List of Jats

Notable members of the Jat community From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is a list of notable members of the Jat community.

Anti-colonialists

List of notable Jats who were Indian independence activists or freedom fighters

Baba Gurdit Singh,^[1] leader of the Komagata Maru incident
Bhagat Singh,^[2] Indian socialist revolutionary who was executed by the British colonialists in 1931
Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon,^[3] he was as a close associate of Subhas Chandra Bose and played a key role in INA military operations against British forces during World War II
Kartar Singh Sarabha,^[4] Indian freedom fighter
Nahar Singh,^[5] ruler of Ballabgarh who fought against the East India Company in the Indian Rebellion of 1857
Rai Ahmad Khan Kharal, freedom fighter in the Indian Rebellion of 1857^[6]
Raja Mahendra Pratap Singh,^[7] Indian freedom fighter, president of the Provisional Government of India in Kabul
Sah Mal,^[8] rebel who fought against the British in Indian Rebellion of 1857
Sardar Ajit Singh,^[9] revolutionary and uncle of Bhagat Singh, best known for leading the Pagri Sambhal Jatta movement against British agrarian laws and for his lifelong struggle in exile against colonial rule.
Sohan Singh Bhakna,^[10] founding president of the Ghadar party
Teja Singh Sutantar,^[11] freedom fighter and a member of Ghadar Party

Armed forces

Indian armed forces

Hoshiar Singh Dahiya, recipient of India's highest military honour, the Param Vir Chakra, for his gallantry during the Indo-Pakistani war of 1971.

Arjan Singh,^[12]^[13] former Chief of the Indian Air Force
Badlu Singh,^[14] recipient of Victoria Cross
Chhelu Ram, recipient of Victoria Cross^[15]
Gian Singh, recipient of Victoria Cross^[16]
Lt Gen Harbaksh Singh,^[13] recipient of The Vir Chakra and The Padma Vibhushan
Hoshiar Singh Dahiya, recipient of Param Vir Chakra ^[17]^[18]
Lt Gen Khem Karan Singh, recipient of Mahavir Chakra^[19]
Mohan Singh,^[20] founder and General of the First Indian National Army
Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon, recipient of Param Vir Chakra^[13]^[21]
Parkash Singh, recipient of Victoria Cross^[22]
Ranjit Singh Dyal,^[23] recipient of Maha Vir Chakra
Richhpal Ram, recipient of Victoria Cross^[24]^[25]
Sant Singh,^[26] recipient of Mahavir Chakra
Shabeg Singh,^[27] known for his involvement in the training of Mukti Bahini volunteers during the Bangladesh Liberation War
Ved Prakash Malik, 19th Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army^[a]

Pakistani armed forces

Amir Sultan Tarar, the "Colonel Imam", SSG officer, ISI agent, trained Afghan Mujahideen and Taliban fighters^[30]^[31]
Qamar Javed Bajwa, 10th Chief of Army Staff of the Pakistani Armed Forces^[32]^[33]
Zaheer Ahmad Babar Sidhu, 16th Chief of Air Staff of the Pakistani Air Force^[33]^[34]

Businessmen and philanthropists

Chaudhary Raghvendra Singh,^[35] Indian real estate developer and founder of DLF.
Dyal Singh Majithia,^[36] philanthropist and founder of The Tribune and Punjab National Bank
Kushal Pal Singh,^[37] Indian billionaire real estate developer and retired military officer.
Seth Chhaju Ram, Philanthropist^[38]

Civil servants

Ajay Singh Chahar,^[39] former High Commissioner to Fiji Islands, and former Member of Parliament in the Lok Sabha
Gyan Prakash Pilania,^[40]^[41] former DGP of Rajasthan and former Member of the Rajya Sabha
Kanwar Pal Singh Gill,^[42] former two term DGP of Punjab and recipient of Padma Shri
M. S. Gill,^[43] former Indian Administrative Service officer who served as the Mnister of Sports and Youth Affairs and the Minister of Statistics and Programme Implementation. He also served as the Chief Election Commissioner of India.

