Remembering Teejan Bai, the legendary Pandavani singer who took Chhattisgarh's folk art form to the world stage

Teejan Bai, the legendary Pandavani singer who, through her exceptional talent, indomitable spirit and lifelong dedication, brought the folk narrative tradition of Chhattisgarh to national as well as international prominence, passed away in the early hours of Sunday (July 5) at the age of 70.

Having battled a number of ailments for several years, Teejan Bai had withdrawn from regular performances some years ago. Invitations, however, continued to come her way. Yet, in her trembling and frail voice, weakened almost beyond endurance by illness, one increasingly heard the poignant refrain: "Ab mor jiye ke man naiye" — "I no longer feel the desire to live."

This time, pneumonia gripped her so severely that the delicate thread suspended between her exhausted body and her fading breaths finally snapped, despite all efforts to save her life.

Teejan Bai was born in 1956 in Ganiyari village in the Durg district of Chhattisgarh. She belonged to the Pardhi community. From an early age, she developed a deep fascination with the stories of the Mahabharata. Her grandfather, Brijlal Pardhi, was himself a Pandavani singer, and it was from him that she inherited the traditions and values of this remarkable folk art form. By a very young age, she had already committed numerous episodes from the Mahabharata to memory.

Despite considerable opposition from her family and society, Teejan Bai gave her first public performance at the age of 13. Her extraordinary talent soon began to attract widespread recognition. The eminent theatre personality Habib Tanvir recognised her immense potential and played a crucial role in introducing her to larger and more prestigious platforms.

Teejan Bai not only brought the Pandavani tradition of Chhattisgarh to national prominence but also earned it international recognition. Pandavani is a distinctive folk art form of Chhattisgarh in which stories from the Mahabharata are presented through a unique synthesis of singing, narration and dramatic enactment. Holding a tambura or ektara in one hand, the performer narrates the epic while symbolically transforming the instrument into Bhima's mace, Arjuna's Gandiva bow, or even a chariot during the course of the performance.

Through her powerful voice, compelling stage presence, remarkable acting ability and vivid portrayal of characters from the Mahabharata, Teejan Bai carried this extraordinary folk tradition from the rural heartland of Chhattisgarh to audiences across India and around the world. Traditionally, in the Pandavani tradition of Chhattisgarh, male performers sang while standing, whereas women performed seated. Teejan Bai broke with this convention. Performing standing on stage and using the tambura as a symbolic prop with extraordinary dramatic effect, she mastered the art of bringing the characters of the Mahabharata to life through her vigorous and evocative performances, eventually becoming synonymous with Pandavani itself.

Among the most celebrated episodes in her repertoire were the disrobing of Draupadi, the slaying of Dushasana, the battle between Bhishma and Arjuna, and the heroic exploits of Bhima, all of which became immensely popular with audiences.

When Teejan Bai portrayed characters from the Mahabharata such as Duryodhana, Bhima, Kunti, Arjuna, Nakula, Sahadeva and many others, her voice would alternately thunder with power and melt with compassion. Listening to her, one often felt that these epic figures could scarcely have been any different from the way Teejan Bai brought them alive in her Pandavani performances.

At the conclusion of an episode, she would invariably sing, "Bhole Baba la Pranam, Jai Jagadamba la Pranam!", and before long, the entire audience would echo the refrain in unison.

Through her performances in England, France, Germany, Switzerland, Turkey, Tunisia, Mauritius, Romania and numerous other countries, Teejan Bai carried the banner of Indian folk culture across the world. She demonstrated to global audiences that Indian folk arts are not merely forms of entertainment but priceless repositories of our cultural memory and philosophical traditions.

Teejan Bai was honoured with three of India's four highest civilian awards—every one except the Bharat Ratna—namely the Padma Shri (1988), the Padma Bhushan (2003) and the Padma Vibhushan (2023). In 2018, she was also awarded Japan's prestigious Fukuoka Prize in recognition of her outstanding contribution to culture and the arts.

Teejan Bai was not merely a folk singer; she was a living legacy of India's folk traditions. She proved that talent and dedication can triumph over social barriers and conventions. In her voice, the Mahabharata was not merely heard—it came alive upon the stage.

With the passing of Teejan Bai, an era has drawn to a close. The artist who carried Pandavani from the village square to the cultural stages of the world leaves behind an incomparable legacy. Beginning and ending almost every performance with her powerful invocation, "Bol Vrindavan Bihari Lal Ki Jai!", one is tempted to believe that she may well have uttered the same salutation with her final breath as she brought the performance of her own life to its conclusion—though this time, her voice would surely have borne the weariness of a long and remarkable journey.

(The author is a retired State Tax officer.)