India has lost one of its most celebrated folk artists with the death of Padma Vibhushan Teejan Bai.The legendary Pandavani exponent passed away at the age of 70 after battling a prolonged illness as reported by PTI. He breathed his last at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Raipur, where he had been undergoing treatment for several weeks, Aaj Tak reported.Doctors at AIIMs confirmed his death after his condition deteriorated early in the morning.
Hospitalized after health complications
Teejan Bai had been admitted to AIIMS, Raipur, on May 27 this year after experiencing difficulty in breathing and severe weakness. Doctors treating the veteran artist had previously stated that she was suffering from life-threatening complications along with multiple pre-existing medical conditions.According to hospital authorities, his health deteriorated significantly around 3:15 am on Saturday. Despite medical efforts, she could not be revived.
A pioneer of Pandavani
Born in 1956 in Ganiyari village of Durg district, Chhattisgarh, Teejan Bai dedicated her life to preserving and promoting Pandavani, which is the traditional storytelling performance based on the Mahabharata.
A career decorated with prestigious honors
The Government of India honored the veteran artist with the Padma Shri in 1988, followed by the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1995. He received the Padma Bhushan in 2003, the same year he was also awarded an honorary Doctorate of Letters (D. Litt.) by Bilaspur University.He received the MS Subbulakshmi Centenary Award in 2016, the prestigious Fukuoka Award in 2018 and the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second highest civilian honor, in 2019.Veteran artist Teejan Bai’s journey from a small village in Chhattisgarh to becoming one of India’s most celebrated cultural ambassadors is certainly inspiring.