TEEJAN BAI
Arpita Jindani interviews
Padmashree Award Winner Teejan Bai who has carved a niche for herself
worldwide in Folk Music
A
sheer sign of ‘woman empowerment’ and a role model for many is Teejan bai. A
45, year old Folk artist from Chattisgadh district, who charms people with the
force of her narrative and performs her own interpretation of the epic,
Mahabharata.
On 19th August Teejan Bai floored Students and staff of TISS (Tata Institute of Social Sciences) with her recital of the Mahabharata at the TISS campus and the programme was sponsored by the TISS Chapter of SPIC-MACAY. As Teejan Bai's tale unfolded Bhishma, the perfect knight the chivalrous Karna, the noble Pandavas, the mightly Dushasana, Draupadi, and the legend among legends Krishna came alive on stage.
Teejan Bai, who was trained by her Nanaji (maternal grandfather) is the first Pandwani woman story-teller. Teejan Bai, with, performs her own interpretation of the epic, Mahabharata.. She took to the Kapalik style of Pandavani, where the narrator depicts scene from the epic and improvises consistently. Till then, women had preferred the Vedmati style, where the performer sits and narrates the story.
"People called me characterless because I sang and danced in public. What could be more painful for an artist than not being able to perform. I can never forget that difficult path I have left behind" expresses Teejan bai. But her efforts have not in vain and she has managed to open doors for other young female story tellers by battling against the present day customs of a conservative rural society. Through her art, she has found an outlet to depict the hardships that women like her have had to face.
"When I was 13 and interested in folk tales, my mother used to beat me. Today in Chhattisgarh, when girls are not interested in housework, people smile and say Teejan was also like this," said Teejan Bai.
Teejan Bai has lot of awards to her credit the prime ones being, the Padma Shri in 1988 and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1995. She still appears humble when it comes to her own achievements. "I am uneducated so I cannot tell you when the Pandavani style of telling the story originated. Probably at the same time that the Mahabharata was written because in those days, there were very few people who could read," she says.
"England, France, Switzerland, Germany, Turkey, Tunisia, Malta, Cyprus…" In a single breath she rattled off the names of the countries she has performed in. "But Paris remains my favourite. The people in Paris are so wonderful," she says with a wide grin and makes it a point to mention that she had visited the city all of three times.
Towards the end of the programme, groups of students went up to the artiste to express their admiration. Teejan Bai's only reaction was a simple smile. And the most overwhelming part for Teejan bai was when a few students noticed her betel-stained teeth they gifted her ‘Supari.
What charmed the young audience was the ease with which they could savour a show in the Chattisgarhi dialect. And though the story was not new, Teejan Bai's unique style of expressing it wove magic. And her sense of humour was unbeatable!! Apart from the role of an artist, in real life Teejan bai efficiently performs the role of a wife, mother, and also a grandmother. She sure is a role model for many!
Any comments?
mail me at erysiphe@hotmail.com
