Entertainment, July 5: Teejan Bai, the celebrated Pandavani artist and recipient of the Padma Vibhushan, passed away in Raipur on Sunday, July 5, following a prolonged illness. She was 72.
According to reports, the veteran folk artist had been undergoing treatment at All India Institute of Medical Sciences Raipur for several weeks. Her condition deteriorated in the early hours of Sunday, and she breathed her last at around 3.15 am.
Vishnu Deo Sai confirmed her demise and paid tribute to her extraordinary contribution to India’s folk traditions. He said Teejan Bai, who received some of the country’s highest civilian honours, played a pivotal role in taking the cultural heritage of Chhattisgarh to audiences across India and the world.
Born on April 24, 1956, in Ganiyari, Teejan Bai emerged as one of India’s most iconic folk performers. She made her public debut at the age of 13 and dedicated more than five decades to preserving and promoting Pandavani, the traditional musical storytelling art based on episodes from the Mahabharata.
She is widely recognised for breaking gender barriers within the art form. At a time when women traditionally performed Pandavani in the seated Vedamati style, Teejan Bai became the first woman to adopt the standing Kapalika style, a performance format that had largely been associated with male artists.
Her performances introduced Pandavani to audiences across Asia, Europe and several other parts of the world, earning widespread recognition for Chhattisgarh’s rich folk heritage. Despite facing social opposition during the early stages of her career, she remained steadfast in her commitment to the tradition and inspired generations of performers.
Over the course of her distinguished career, Teejan Bai received numerous prestigious honours, including the Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for her outstanding contribution to Indian folk culture.
