Twitter
Advertisement

Who was Gauhar Jaan? Here's all you need to know about iconic Hindustani singer

Gauhar Jaan reportedly inspired Begum Akhtar to take up singing Hindustani Classical music.

Latest News
article-main
FacebookTwitterWhatsappLinkedin

Honouring with their doodle, Google is celebrating the 145th birth anniversary of Indian singer and dancer Gauhar Jaan on Tuesday.

Gauhar Jaan's real name was Eileen Angelina Yeoward. She was born to Victoria Hemmings and her Armenian Christian husband William Robert Yeoward on June 26, 1873. Her grandmother was a Hindu and her grandfather was a British. But she converted to Islam and remained devout who sang songs full of Krishna Bhakti all her life.

Following are a few facts about the legendary Hindustani classical music singer Gauhar Jaan you ought to know to grasp the popularity of the singer at the peak of her career.

1. She was trained in the arts of singing and dancing at Banaras. She was taught light and pure Hindustani vocal music by the founding members of Patiala Gharana. She learned Kathak from Brindadin Maharaj and Dhrupad Dhamar from Srijanbai. 

2. Gauhar Khan also wrote ghazals under pen-name of 'Hamdam.'

3. She started performing in 1887. She was the court musician at the Darbhanga Raj

4. Her performances made headlines and she was considered one of the most flamboyant artists of her time. Her pictures were on matchboxes and postcards!

5. Gramophone Company chose Gauhar Jaan as their first Indian artist to record on vinyl.

6. At a converted hotel room in Kolkata on November 11, 1902, Gauhar Jaan recorded her song to be played on a turntable that rotated at 78 rpm.

7. Gauhar Jaan recorded more than 600 songs in 10 different languages between the years 1902 to 1920.

8. She performed at the coronation of King George V at Delhi Durbar and sang a duet with Jankibai of Allahabad.

9. Reportedly, after listening to Gauhar Jaan sing, Begum Akhtar gave up the thought of working in films and chose to train in Hindustani Classical Music.

10. In her final days she became 'Palace musician' at the invitation of Krishna Raja Wadiyar IV of Mysore. She passed away on January 17, 1930

Find your daily dose of news & explainers in your WhatsApp. Stay updated, Stay informed-  Follow DNA on WhatsApp.
Advertisement

Live tv

Advertisement
Advertisement