Gurdev Singh Kaunke

Gurdev Singh Kaunke (Punjabi: ਗੁਰਦੇਵ ਸਿੰਘ ਕਾਉਂਕੇ; 1949 – 1 January 1993) was a Sikh priest who served as the acting Jathedar of Akal Takht from 1986 to 1993. Gurdev Singh was born in 1949 at village Kaunke Kalan under Jagraon subdivision of Ludhiana district in Punjab, India. His father was Gurdial Singh and mother Chand Kaur. Gurdev Singh's grandfather, Jathedar Totha Singh was a companion of Baba Nand Singh of Nanaksar. At a young age, Singh took the vows of the Khalsa and became an initiated Sikh. After completing 6 levels of primary school, he enrolled into Damdami Taksal.