India has lost one of its most popular 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 was undergoing treatment for several weeks, as reported by Aaj Tak.Doctors at AIIMS confirmed his death after his condition deteriorated early in the morning.
Hospitalized after health complications
Teejan Bai was admitted to AIIMS, Raipur, on May 27 this year after experiencing difficulty in breathing and severe weakness. Doctors treating the veteran actress had previously stated that she was suffering from life-threatening complications with multiple pre-existing medical conditions.According to hospital authorities, his health took a turn for the worse around 3:15 am on Saturday. Despite medical efforts, he could not be revived.
A Pandavani pioneer
Born in 1956 in Ganiyari village in Durg district, Chhattisgarh, Teejan Bai has dedicated her life to preserving and promoting Pandavani which is the traditional storytelling performance based on the Mahabharata.
A career decorated with prestigious awards
The Government of India honored the veteran artist with the Padma Shri in 1988, followed by the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1995. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2003, the same year he also received an honorary Doctor of Letters (D. Litt.) from Bilaspur University.He received the MS Subbulakshmi Centenary Award in 2016, the prestigious Fukuoka Prize 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 popular cultural ambassadors is certainly inspiring.
