Teejan Bai, Folk Artist
Folk Artist

Teejan Bai

Born 8 August 1956 · Chhattisgarh

Popularized Pandavani, a traditional Chhattisgarhi art form enacting Mahabharata tales with music.

Teejan Bai is an exponent of Pandavani, a traditional performing art form, from Chhattisgarh, in which she enacts tales from the Mahabharata, with musical accompaniments.

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A detail that
surprised us

“

Teejan Bai was expelled from her own tribal community for singing Pandavani as a woman, forcing her to live alone in a hut before rising to international fame.

The Story

1
🔥 At just 13, Teejan Bai stormed a male-dominated stage in Chandrakhuri village, singing Pandavani standing up with a guttural voice, a break from the traditional seated female singers, shocking her tribal community.
2
🌍 From a humble hut after being expelled by her tribe for singing, she journeyed from Ganiyari near Bhilai to international stages in England, France, and Germany throughout the 1980s, bringing Mahabharata tales alive worldwide.
3🎤 In 1987, Teejan Bai's voice reached the halls of Indian power when she performed for then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, launching her into national fame and earning her the Padma Shri the following year.
4Despite being married off at 12 to stop her singing, she never returned to her husband's home and later divorced, choosing music and independence over social convention in her conservative Pardhi tribe.

🏅 Awards & Honours

—
Padma Vibhushan

🔍 One thing most people don't know

“

In 1969, at age 13, Teejan Bai performed publicly for the first time in Chandrakhuri village for just Rs 10, standing and singing loudly in a male style unheard of for women then.

🖼️

Through the Years

3 photographs from the archives
Teejan Bai performing at the GITA festival, showcasing her folk singing (2015)
Teejan Bai performing at the GITA festival, showcasing her folk singing (2015)
2015
Teejan Bai performing at Bharat Bhawan in Bhopal during a cultural event (2015)
Teejan Bai receiving the Padma Vibhushan award from President Ramnath Kovind in New Delhi (2019)

🗓️ A Life in Moments

🕊️
Birth
Birth in Ganiyari village, Chhattisgarh
Teejan Bai was born into the Pardhi Scheduled Tribe, a marginalized community near Bhilai.
1956
⚡
Career
First Public Performance at Age 13
She sang Pandavani in Chandrakhuri village for Rs 10, breaking gender norms by standing and singing loudly.
1969
🏅
Award
Padma Shri Award
Received Padma Shri by Government of India after performing for Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
1987
🏅
Award
Sangeet Natak Akademi Award
Awarded by India's National Academy of Music, Dance & Drama for excellence in folk arts.
1995
🏅
Award
Padma Bhushan Award
Received the Padma Bhushan, recognizing her contribution to Indian folk arts.
2003
🏅
Award
Padma Vibhushan Award
One of the highest civilian honors in India, awarded for her lifetime achievement in Pandavani.
2019
More moments to come...
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🗝️Discoveries

Swipe to uncover hidden stories
01 / 05
👤PERSONAL

Despite being married off at 12 to prevent her singing, she never entered her husband's home and was expelled by her tribe, living independently in a hut while continuing her music.

02 / 05
🏆ACHIEVEMENT

Her big break came when Habib Tanvir invited her to perform for Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, leading to her receiving the Padma Shri in 1987 and Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1995.

03 / 05
🔍LESSER KNOWN

Teejan Bai’s performances use the Kapalik style of Pandavani, standing and singing with a guttural voice, contrasting the traditional Vedamati seated style for women.

No quote recorded for Teejan Bai yet.

🎙️ Speeches & Recordings

These recordings preserve the legacy of Bharat's icons
Saluting Teejan Bai on Women's Day #shorts
·YouTube
More from this archive
Saluting Teejan Bai on Women's Day #shorts
01
Saluting Teejan Bai on Women's Day #shorts
YouTube
TEEJAN BAI Aur PANDWANI-1
02
TEEJAN BAI Aur PANDWANI-1
YouTube
Padma Vibhushan Awardee Tijan Bai felicitated with Champions of Change Madhya Pradesh 2021
03
Padma Vibhushan Awardee Tijan Bai felicitated with Champions of Change Madhya Pradesh 2021
YouTube
CoronaVirus: तीजन बाई का संदेश! (tijan bai advise about coronavirus in lockdown)
04
CoronaVirus: तीजन बाई का संदेश! (tijan bai advise about coronavirus in lockdown)
YouTube
TEEJAN BAI PANDWANI 2
05
TEEJAN BAI PANDWANI 2
YouTube

🌱 What changed because of them

Teejan Bai transformed Pandavani from a male-dominated folk tradition into a stage where women could lead with power and voice, challenging gender barriers deeply rooted in tribal customs. Her international tours and awards brought global recognition to Chhattisgarh's folk arts, inspiring cultural institutions to support indigenous female performers and influencing folk revival movements across India.

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