Teejan Bai (born 24 April 1956) is an exponent of Panday a traditional performing art form from Chhattisgarh in which she enacts tales from the Muhabharata with musical
Teejan Bai was born in village Ganiyari, 14 km north of Bhilai to Chunuk Lal Pardhi and his wife Sukhwati she belongs to Pardhi (Scheduled Tribe) of Chhattisgarh State
The eldest among her siblings, at heart her maternal grandfather, Brijlal Pradhi, recite Mahabharata written by Chhattisgarh writer, Sabal Sinh Chauhan in Chhattigarh Hindi she instantly took a liking of it and soon memorized much of it, and later trained informally under urmed Singh Deshmukh
Career
At age 13, she gave her first public performance in a neighbouring village, Chandrakhuri (Durg) for Rs.10, singing in the Kapalik Shaili (style) of 'Pandavani, the sitting style. Contrary to the tradition, Teejan Bai performed standing singing out loud in her typical guttral voice and unmistakable verve, entering what was till now, a male bastion.
within a short time, she became known in neighbouring village and invitations poured to perforn at special occasions and festivals.
Her big-break came, when Habib Tanvir, a famous theatre personality from Madhya Pradesh, noticed her talent, and she was called to perform for then Prime Minister, Indira Gandi. There was no turning back from then on, in-time she received national and international recognition, a Padma shri in 1988 Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1995, Padma Bhushan in 2003. and D. litt from two versittcs of chhattisgarh
Beginning in the 1980s, She travelled all over the world as a cultural ambassador, to countries as far as England, France, Switzerland, Germany, Turkey, tunisia, Malta. Cyprus, Romania and Mauritius.
Today she continues to enthrall audiences, the world over with her unique folk singing and her powerful voice; and pass on her singing to the younger generation.
Personal life
Though shse was married at 12, she was ostracised by community, the 'Pardhi, tribe, for singing Pandavani, being a woman. She build herself a small hut and started living on her own, borrowing utensils and food from neighhours, yet never left her singing, which eventually paid off for her. She never went to her first husband's home and later split (dicorce) In the following years, she was married twice, though none of her marriages succeeded. Latter she fell in love with Tukka Ram, a former harmonium player in her troupe, and they three children.
Today she lives with her fourth husband, Tukka Ram, her five children, in Sector i, Bhilai, where she is employed at the Bhilai Steel Plant. She travels the world for her perfomances. She is also a grandmother (aged 52)
Performance Style
Pandavani, literally means stories of Pandavas, the legendary brothers in Mahabharat, and involves enacting and singing with instrumental accompaniment an ektara or a tambura the tambura becomes her only prop during her performances, sometimes she uses it to personify a gada, mace of Arjun, or at times his bow or chariot, while others it becomes the hair of queen Draupadi, allowing her to play various character with effective ease and candour. Her acclaimed performances are of, Draupadi cheerharan, Dusharan, Dushasana vadh and Mahabharat Yudh, between Bhishma and Arjun.
Awards
• 1988 Panma Shri
• 1995 Sangeet Nayak Akademi Award
• 2003 Hon. D. Litt, Bilaspur University
• 2003 Padma Bhushan
Today Teejan Bai will prosont the cheer haran paasng team mahubharat : whill the will ramate in her mesmevisrg style, the slory of unwarappung of totn of Draupati by Dushashra, her prayer to lord knshra to sare her and other othna relayeen scanecer.
While Pandavani was about fluttering out of the chysalia, little Teejan was picking up the first inflexions of this traditional art form. Ganiyari village, some 14 kms north of Bhilai, never saw much riches, the familles subsisted on minimums though some did send their children to school. Not chunuk Lal Pardhi and his wife Sukhwati. In their household there was just enough to keep the hearth burning, education was a luxury but Pandavani was a way of life. Growing up amongst four siblings, Teejan Bai often heard her grandfather regale the family with the stories from the Mahabharat. Teejan, not even 12 then and already married, was enamoured by the folk art. She picked up the basics ans trained informally under Umed Singh Deshmukh.
At 13, she gave her first performance in village Chandrakhuri (Durg) for a whopping ten rupees.
''What made you break the male bastion and take to Pandavani? I ask her as she lay ill in her recently built pucca house in Ganiyari. ''It is god's gift nobody can do this own,'' affirms Teejan Bai It was an extremely difficult journey strewn with sacasm ans jeers.
My Parents did get daunted by all this but I always fought back. ''Between creating a niche for herself and braving the taunts, Teejan Bai was also scraping through bad marriages.
''Indian women have this amazing ability to tolerate things, keep the pain to their hearts and continue doing what they are supposed to do, I did exactly that,''says Teejan Bai, her eyes laden with pain and the perseverance that has always held her in good stead.
From Chandrakhuri village and a payment of Rs. 10, Teejan Bai went to perform in several countries abroad and was honored by the Indian Government with a Padma Shri and a Padma Vibhushan.
Living in Bhilai with her family and grandchildren, Teejan Bai says she is not tied down by any habits, nor has any regrets that none of her children have taken to Pandavani. My students will carry forward this tradition, what if I my children won't Art cannot happen unless Ma Saraswati blesses You''.
Ask her what part of the world is her favorite and pat comes the reply, ''Paris.''
