Rasoolan Bai Biography 
Rasoolan Bai was a leading Indian Hindustani classical music vocal musician of Benaras gharana. She is regarded as the doyenne of Benaras gharana. Romantic Purab Ang of the Thumri musical genre and tappa were her specializations. In 1957 she received Sangeet Natak Akademi Award as a vocalist of Indian classical music. Famous Hindustani vocalist, Naina Devi, granddaughter of social reformer, Keshab Chandra Sen was her disciple. She was a contemporary of Siddheswari Devi of Benaras gharana.
Rasoolan Bai was born in 1902 at Kachhwa Baazar, Mirzapur of UP. She was born in a poor family. Though poor, she inherited the musical legacy of her mother Adalat. She exhibited her versatility in Indian classical ragas at an early age. When her hidden talents got noticed at a younger age, she was given formal training in music at a younger age of just 5. She was sent to learn music from Ustad Shammu Khan. Later she learnt music from noted sarangi players, Ashiq Khan and Ustad Najju Khan. Very soon she became an expert in Tappa singing.
Thumri, dadra, poorbi geet, hori, kajri and chaiti were her other favourites. Her first performance was held in Dhananjaygarh court. She received positive responses for her first performance, and very soon she got invitations from royal families to sing in live concerts. She dominated the Hindustani classical music genre for next five decades and her singing was concentrated around Varanasi of UP. In 1948, she stopped performing mujra and moved out of her kotha. Very soon she married a local Banarasi sari dealer.
Apart from live concerts she also sang for radio stations. She sang for Lucknow and Allahabad stations and for Doordarshan till 1972. Her last public singing was held in Kashmir. Her house of burnt during 1969 communal riots in the city and later, her life she ran a small tea shop next to the radio station where she used to sing once. She died on December 15, 1974, at the age of 72.
Published: N/A
Updated: December 26, 2013