Film, television, and entertainment

Film

Arjan Bajwa,^[44] Indian film actor
Darshan Kumar,^[45] Indian film actor
Dharmendra,^[46] Indian film actor
Jaideep Ahlawat,^[47] Indian actor
Kabir Duhan Singh^[48] Indian film actor
Kirron Kher,^[49] Indian film actress
Mahie Gill,^[50] Indian film actress
Mallika Sherawat,^[51] Indian film actress
Mohit Ahlawat,^[52] Indian film actor
Parvin Dabas,^[53] Indian film actor
Randeep Hooda,^[54] Indian film actor
Simran Mundi,^[55] Indian film actress
Sunny Deol,^[56] Indian film actor
Sushant Singh,^[57] Indian film actor
Taapsee Pannu,^[58] Indian film actress

Television

Meghna Malik,^[59] Indian TV actress
Rajat Tokas,^[60] Indian TV actor
Vivek Dahiya,^[61] Indian TV actor

Entertainment

Anubhav Singh Bassi^[62] Indian comedian
Dhruv Rathee^[63] Indian YouTuber

Folklores

Heer Ranjha,^[64]^[65] a tragic romance in Punjabi literature, popularised in the 18th century by the poet Waris Shah
Mirza Sahiban,^[64]^[66] a classic Punjabi folk romance, originally recorded in literary form by the 17th-century poet Pilu

Historical figures

Hindu Jats

List of notable Jats in the history of pre-independence India

Badan Singh,^[67] founder and first Maharaja of Bharatpur
Churaman,^[68] chieftain of Sinsini, Rajasthan. He established the rule mainly centred at Bharatpur, during the decline of the Mughal Empire
Gokula Jat,^[69] rebel leader, who led one of the earliest organised revolts against the Mughal Empire during Aurangzeb reign in 1669
Jawahar Singh,^[70] Maharaja of Bharatpur. Notable for capturing Delhi in 1764 and resistance against Ahmed Shah Abdali
Kushal Singh Dahiya,^[71] sacrificed himself to protect the honour of Sikh Guru Tegh Bahadur
Raja Maldeo,^[72] ruler of Sidhmukh State
Rajaram Jat,^[73] rebel leader and successor of Gokula, who continued resistance against Mughal rule in the late 17th century. Notable for desecration of Akbar tomb
Ranjit Singh,^[74] Maharaja of Bharatpur. He participated in the Second Anglo-Maratha War on the side of the Marathas and his forces proved to be a tough match for Lord Lake
Suraj Mal,^[75]^[76] Maharaja of Bharatpur. He is notably remembered for the plunder of Old Delhi in 1753 and the capture of Agra in 1761. He earned the epithet “Plato of the Jats.”

Sikh Jats

Akali Phula Singh, Sikh warrior and a Nihang leader^[77]
Baba Deep Singh, founder of Shaheedan Misl^[78]
Baghel Singh, ruler of Singh Krora Misl^[79]
Bhuma Singh Dhillon, chieftain of Bhangi Misl^[80]
Charat Singh, founder of Sukerchakia Misl^[81]^[82]
Chhajja Singh Dhillon, founder and chieftain of Bhangi Misl^[83]
Ganda Singh Dhillon, chieftain of Bhangi Misl^[84]
Gujjar Singh Banghi, a Sikh warrior and one of the triumvirates who ruled over Lahore prior to the leadership of Maharaja Ranjit Singh^[85]
Hari Singh Dhillon, ruler of Bhangi Misl^[86]
Heera Singh Sandhu, founder of Nakai Misl^[87]
Jai Singh Kanhaiya, founder of Kanhaiya Misl^[88]
Jhanda Singh Dhillon, chieftain of Bhangi Misl^[84]
Jind Kaur,^[89] Maharani of Sikh Empire who fought two wars against the British^[90]
Mai Bhago, Sikh soldier and Guru Gobind Singh's bodyguard^[91]^[92]
Nawab Kapur Singh, ruler of Singhpuria Misl^[93]
Ranjit Singh,^[94]^[95]^[96] founder of the Sikh Empire, known as the “Lion of Punjab” for unifying the Sikh Misls
Sada Kaur, chief of Kanhaiya Misl^[97]
Sardar Tara Singh Ghaiba, chieftain of Dallewalia Misl^[98]

