Google Doodle celebrates legendary Indian artist Gauhar Jaan's 145th birth anniversary

Google celebrated the 145th birth anniversary of Gauhar Jaan, one of the first performers to record music on 78 rpm records in India, with a doodle. The illustration is done by Aditi Damle, who shows off Gauhar Jaan with her cat, and the gramophone in the background.

Gauhar was born on June 26 in 1873, under the name of Angelina Yeoward. Her father, Robert William Yeoward worked as an engineer in a dry ice factory and her mother, Victoria Hemmings in 1872. t should also be noted that Gauhar's mother is often known as "Badi" Malak Jan, because at the time there were three other famous Malak Jans. The designation of Badi, implying that she was the eldest of the Malak Jan's.

Gauhar embraced Islam and remained a devout Muslim all her life, though most of her compositions were replete with Krishna bhakti. India's first recording sessions included Gauhar Jaan, singing a khayal in Raag Jogiya, recorded by Fred Gaisberg of the Gramophone Company. The sessions began on 8 November 1902 amd over the course of six weeks, more than 500 matrices were recorded of local artists. The records were manufactured in Germany and shipped to India in April 1903.

Her most famous song, thumri sung in Bhairavi is Mora Nahak Laye gavanava, Jabse Gaye mori sur huna live, Ras ke Bhare Tore Nain mere Dard-e-jigar and bhajans like, Radhey Krishna Bol Mukhse. She died at the age of 56 on January 17, 1930.