NEW DELHI: Google today commemorated the 145th birth anniversary of legendary dancer and singer
Gauhar Jaan
with a
Google doodle.
Gauhar was among the first performers to record music on 78 rpm records in the country. The record was released by the Gramophone Company of India.
Gauhar was born on June 26 in 1873, and her birth name was Angelina Yeoward. Her father was Armenian and her mother Victoria Hemmings was an Indian by birth. After her parents' divorce, Victoria moved to Benaras with a Muslim nobleman and the then eight-year-old Angelina accompanied her mother there.
Both mother and daughter converted to Islam when in Benaras. Victoria changed her name to
Malka Jaan
and Angelina's name was changed to Gauhar Jaan. Malka became a noted singer and Kathak dancer in Benaras.
Some years later, the mother-daughter duo moved to what was then called Calcutta where Gauhar began to train as a Hindustani classical musician. Soon, she also became accomplished in Kirtan and Rabindra Sangeet, among other musical forms.
Gauhar's first performance was at the courts, in what is today called Bihar, in 1887. She was soon appointed court musician. By the end of the 19th century, Gauhar had developed a huge following.
In 1896, she started performing in Calcutta and developed a huge following. Soon, she began to travel across the country for performances - she was even invited to perform at
King George V
's coronation in Delhi.
Gauhar's most famous for songs like 'Mora Nahak Laye gavanava', 'Jabse Gaye mori sur huna live', 'Ras ke Bhare Tore Nain mere Dard-e-jigar'. She was also noted for her bhajan performances.
Later in life, Gauhar went to Mysore on the invitation of Krishna Raja Wadiyar IV and became the palace musician there. She survived only 18 months there, dying at the age of 56 on January 17, 1930.
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