Teejan Bai passes away: Here's all you need to know about the legendary Chattisgarh folk singer

In the early hours of Sunday the voice that had breathed life into the ancient Mahabharata for over five decades fell silent Padma Vibhushan Dr Teejan Bai the legendary exponent of Pandavani from Chhattisgarh passed away at AIIMS Raipur after a prolonged battle with severe lung infection sepsis and acute kidney injury She was 69 Her departure leaves a profound void not just in the world of folk arts but in the cultural soul of India For millions Teejan Bai was more than a singer she was a living bridge between myth and reality a fearless tribal woman who carried the epic tales of the Pandavas and Kauravas across villages cities and continents with nothing but her powerful voice a tambura and an unyielding spiritBorn on August 8 1956 in the humble village of Ganiyari near Bhilai in Chhattisgarh Teejan Bai belonged to the Pardhi scheduled tribe Her parents Chunuk Lal Pardhi and Sukhwati lived in abject poverty making mats and brooms to surviveAs the eldest of five children young Teejan grew up in circumstances where a girl child was often seen as a burden Married off at the tender age of 12 she faced an abusive union and societal rejection When she dared to sing Pandavani a traditionally maledominated art form her own community ostracised herUndeterred she built a small hut for herself borrowing utensils and food from kind neighbours and refused to abandon her calling She performed her first public rendition at just 13 her voice echoing the valour of Arjuna the wisdom of Krishna and the resilience of DraupadiHer journey was one of extraordinary courageExpelled from her community she lived alone honed her craft in isolation and eventually found love again marrying twice and becoming a grandmotherThrough it all her art remained her anchor and her rebellion Teejan Bai transformed Pandavani into a mesmerising theatrical experienceSeated on the floor with her ldquotamburardquo she would enact entire episodes from the Mahabharata in a style that was raw dramatic and deeply emotional She sang gestured and embodied the characters bringing gods warriors and sages to life for audiences who hung on every noteHer performances were not mere recitals they were spiritual invocations that made ancient dharma feel immediate and aliveShe took this folk treasure from the tribal heartlands of Chhattisgarh to national and international stages preserving and popularising an oral tradition that might otherwise have faded Her voice powerful expressive and steeped in emotion touched hearts across culturesIn Japan she received the prestigious Fukuoka Arts and Culture Prize in 2018 for her contribution to cultural exchangeTeejan Bairsquos contributions were recognised with Indiarsquos highest civilian honours Padma Shri 19871988 Padma Bhushan 2003 Padma Vibhushan 2019She also received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award 1995 an honorary Doctorate in Literature and numerous other accolades that celebrated her as one of Indiarsquos greatest folk icons Yet for all the awards she remained deeply rooted in her tribal identity and village life She was never far from the soil that shaped herTeejan Bairsquos life was a testament to the triumph of talent over adversity of art over orthodoxy and of one womanrsquos indomitable will to preserve her cultural heritageIn an era when traditional arts often struggle for survival she shone as a flagbearer proving that the stories of our ancestors can still resonate powerfully in modern timesHer voice may have stilled but the tales she told will echo through generationsEvery time a performer picks up a ldquotamburardquo in Chhattisgarh every time the Mahabharata is sung in a village square Teejan Bai will live on in the rhythm in the emotion and in the hearts of those who were moved by her unparalleled artistryIndia has lost one of its cultural queens and one of its most authentic voicesThe world of folk music has lost a legendThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever