Asgari Bai
Encyclopedia
Asgari Bai was a renowned India
n Dhrupad
singer. She was a recipient of Padma Shri
, Tansen Samman, Academy Samman and Shikhar Samman. She has also been felicitated with Nari Shakti Samman. Crowned with many awards, the artiste enthralled music lovers not only in Madhya Pradesh but also across the country with her unique style and talent for decades.
, Chhatarpur
. She had come with her mother Nazeera Begum to Tikamgarh
. Her mother was a court singer for the erstwhile royal family of Bijawar
, while her grandmother Balayat Bibi adorned the court of Ajaygarh princely state
.
, Bhind
. She had been in Tikamgarh
Raj Darbar up to 35 years. Asgari Bai acquired extraordinary expertise in Dhrupad to reign as the main court singer for the Orchha
dynasty. She was also invited by other royal families to treat music lovers to her spellbinding
She died on Wednesday, August 9, 2006.
award in February 1987, and honoured by the Madhya Pradesh government with the Tansen
Samman in December 1985 and the Sikhar Samman in February 1986.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n Dhrupad
Dhrupad
Dhrupad is a vocal genre in Hindustani classical music, said to be the oldest still in use in that musical tradition. Its name is derived from the words "dhruva" and "pada"...
singer. She was a recipient of Padma Shri
Padma Shri
Padma Shri is the fourth highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan...
, Tansen Samman, Academy Samman and Shikhar Samman. She has also been felicitated with Nari Shakti Samman. Crowned with many awards, the artiste enthralled music lovers not only in Madhya Pradesh but also across the country with her unique style and talent for decades.
Early life and background
Asgari Bai was born in BijawarBijawar
Bijawar is a town and a nagar panchayat in Chhatarpur district in the state of Madhya Pradesh, India. It is the administrative headquarters of Bijawar Taluk, and was formerly the capital of a princely state of British India of the same name.-History:...
, Chhatarpur
Chhatarpur
Chhatarpur is a city and a municipality in Chhatarpur district in the state of Madhya Pradesh, India. It is the administrative headquarters of Chhatarpur District.- History :...
. She had come with her mother Nazeera Begum to Tikamgarh
Tikamgarh
Tikamgarh is a city and a tehsil, in Tikamgarh district, Madhya Pradesh, it also the district headquarter. The earlier name of the town was 'Tehri' consisting of three hamlets, forming a rough triangle. In the Tikamgarh town there is muhalla still known as 'Purani Tehri'...
. Her mother was a court singer for the erstwhile royal family of Bijawar
Bijawar
Bijawar is a town and a nagar panchayat in Chhatarpur district in the state of Madhya Pradesh, India. It is the administrative headquarters of Bijawar Taluk, and was formerly the capital of a princely state of British India of the same name.-History:...
, while her grandmother Balayat Bibi adorned the court of Ajaygarh princely state
Princely state
A Princely State was a nominally sovereign entitity of British rule in India that was not directly governed by the British, but rather by an Indian ruler under a form of indirect rule such as suzerainty or paramountcy.-British relationship with the Princely States:India under the British Raj ...
.
A royal singer
Asgari Bai made her Guru to Zahoor Khan resident of GohadGohad
Gohad , also Gohud, is a city and a municipality in Bhind district in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. A town of historical importance it is situated close to the city of Gwalior.-History:...
, Bhind
Bhind
Bhind is a town in Bhind District, Madhya Pradesh, India.The chhatri of Malhar Rao Holkar at Alampur is great archaeology chhatri in Bhind district-Demographics:...
. She had been in Tikamgarh
Tikamgarh
Tikamgarh is a city and a tehsil, in Tikamgarh district, Madhya Pradesh, it also the district headquarter. The earlier name of the town was 'Tehri' consisting of three hamlets, forming a rough triangle. In the Tikamgarh town there is muhalla still known as 'Purani Tehri'...
Raj Darbar up to 35 years. Asgari Bai acquired extraordinary expertise in Dhrupad to reign as the main court singer for the Orchha
Orchha
Orchha is a town in Tikamgarh district of Madhya Pradesh state, India. The town was established by Maharaja Rudra Pratap Singh in 1501, as the seat of an eponymous former princely state of central India, in the Bundelkhand region. Orchha lies on the Betwa River , 80 km from Tikamgarh &...
dynasty. She was also invited by other royal families to treat music lovers to her spellbinding
Personal life
Asgari bai was married at the age of 35 years with Chiman Lal Gupta of Agra. She has 5 sons and 3 daughters.She died on Wednesday, August 9, 2006.
Awards
She was awarded the Padmashri on March 24, 1990. She was awarded Sangeet Natak AkademiSangeet Natak Akademi
Sangeet Natak Akademi is the national level academy for performing arts set up by the Government of India.-History:...
award in February 1987, and honoured by the Madhya Pradesh government with the Tansen
Tansen
Mia Tansen is considered among the greatest composer-musicians in Hindustani classical music. He was an extraordinarily gifted vocalist, known for a large number of compositions, and also an instrumentalist who popularized and improved the rabab .He was among the Navaratnas at the court of the...
Samman in December 1985 and the Sikhar Samman in February 1986.