Teejan Bai, the celebrated Pandwani folk singer honoured with the Padma Vibhushan, has passed away at the age of 70. She breathed her last at AIIMS Raipur at around 3:15 am. Teejan Bai had been unwell for a long time and was undergoing treatment at the hospital. She is credited with giving Chhattisgarh's folk art and the Pandwani singing tradition recognition not just in India but across the world.
From a village in Ganiyari to India's highest civilian honours
Teejan Bai was born on August 8, 1956, in Ganiyari village near Bhilai. Her talent first earned national recognition in 1988, when she was awarded the Padma Shri. She went on to receive the Padma Bhushan in 2003 and the Padma Vibhushan, India's second-highest civilian award, in 2019. Her journey from a small village to some of the country's highest honours stands as a testament to her talent and years of hard work.
First song sung for just Rs 10 at the age of 13
Teejan Bai first performed on stage at the age of 13, singing for just Rs 10. She began performing Pandwani in the Kapalik style. Her voice and style were so distinctive and powerful that she quickly became popular across villages, with people inviting her to perform at their gatherings, and her name gradually spread across the region.
The first woman to break tradition and sing standing up
Teejan Bai was the first woman to sing Pandwani. At the time, women singers performed only in the Vedamati style, which was sung sitting down. Teejan Bai broke with that tradition and began singing standing up, a style until then reserved for male singers. Her heavy, powerful voice combined with her extraordinary energy won over audiences instantly. In doing so, she carved out a place for herself in a field that was considered dominated by men.
The performance before Indira Gandhi that changed everything
Teejan Bai brought the characters and stories of the Mahabharata alive on stage in her own distinctive style. The biggest turning point in her career came when theatre personality Habib Tanvir recognised her talent. It was Habib Tanvir who arranged for her to perform before the then Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi. After that performance, Teejan Bai never looked back, going on to win hearts with her voice and talent not just in India but in several countries around the world.
Married at 12, then years of hardship
Teejan Bai's personal life was marked by struggle. She was married at just 12 years of age, and it was only after her marriage that she began singing. Despite being a woman, singing Pandwani led her own community, the Pardhi community, to expel her. As a result, she was forced to leave her husband's home. During this difficult period, she worked in other people's houses and, at times, had to beg for food. Her hard work eventually paid off, and she went on to become a major public figure. Teejan Bai married twice during her lifetime.