Muslim Jats

Ali Mohammed Khan, founder of Kingdom of Rohilkhand, progenitor of Rohilla dynasty.^[99]
Chitu Khan,^[100] a pindari general who played a prominent role in the Third Anglo-Maratha war.^[101]
Nur Muhammad Chattha, a chieftain who was influential in the Gujrat region of Punjab and, along with his descendants Pir Muhammad, Ghulam Muhammad and Jan Muhammad, resisted the Sikh Misls.^[102]^[103]^[104]
Mutawassil Khan, Nawab of Bijapur.^[105]^[106]^[107]^[108]
Muzaffar Jang Hidayat, third Nizam of Hyderabad State.^[109]^[110]^[111]^[112]
Saadullah Khan, Grand Vizier of Mughal Empire^[113]

Literature and artists

Amrita Sher-Gil,^[114]^[115] one of the greatest avant-garde women artists of the early 20th century and a pioneer in modern Indian art.
Faiz Ahmed Faiz, Pakistani revolutionary poet^[116]
Qadir Yar^[117]
Sukhpal Vir Singh Hasrat^[118]
Jaswant Singh Kanwal^[119]
Kulwant Singh Virk^[120]^[121]
Sant Singh Sekhon,^[121] Punjabi writer
Daljit Nagra^[122]
Fauji Kavi Mehar Singh,^[123] Haryanvi language poet and a freedom fighter

Politicians

Politicians of India

Union cabinet ministers

List of Jats who had served in the cabinet of Government of India

Ajit Singh,^[143] former Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Civil Aviation
Baldev Singh,^[144] former Defence Minister of India
Balram Jakhar,^[145] longest serving Speaker of the Lok Sabha and former union cabinet minister of Agriculture
Daulat Ram Saran,^[146] former Minister of Urban Development
Nathuram Mirdha,^[147] former Minister of Food and Civil Supplies
Ram Niwas Mirdha,^[148] former Minister of Communications, Textiles, Health and Irrigation
Shish Ram Ola,^[149] former Minister of Labour and Employment
Natwar Singh,^[150] former Minister of External Affairs (India)
Swaran Singh,^[151]^[152] former Minister of External Affairs and Minister of Defence

Members of parliament

List of Jats who has served in the Parliament of India

Badri Ram Jakhar,^[153] former Member of Parliament in the Lok Sabha
Chaudhary Bharat Singh^[154]^[155] former Member of Parliament in the Lok Sabha
Gayatri Devi,^[156] former Member of Parliament in the Lok Sabha, and wife of Chaudhary Charan Singh
Gurdial Singh Dhillon,^[134] former two-term Speaker of the Lok Sabha and former president of Inter-Parliamentary Union
Hanuman Beniwal,^[157] Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha and founder of the Rashtriya Loktantrik Party
Jagdev Singh Talwandi^[158] former Member of Parliament in the Lok Sabha, and the Rajya Sabha
Jayant Chaudhary,^[159] Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha and national president of the Rashtriya Lok Dal
Kumbha Ram Arya,^[147] Indian independence activist and former Member of Parliament in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha
Ram Raghunath Choudhary,^[160] former Member of Parliament in the Lok Sabha
Ranbir Singh Hooda,^[161] Indian independence activist and former Member of Parliament in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha
Sanwar Lal Jat,^[162] former Member of Parliament in the Lok Sabha
Satya Pal Malik,^[163] former Member of Parliament in the Lok Sabha, and Rajya Sabha, and former Governor of Meghalaya, Goa, Jammu Kashmir, and Bihar
Sona Ram Choudhary,^[164] former Member of Parliament in the Lok Sabha
Sumedhanand Saraswati,^[165] former Member of Parliament in the Lok Sabha

