Akali Nihang Baba Sahib Singh Kaladhari

Baba Sahib Singh Kaladhari (1876 – 1942) was the 11th Jathedar of Shiromani Panth Budha Dal and the last Nihang Jathedar of the Akal Takht prior to the establishment of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) under British colonial rule. Revered within the Khalsa Panth as a saint-soldier, revivalist, and defender of traditional Sikh values, he played a crucial role in preserving the Nihang (Akali) ethos during a period of religious and political upheaval.

Early Life and Education

Baba Sahib Singh was born in 1876 CE in Punjab during the British colonial era. Educated under the colonial system, he graduated from Lahore and entered government service as a Tehsildar. However, inspired by the spiritual discipline and martial devotion of the Akali Nihangs, he renounced his official position to join the Budha Dal, the traditional army of the Khalsa.

Spiritual Development and Title of “Kaladhari”

Within the Budha Dal, Baba Sahib Singh became known for his selfless service, especially his work maintaining the Dal’s iron utensils (sarabloh)—a sacred duty within the Nihang order. His dedication and growing spiritual authority led to him being honored with the title “Kaladhari” (meaning possessor of miracles), bestowed by an earlier Jathedar who recognized his exceptional spiritual powers.

Rise to Jathedari

Following the demise of Baba Teja Singh, a succession dispute arose regarding the leadership of the Budha Dal between Baba Sahib Singh and Baba Ram Singh. To resolve the matter, both leaders sought the counsel of Baba Mitt Singh of Nanded. Baba Mitt Singh decreed that the rightful leader would be the one who initiated the Khalsa practice of worshipping the Shastar (weapons)—a traditional martial ritual. Baba Sahib Singh fulfilled this criterion and was consequently declared Jathedar (commander-in-chief) of the Budha Dal and the Akal Takht, earning recognition as a true representative of the Guru Panth.

Defiance Against Colonial and Reformist Pressures

During a time when Sikh institutions were being reshaped under British influence and Singh Sabha reformist movements, Baba Sahib Singh Kaladhari stood firm in preserving traditional Khalsa principles. He opposed colonial restrictions on carrying arms, wearing the blue battle attire (baana), and displaying the farla—symbols central to the Akali identity.

In 1934 CE, he was imprisoned by British authorities along with several Nihang Singhs for refusing to abandon their weapons and martial customs. Despite incarceration, he continued a campaign of civil disobedience, leading to the eventual withdrawal of some colonial restrictions. His defiance inspired many Sikhs and freedom fighters across India.

Conflict with the SGPC and Attack at the Akal Takht

As the SGPC (Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee) was established under British oversight to regulate Sikh gurdwaras, tensions grew between the Budha Dal Nihangs—who upheld the traditional, martial Khalsa identity—and the reformist leadership within the SGPC and Akali Dal. The British viewed the Nihangs’ independence and influence as a challenge to their control over Sikh institutions.

In the 1930s, Baba Sahib Singh and his followers were forcibly ousted from the Akal Takht during an organized attack allegedly supported by elements within the SGPC. A group of women was sent to confront the Nihangs, knowing that Nihangs, by code, would not raise arms against women. During the confrontation, Baba Sahib Singh was severely beaten and his bones broken, yet he refrained from retaliation, reportedly addressing his attackers as his daughters and accepting his suffering with grace.

Following the incident, the SGPC assumed control over the Akal Takht, and the Budha Dal lost direct authority over major gurdwaras. Traditional Khalsa practices, including reverence for the Dasam Granth and the martial discipline of the Nihangs, faced suppression during this period.

Prophecy and Legacy

While imprisoned in Lahore Jail, Baba Sahib Singh is said to have made a prophetic statement foretelling that foreign powers might suppress Sikh symbols and weapons but that one day Khalsa banners and battle drums would again enter their lands.

He passed away in 1942 CE, remembered as a symbol of courage, spirituality, and resistance. His leadership marked the end of the traditional Nihang hold over the Akal Takht and the beginning of a new era of Sikh institutional management under the SGPC.

Significance

Baba Sahib Singh Kaladhari remains a highly venerated figure within the Nihang and traditional Khalsa circles, seen as a defender of Guru-given sovereignty (Khalsa Raj) and spiritual purity. His steadfastness during colonial and institutional pressures ensured the survival of Nihang traditions, including the wearing of blue, carrying of shastar (weapons), and the preservation of Dasam Bani.