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Relevance: GS Paper I — Indian Culture, Performing Arts; GS Paper II — Vulnerable Sections, Women Source: The Hindu / PIB, July 2026

Teejan Bai (1956–2026): The Voice That Took Pandavani to the World

1 · What happened

Teejan Bai, the legendary folk artist who took the ancient storytelling art of Pandavani from tiny village courtyards in Chhattisgarh to grand global stages, passed away on 5 July 2026 at AIIMS Raipur. She was 70.

She was cremated with full state honours, receiving tributes from the President and the Prime Minister. Earning three Padma awards during her lifetime, she achieved a level of recognition extremely rare for any folk artist in India.

2 · What is Pandavani?

Pandavani is a powerful traditional folk performance native to Chhattisgarh. In it, a solo performer sings, narrates, and acts out epic stories from the Mahabharata, focusing mainly on the adventures of the Pandavas (especially Bhima). It is a vibrant mix of storytelling, music, and dramatic acting.

The Traditional Way
Vedamati (Seated)
This is the older, orthodox style. The performer sits down quietly in one place and narrates the epic. Historically, this was the only style considered “acceptable” for women to perform.
Her Revolutionary Style
Kapalik (Standing)
This is highly dramatic and loud. The performer stands, roams the stage, and acts out different characters. Teejan Bai was the very first woman to master and perform this male-dominated style.
The Magic Prop
The Tambura
She always performed holding a tambura (a stringed instrument). She didn’t just play it; she used it as a prop. In her hands, it magically became Bhima’s heavy mace, Arjuna’s bow, or Krishna’s flute.
Breaking Barriers
Fighting Stigma
She belonged to the Pardhi tribe, which the British had cruelly labelled a “Criminal Tribe.” In her community, women singing publicly was forbidden. She was even thrown out of her home at age 13 for choosing to sing.

  • The Journey: She first learnt by secretly listening to her grandfather. Later, she was formally trained by Prof. Jhaduram Devangan, a famous Pandavani master.
  • The Big Break: Famous theatre director Habib Tanvir saw her immense talent and brought her to perform in cities. From there, she went on to perform in Paris, London, and Tokyo.
  • Top Honours: She won almost every major award: Padma Shri (1988), Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1995), Padma Bhushan (2003), and the Padma Vibhushan (2019) (India’s second-highest civilian award). She also won the prestigious Fukuoka Prize in Japan (2018).
  • Why she matters for UPSC: Teejan Bai isn’t just about art; she represents a powerful social change. A woman from a highly marginalised, discriminated tribe single-handedly broke into a male-dominated art form and forced the world to respect her.

UPSC Prelims Quick Facts
Criminal Tribes Act, 1871 An unjust British law that labelled entire tribes as “born criminals.” India finally cancelled (repealed) this law in 1952.
DNTs Denotified Tribes. These are the communities that were ‘freed’ when the cruel 1871 British act was repealed.
Sangeet Natak Akademi (SNA) India’s top government body (under the Ministry of Culture) that promotes and protects music, dance, and drama.
Guru-Shishya Parampara Scheme A government scheme that pays master artists to train young students to keep rare art forms alive.
Habib Tanvir A legendary theatre director who famously mixed village folk artists (like Teejan Bai) with modern city theatre. Famous for his play Charandas Chor.
Fukuoka Prize A prestigious Japanese award given to people who protect and promote Asian culture.

MCQ Practice Question
Q. With reference to the Pandavani folk tradition, consider the following statements:

  1. It is a folk performance based on episodes from the Mahabharata and is chiefly associated with the state of Chhattisgarh.
  2. In the Vedamati style, the performer stands and moves across the stage enacting different characters, while in the Kapalik style, the performer narrates the epic while seated.
  3. Teejan Bai was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 2019 for her contribution to Pandavani.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only    (b) 1 and 2 only    (c) 2 and 3 only    (d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (a) 1 only

  • Statement 1 — Correct: Pandavani literally means ‘songs of the Pandavas’. It comes from Chhattisgarh and tells stories of the Mahabharata.
  • Statement 2 — Incorrect (the trap, swapped definitions): The definitions are swapped! Vedamati is the quiet, seated style. Kapalik is the loud, standing, and acting style that Teejan Bai was famous for.
  • Statement 3 — Incorrect: Teejan Bai won the Padma Vibhushan in 2019 (the second-highest honour), not the Bharat Ratna (the highest).
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