State politicians

List of Jats who were active in the state politics

Amra Ram,^[166] agrarian leader from Shekhawati region of Rajasthan
Chaudhary Badan Singh,^[167] former Member of Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly, and known for his contributions in Braj literature
Chhotu Ram,^[168] co-founder of Unionist party and a ideologue of the colonial era
Digamber Singh,^[169] former cabinet minister in Government of Rajasthan
Fateh Singh,^[170] leader in Punjabi Suba movement
Harchand Singh Longowal,^[171] president of the Akali Dal during Insurgency in Punjab, India
Harkishan Singh Surjeet,^[172] former Communist leader from Punjab
Harlal Singh,^[173] peasant leader and Indian independence activist
Jagjit Singh Lyallpuri,^[174] co-founder of Communist Party of India (Marxist)
Mahipal Maderna,^[175] former cabinet minister in Government of Rajasthan.
Parasram Maderna,^[176] former speaker and nine-term member of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly
Parvesh Verma,^[177] cabinet minister in Government of Delhi and former Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha
Raja Man Singh,^[178] former titular head of Bharatpur state and politician
Rameshwar Lal Dudi,^[179] former Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Rajasthan Assembly and Member of 13th Lok Sabha
Vishvendra Singh,^[180] former cabinet minister in Government of Rajasthan, and former Member of Parliament in the Lok Sabha

Politicians of Pakistan and USA

List of Jats who had served in politics outside India

Pakistan

Mumtaz Jajja,^[181] former Member of the National Assembly of Pakistan
Muhammad Rafiq Tarar,^[182]^[183] former President of Pakistan
Shahbaz Gill,^[184]^[185] Chief of Staff to former Prime Minister Imran Khan
Sikandar Hayat Khan,^[186] former Premier of the Punjab
Muhammad Zafarullah Khan, former Minister for Foreign Affairs (Pakistan) and former President of the United Nations General Assembly^[187]
Chaudhry Zahoor Elahi,^[188] former Member of National Assembly of Pakistan
Shujaat Hussain, former Prime Minister of Pakistan^[189]
Sardar Muhammad Arif Nakai, descendant of the Nakai misldars, 12th Chief Minister of (Pakistani) Punjab.^[190]^[191]^[192]
Chaudhary Naseer Ahmed Abbas, member of the National Assembly of Pakistan, brother of Air Chief Zaheer Sidhu^[193]^[194]

USA

Nikki Haley,^[195] former Governor of South Carolina and United States Ambassador to the United Nations. Haley is the first Indian American to serve in a cabinet of the United States.

Religious figures and saints

Baba Buddha, first granthi (custodian and reader) of the Guru Granth Sahib^[196]
Bhagat Dhanna,^[197] a mystic poet and a Vaishnav devotee.
Bhai Bala, follower and companion of Guru Nanak (first Guru of Sikhism) and one of the most revered in Sikhism^[198]
Bhai Mani Singh,^[199] 18th-century Sikh scholar, warrior, and martyr who compiled Sikh scriptures
Bidhi Chand,^[200] a devout Sikh of Guru Hargobind
Dharam Singh,^[201] one of the Panj Pyare (the Five Beloved Ones), initiated by Guru Gobind Singh during the founding of the Khalsa in 1699.
Garib Das,^[202]^[203] Indian saint, poet, and spiritual reformer from Haryana
Karmabai,^[204] a devotee of Krishna
Nischaldas, Hindu saint and scholar^[205]
Randhir Singh,^[206] known for his role in the Ghadar and Babbar Akali movements and for founding the Akhand Kirtani Jatha.
Veer Teja,^[207] considered as a incarnation of Shiva and worshipped as a deity in northern India

Rulers of princely states

List of notable Jats during the British era who hailed from royal families that ruled princely states

Ala Singh,^[208] founder and first Maharaja of Patiala
Bhim Singh Rana,^[209] Maharaja of Gohad State, and Gwalior State
Bhupinder Singh of Patiala,^[210] Maharaja of Patiala
Brijendra Singh,^[211] last Maharaja of Bharatpur State
Faizullah Khan,^[212] founder and first Nawab of Rampur State.
Hira Singh of Nabha,^[213] ruler of Nabha State
Kirat Singh,^[214] founder and first Maharaj-Rana of Dholpur State
Kishan Singh,^[215] Maharaja of Bharatpur
Pratap Singh of Nabha,^[216] last ruler of Nabha State
Udai Bhan Singh,^[217] Maharaj-Rana of Dholpur State

