“I am deeply saddened by the passing of the renowned Pandavani singer Teejan Bai ji. Through her grand performances, she gave this folk art form of Chhattisgarh a unique identity across the world. Her departure is an irreplaceable loss to the world of art and culture. In this hour of grief, my condolences are with her family and admirers. Om Shanti!”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday publicly mourned the death of Teejan Bai, the celebrated Padma Vibhushan-winning folk artist known for the Chhattisgarh-based narrative singing style Pandwani. The 70-year-old performer passed away at a Raipur hospital after a lengthy fight against multiple infections and kidney failure. According to a post on X by the prime minister, her work brought worldwide recognition to that regional art form. Modi described her departure as an irreplaceable blow to culture, offering condolences to her family and fans. Teejan Bai, who rose from a village near Bhilai to receive India’s highest civilian honors including the Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan, dedicated her career to dramatically recounting Mahabharata tales on stage.
- prokerala.com ↗︎05 JUL 2026