Raipur, July 5 : In the early hours of Sunday, the voice that had breathed life into the ancient Mahabharata for over five decades fell silent. Padma Vibhushan Dr Teejan Bai, the legendary exponent of Pandavani from Chhattisgarh, passed away at AIIMS Raipur after a prolonged battle with severe lung infection, sepsis, and acute kidney injury. She was 69.

Her departure leaves a profound void -- not just in the world of folk arts, but in the cultural soul of India. For millions, Teejan Bai was more than a singer; she was a living bridge between myth and reality, a fearless tribal woman who carried the epic tales of the Pandavas and Kauravas across villages, cities, and continents with nothing but her powerful voice, a tambura, and an unyielding spirit.

Born on August 8, 1956, in the humble village of Ganiyari, near Bhilai in Chhattisgarh, Teejan Bai belonged to the Pardhi scheduled tribe. Her parents, Chunuk Lal Pardhi and Sukhwati, lived in abject poverty, making mats and brooms to survive.

As the eldest of five children, young Teejan grew up in circumstances where a girl child was often seen as a burden. Married off at the tender age of 12, she faced an abusive union and societal rejection. When she dared to sing Pandavani -- a traditionally male-dominated art form -- her own community ostracised her.

Undeterred, she built a small hut for herself, borrowing utensils and food from kind neighbours, and refused to abandon her calling. She performed her first public rendition at just 13, her voice echoing the valour of Arjuna, the wisdom of Krishna, and the resilience of Draupadi.

Her journey was one of extraordinary courage.

Expelled from her community, she lived alone, honed her craft in isolation, and eventually found love again -- marrying twice and becoming a grandmother.

Through it all, her art remained her anchor and her rebellion. Teejan Bai transformed Pandavani into a mesmerising theatrical experience.

Seated on the floor with her â??tamburaâ??, she would enact entire episodes from the Mahabharata in a style that was raw, dramatic, and deeply emotional. She sang, gestured, and embodied the characters -- bringing gods, warriors, and sages to life for audiences who hung on every note.

Her performances were not mere recitals; they were spiritual invocations that made ancient dharma feel immediate and alive.

She took this folk treasure from the tribal heartlands of Chhattisgarh to national and international stages, preserving and popularising an oral tradition that might otherwise have faded. Her voice -- powerful, expressive, and steeped in emotion -- touched hearts across cultures.

In Japan, she received the prestigious Fukuoka Arts and Culture Prize in 2018 for her contribution to cultural exchange.

Teejan Baiâ??s contributions were recognised with Indiaâ??s highest civilian honours: Padma Shri (1987/1988), Padma Bhushan (2003), Padma Vibhushan (2019).

She also received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1995), an honorary Doctorate in Literature, and numerous other accolades that celebrated her as one of Indiaâ??s greatest folk icons. Yet, for all the awards, she remained deeply rooted in her tribal identity and village life. She was never far from the soil that shaped her.

Teejan Baiâ??s life was a testament to the triumph of talent over adversity, of art over orthodoxy, and of one womanâ??s indomitable will to preserve her cultural heritage.

In an era when traditional arts often struggle for survival, she shone as a flag-bearer -- proving that the stories of our ancestors can still resonate powerfully in modern times.

Her voice may have stilled, but the tales she told will echo through generations.

Every time a performer picks up a â??tamburaâ?? in Chhattisgarh, every time the Mahabharata is sung in a village square, Teejan Bai will live on in the rhythm, in the emotion, and in the hearts of those who were moved by her unparalleled artistry.

India has lost one of its cultural queens and one of its most authentic voices.

The world of folk music has lost a legend.

/IANS