Scholars

Abdus Salam,^[218] Pakistani theoretical physicist who won Nobel Prize in physics for his electroweak unification theory
Kahn Singh Nabha,^[219]^[220] Sikh scholar
Piara Singh Gill,^[221] Indian nuclear physicist and first director of Central Scientific Instruments Organisation (CSIO)

Musicians

Diljit Dosanjh,^[222] Indian Punjabi-language singer
Harrdy Sandhu,^[223] Indian singer
Labh Janjua,^[224] Indian Punjabi-language singer
Karan Aujla,^[225] Indian singer and rapper
Mohammed Rafi,^[226] Indian playback singer and musician
Sidhu Moose Wala,^[227] Indian Punjabi-language singer

Social reformers and activists

Swami Keshwanand,^[228] social reformer and Indian independence activist
Satendra Singh^[229] disability activist
Mahendra Singh Tikait,^[230] distinguished farmer leader and co-founder of the Bharatiya Kisan Union. He was popularly known as Baba Tikait.

Sports

Dara Singh, former Indian professional wrestler and actor

Athletics

Krishna Poonia,^[231] gold medalist at the 2010 Commonwealth Games
Arshad Nadeem, gold medalist at 2024 Olympics^[232]^[233]

Boxing

Vijender Singh,^[234] bronze medalist at 2008 Olympics

Cricket

Balwinder Sandhu,^[235] member of the 1983 World Cup squad for India
Monty Panesar,^[236] former English cricketer
Navjot Singh Sidhu^[237]^[238] former Indian cricketer and former Member of the Parliament
Nitish Rana,^[239] Indian cricketer
Praveen Kumar^[240] former Indian cricketer
Shikhar Dhawan,^[241] former Indian cricketer
Virender Sehwag,^[242] former Indian cricketer
Yuvraj Singh,^[243] former Indian cricketer

Hockey

Balbir Singh Sr.,^[244] Indian hockey player and three-time Olympic gold medalist
Pargat Singh^[245] former captain of India men's national field hockey team
Savita Punia^[246] Indian hockey player

Shooting

Avneet Sidhu^[247] Indian sport shooter and gold medalist at 2006 Commonwealth Games
Chandro Tomar,^[248]^[249] oldest women sharpshooter in the world

Wrestling

Babita Kumari Phogat, Indian wrestler and gold medalist at 2014 Commonwealth Games^[250]
Bajrang Punia, bronze medalist in Olympics and gold medalist at Asian games and Commonwealth Games^[251]
Chandgi Ram,^[252] Indian freestyle wrestler and gold medalist at 1970 Asian games
Dara Singh,^[253] former Indian professional wrestler and actor

Paralympics

Deepa Malik,^[254] first Indian woman to win a medal in Paralympic Games

Criminals

Sukhdev Singh Babbar,^[255] founder of Babbar Khalsa
Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale,^[256] Sikh militant and jathedar of Damdami Taksal^[257]
Avtar Singh Brahma,^[258] founder of Khalistan Liberation Force
Gurjant Singh Budhsinghwala,^[259] leader of Khalistan Liberation Force
Jagga Jatt,^[260]^[261] a 20th-century heroic bandit rebel of Punjab. He is known as the Robin Hood of Punjab
Harjinder Singh Jinda,^[262]^[263] militant and assassinator of General Vaidya
Bindy Johal,^[264] Canadian gangster and drug trafficker
Gurbachan Singh Manochahal,^[265] founder of Bhindranwale Tiger Force of Khalistan
Labh Singh,^[266] leader of Khalistan Commando Force
Satwant Singh,^[267] assassin of Indira Gandhi
Surinder Singh Sodhi,^[268] militant and assassin of V. N. Tiwari