathedar of Budhadal Sardar Jassa Singh Aluwalia was born on the third day of May 1718 in a village Alu, Distt. Lahore (Pakistan). His father was (Sardar Badar Singh Ji Kalal). In 1723, Badar Singh Ji passed away. In 1723, he along with his mother went to Delhi to stay with Mata Sunder Kaur Ji, and stayed there for 6 years. He beptised himself from Nawab Kapoor Singh Ji and joined the ‘Jatha’. In 1738, he became famous among his people.
On 14th Oct. 1745, he lead one Jatha in a battle. He attacked Kapurthala and conqured it, and made it his capital. On the 26th April 1761, he conqured Lahore and floated his own currency. As this was one of the act of authority in making the economy flow.
On the 5th of Feb 1762 in a village Kuparhidhe near Malerkotla, he lead the Panth and rescued many womens of Hindus from the Muslim. He further divided the entire Khalsa panth (including the sub-groups) into 2 major groups – Budhadal and Tarnadal.
Jathedar Nawab Kapoor Singh Ji
3rd Jathedar
Jathedar Nawab Kapoor Singh JiThe third jathedar of the Khalsa Panth, Baba Nawab Kapoor Singh Ji was born on 1697, in a village named Kaloka, Distt Shekupura (Pakistan), in a house of Chowdhary Dalip Singh Virk (a Jat). He along with his father and brother had nectar (amrit), the draught of immortality and knowledge sublime, and became a saint. In 1726, he joined the jatha of Baba Darbara Singh Ji.
In 1733, he conqured Faizulpur and re-named it as Singhpur. In the same year, he was entitled “Nawab”. In 1734, he divided the Khalsa Panth into two groups,
Budha Dal and Tarunadal (it was further divided into 5 different groups). He also formed 12 different sub-groups of the entire panth. Bahi Jassa Singh and Bahi Thraj Singh ji were named as among the leaders of these groups. He remained as the jathedar for a period of 20 years. He passed away in 1753. His gurudwara is situated near Baba Tal.
Jathedar Baba Darbara Singh Ji
2nd Jathedar
The second jathedar of the Khalsa Panth,Baba Darbara Singh ji was born in a village known as Dal. Baba Darbara Singh and Gharbara Singh were two sons of Bhai Nanu Singh ji, whose forefather belonged to Guru Hargobind’s family. At the age of 12, he went to Shiri Guru Gobind Maharaj at Anandpur Sahib At the age of 16, he was entitled as Diwan. He served Guru ji for the16 years and also became the jathedar of Shiri Akal Takht for 12 years. He had a long life for 90 years. Before his death, he handed over his jathedari to his successor Nawab Kapoor Singh ji. He was martyred in 1734. His gurudwara is situated in a village Kahlawa.
Jathedar Baba Binod Singh Ji
1st Jathedar
The first jathedar of the Khalsa Panth and was from the 7th generation of Guru Angad Dev Ji (2nd Guru of the Sikhs). He accompanied Baba Banda Singh Bahadur in every battle and lead the army by front. In the battle of Gurdas Nangal Baba Vinod Singh had a narrow escape while unfortunately Baba Banda Singh Bahadur was imprisoned and was matyared. Baba Vinod Singh too was matyared while leading his army in a battle. His gurdwara is situated in Sialkot (Pakistan).