# Padma Vibhushan Folk Legend Teejan Bai, Who Rose From Poverty to Fame With Pandwani, Passes Away at 70 > Padma Vibhushan-honoured Pandwani folk singer Teejan Bai has died at the age of 70 at AIIMS Raipur, after being unwell for a long time. **Type:** article · **Category:** Culture · **Published:** 2026-07-05 · **Source:** TrendKia **Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/culture/chhattisgarh-ki-mitti-se-nikalakara-padma-vibhushan-taka-pahunchin-teejan-bai-ka-raipur-men-nidhana-4858 · **Language:** English **Tags:** Teejan Bai, Pandwani singing, Padma Vibhushan, Chhattisgarh folk art, AIIMS Raipur, Habib Tanvir 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. ## What this means for you - **Across India:** Teejan Bai's death is likely to spark renewed conversation nationally about preserving Pandwani and other folk art traditions. - **In Chhattisgarh:** For people in Chhattisgarh, this is a major loss to the state's cultural identity, and local tributes or memorial events honouring her are likely. ## Questions & Answers ### 1. When and where did Teejan Bai pass away? She passed away at AIIMS Raipur at around 3:15 am. ### 2. How old was Teejan Bai at the time of her death? She was 70 years old at the time of her death. ### 3. What major honours had Teejan Bai received? She was awarded the Padma Shri in 1988, the Padma Bhushan in 2003 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2019. ### 4. When did Teejan Bai sing for the first time? She first sang on stage at the age of 13, for just Rs 10. ### 5. Why is Teejan Bai called the first woman Pandwani singer? She was the first woman to sing Pandwani and the first to break tradition by singing standing up, while earlier women sang seated in the Vedamati style. ### 6. What was the big turning point in Teejan Bai's career? Theatre personality Habib Tanvir recognised her talent and arranged for her to perform before then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. ### 7. At what age did Teejan Bai get married? She was married at the age of 12 and married twice during her lifetime. ### 8. Why was Teejan Bai expelled from her community? Because she sang Pandwani despite being a woman, her Pardhi community expelled her, forcing her to leave her husband's home. ## Inspiration & Lessons **Lessons from Teejan Bai's life:** - Staying committed to her art despite social exclusion and poverty laid the foundation for her later success. - Having the courage to break with tradition, such as singing standing up, can help create a distinct identity. - A mentor who recognises the right opportunity, as Habib Tanvir did for her, can completely change a career's trajectory. - Starting small, even earning just Rs 10 for a performance, consistent hard work can eventually lead to the nation's highest honours. - Refusing to give up even after being cast out of her community and having to beg for food shows resilience is key to long-term success. --- _TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.. Machine-readable view; canonical HTML at the URL above._