Pandwani’s voice queen Teejan Bai is no more, passes away at the age of 70, PM Modi expressed grief

Knews DeskThe Indian folk art world suffered a major shock on Saturday, when world famous Pandwani singer and Padma Vibhushan awardee Teejan Bai passed away at the age of 70. He breathed his last after a prolonged illness at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Raipur. According to the information, she was admitted to the hospital since May 27 and was undergoing continuous treatment. Due to his demise, there is a wave of mourning not only in Chhattisgarh but in the art and culture world of the entire country.

Teejan Bai brought Chhattisgarh’s traditional folk art ‘Pandwani’ international recognition through her unique singing and impressive stage presentation. His powerful voice, lively acting and his style of presenting the stories of Mahabharata in an emotional style made him popular all over the world. He brought glory to Indian folk culture by performing on countless stages in the country and abroad.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep grief over the demise of Tejan Bai. In his message released on social media, he said that he is deeply saddened by the demise of famous Pandwani singer Teejan Bai. The Prime Minister said that through his excellent art he gave global recognition to the Pandwani tradition of Chhattisgarh. His demise is an irreparable loss to the Indian art and culture world. He expressed condolences to the bereaved family and his fans and wished for the departed soul to rest in peace.

After the news of Teejan Bai’s health deteriorating, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Dev Sai had also expressed concern. Wishing her speedy recovery, he had written on social media that Chhattisgarh’s invaluable heritage of folk culture, Teejan Bai, is undergoing treatment in the Medical ICU and the entire state is praying for her speedy recovery. However, despite all efforts he could not be saved.

Tijan Bai, who belonged to Durg district, was considered the greatest representative of Pandavani art. Pandwani is a traditional folk singing style of Chhattisgarh, in which the stories of Mahabharata are presented through music, acting and dialogues. Tejan Bai took this folk tradition to new heights and popularized it even beyond the borders of the country. His performances enthralled the audiences and played an important role in bringing Indian folk art respect on the global stage.

For his incomparable contribution to Indian folk culture, he was honored with many prestigious awards including the Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan and the country’s second highest civilian honour, the Padma Vibhushan. The demise of Teejan Bai is such a loss for the Indian folk art world that it will not be possible to compensate for a long time. His voice, his art and his dedication towards Indian culture will always remain a source of inspiration for generations to come.