During the late Mughal period, as imperial authority fragmented across northern India, rural Punjab witnessed the rise of localized leadership rooted in landholding clans. Among these, the Bhateja clan a branch of Jat community emerged as a distinct force, establishing early settlements like Bhatha, which became both a geographic and cultural anchor for the community. At the heart of this formative period stands the figure of Sardar Kehar Singh Bhateja.

Kehar Singh is revered as a foundational Jatt Sikh elder, whose role extended beyond that of a cultivator to that of a custodian of order, justice, and collective identity. In an age when state structures were receding, he provided stability through customary law and moral authority. His wisdom in agricultural practices and land management sustained Bhatha’s prosperity, while his judgments in communal matters earned him trust that transcended kin lines.