Jathedar Kartar Singh Jhabbar was born in 1874 in a Virk family in the village of Jhabbar, district Sheikhupura, Pakistan. He was the grandson of Sardar Mangal Singh, whom Maharaja Ranjit Singh appointed Kumedan in his forces after compromise with the Jhabbars. Jhabbar’s early life was like that of any other spirited young man of a rural agricultural family, whose passion was to look after their buffalo herds, take plenty of milk and butter, build muscles and take a courageous and firm stand for righteous causes.
He went on to become one of the most prominent leaders of the Akali Movement, dedicating his life to the reform of Sikh Gurdwaras and the spread of Gurmat teaching across Punjab.