Janki Bai
Janki Bai, popularly known by her moniker Chhappan Chhuri, was an Indian Hindustani classical singer, poet, and one of the earliest superstars of the gramophone era. A contemporary of Gauhar Jaan, she was a pioneer of commercial recording in India, producing over 250 songs across her career.Early life
Janki Bai was born in Benaras in 1880. Her father, Shivbalakram, was a wrestler who abandoned the family, leading her mother, Manki, to seek refuge in Allahabad. There, they were sold into the city's courtesan culture. Despite these circumstances, Janki received a multifaceted education, becoming proficient in Persian, Urdu, Sanskrit, and English.Career
Musical career
Her formal musical training began under Ustad Hassu Khan. She excelled in various classical and light-classical genres, including thumri, dadra, khayal, ghazal, and kajri.Gramophone success
Janki Bai was a massive commercial success. Her records often sold over 25,000 copies, and she commanded fees as high as ₹5,000 per performance. She was famous for her signature ending on recordings, where she would announce her name: "Mera naam Janki Bai Allahabad!".In 1911, she reached the height of her fame when she was invited to perform for Emperor George V at the Delhi Durbar. Alongside Gauhar Jaan, she sang a specially composed coronation song, "Yeh Jalsa Taajposhi Ka Mumbaarak Ho".The name "Chhappan Chhuri"
Her nickname, Chhappan Chhuri, originated from a traumatic event in her youth. According to local legend, she survived a brutal knife attack—reputedly 56 stab wounds—inflicted by a rejected suitor or a miscreant. The resulting facial scars led her to perform behind a veil for much of her life, though she eventually embraced the name as a symbol of her resilience.Janki Bai was married for a time to a lawyer, Sheikh Abdul Haq, but the marriage ended after a few years.Death
She died on May 18, 1934, in Allahabad.Beyond music, Janki Bai was a recognized poet. She was mentored by the Urdu poet Akbar Allahabadi and published a collection of Urdu poems titled Diwan-e-Janki. In her later years, she devoted her wealth to charity. She founded a trust in Allahabad that continues to support needy students and provide for the poor.Legacy
Her life is the subject of the Sahitya Akademi Award-winning novel Requiem in Raga Janki by Neelum Saran Gour. A monument known as Chhappan Chhuri Ki Mazaar exists in the Kaladanda Kabristaan in Prayagraj.