Teejan Bai was born in village Ganiyari, 14 km north of Bhilai to Chunuk Lal Pardhi and his wife Sukhwati she belongs to Pardhi (Scheduled Tribe) of Chhattisgarh State
The eldest among her siblings, at heart her maternal grandfather, Brijlal Pradhi, recite Mahabharata written by Chhattisgarh writer, Sabal Sinh Chauhan in Chhattigarh Hindi she instantly took a liking of it and soon memorized much of it, and later trained informally under urmed Singh Deshmukh
Career
At age 13, she gave her first public performance in a neighbouring village, Chandrakhuri (Durg) for Rs.10, singing in the Kapalik Shaili (style) of 'Pandavani, the sitting style. Contrary to the tradition, Teejan Bai performed standing singing out loud in her typical guttral voice and unmistakable verve, entering what was till now, a male bastion.
within a short time, she became known in neighbouring village and invitations poured to perforn at special occasions and festivals.
Her big-break came, when Habib Tanvir, a famous theatre personality from Madhya Pradesh, noticed her talent, and she was called to perform for then Prime Minister, Indira Gandi. There was no turning back from then on, in-time she received national and international recognition, a Padma shri in 1988 Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1995, Padma Bhushan in 2003. and D. litt from two versittcs of chhattisgarh
Beginning in the 1980s, She travelled all over the world as a cultural ambassador, to countries as far as England, France, Switzerland, Germany, Turkey, tunisia, Malta. Cyprus, Romania and Mauritius.
Today she continues to enthrall audiences, the world over with her unique folk singing and her powerful voice; and pass on her singing to the younger generation.
Personal life
Though shse was married at 12, she was ostracised by community, the 'Pardhi, tribe, for singing Pandavani, being a woman. She build herself a small hut and started living on her own, borrowing utensils and food from neighhours, yet never left her singing, which eventually paid off for her. She never went to her first husband's home and later split (dicorce) In the following years, she was married twice, though none of her marriages succeeded. Latter she fell in love with Tukka Ram, a former harmonium player in her troupe, and they three children.
Today she lives with her fourth husband, Tukka Ram, her five children, in Sector i, Bhilai, where she is employed at the Bhilai Steel Plant. She travels the world for her perfomances. She is also a grandmother (aged 52)
Performance Style
Pandavani, literally means stories of Pandavas, the legendary brothers in Mahabharat, and involves enacting and singing with instrumental accompaniment an ektara or a tambura the tambura becomes her only prop during her performances, sometimes she uses it to personify a gada, mace of Arjun, or at times his bow or chariot, while others it becomes the hair of queen Draupadi, allowing her to play various character with effective ease and candour. Her acclaimed performances are of, Draupadi cheerharan, Dusharan, Dushasana vadh and Mahabharat Yudh, between Bhishma and Arjun.
Awards
• 1988 Panma Shri
• 1995 Sangeet Nayak Akademi Award
• 2003 Hon. D. Litt, Bilaspur University
• 2003 Padma Bhushan
Today Teejan Bai will prosont the cheer haran paasng team mahubharat : whill the will ramate in her mesmevisrg style, the slory of unwarappung of totn of Draupati by Dushashra, her prayer to lord knshra to sare her and other othna relayeen scanecer.
While Pandavani was about fluttering out of the chysalia, little Teejan was picking up the first inflexions of this traditional art form. Ganiyari village, some 14 kms north of Bhilai, never saw much riches, the familles subsisted on minimums though some did send their children to school. Not chunuk Lal Pardhi and his wife Sukhwati. In their household there was just enough to keep the hearth burning, education was a luxury but Pandavani was a way of life. Growing up amongst four siblings, Teejan Bai often heard her grandfather regale the family with the stories from the Mahabharat. Teejan, not even 12 then and already married, was enamoured by the folk art. She picked up the basics ans trained informally under Umed Singh Deshmukh.
At 13, she gave her first performance in village Chandrakhuri (Durg) for a whopping ten rupees.
''What made you break the male bastion and take to Pandavani? I ask her as she lay ill in her recently built pucca house in Ganiyari. ''It is god's gift nobody can do this own,'' affirms Teejan Bai It was an extremely difficult journey strewn with sacasm ans jeers.
My Parents did get daunted by all this but I always fought back. ''Between creating a niche for herself and braving the taunts, Teejan Bai was also scraping through bad marriages.
''Indian women have this amazing ability to tolerate things, keep the pain to their hearts and continue doing what they are supposed to do, I did exactly that,''says Teejan Bai, her eyes laden with pain and the perseverance that has always held her in good stead.
From Chandrakhuri village and a payment of Rs. 10, Teejan Bai went to perform in several countries abroad and was honored by the Indian Government with a Padma Shri and a Padma Vibhushan.
Living in Bhilai with her family and grandchildren, Teejan Bai says she is not tied down by any habits, nor has any regrets that none of her children have taken to Pandavani. My students will carry forward this tradition, what if I my children won't Art cannot happen unless Ma Saraswati blesses You''.
Ask her what part of the world is her favorite and pat comes the reply, ''Paris.''
That cloudy August afternoon, when I wasded through nallahs adn sloshed my shoes in mud, Teejan Bai was not her usual self. Her voice was feeble and i had to sit on the floor to hear her, she was barely audible.
As I was about to leave, i hea a ghungroo clink from under the jaded blaket. I ask Teejan Bai about it, she smiles and shows me her new broad silver anklet. The gleam in her eyes return, thr gold rings in her brown fingers glimmer once more, the batel leaf stains her mouth, but nothing engrosses her. she touches the anklet and smiles again. You know that's her heaven.
As I was about to leave, i hea a ghungroo clink from under the jaded blaket. I ask Teejan Bai about it, she smiles and shows me her new broad silver anklet. The gleam in her eyes return, thr gold rings in her brown fingers glimmer once more, the batel leaf stains her mouth, but nothing engrosses her. she touches the anklet and smiles again. You know that's her heaven.
-Ashok Kumar Tiwari
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