Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Sunday, 5 July 2026, expressed deep grief over the passing of Dr. Teejan Bai, the celebrated Pandavani folk singer and Padma Vibhushan awardee, calling her contribution to Indian folk art and cultural heritage 'unparalleled and forever memorable.'

Context

In his post on X, CM Dhami wrote: 'सुप्रसिद्ध पंडवानी गायिका, पद्म विभूषण से सम्मानित डॉ. तीजन बाई जी के निधन का अत्यंत दुःखद समाचार प्राप्त हुआ' ('I have received the deeply sorrowful news of the passing of the renowned Pandavani singer, Padma Vibhushan awardee Dr. Teejan Bai'). He prayed that the departed soul finds peace at the feet of the Almighty, and that her bereaved family and admirers receive the strength to bear this immense loss, closing with 'ॐ शान्ति' (Om Shanti).

Dr. Teejan Bai was one of the foremost exponents of Pandavani, a traditional folk performance art rooted in Chhattisgarh that narrates episodes from the Mahabharata through evocative song and expressive narration. She was among the very few women to have mastered and popularised the Kapalik style of Pandavani, which involves performing while standing — a form historically dominated by men.

Policy Backdrop

Dr. Teejan Bai's recognition with the Padma Vibhushan — India's second-highest civilian honour — placed her among a select group of folk and performing artists accorded the nation's highest cultural acknowledgement. Her career spanned several decades, during which she carried Pandavani from village stages in Chhattisgarh to international platforms, significantly elevating the global profile of Indian intangible cultural heritage.

India's framework for preserving intangible cultural heritage has long emphasised both classical and regional folk traditions. Institutions such as the Sangeet Natak Akademi have recognised Pandavani as a living tradition worthy of documentation and promotion. Dr. Teejan Bai was a recipient of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award as well, underscoring the breadth of official recognition she received across her lifetime.

Stakeholders and Impact

The loss of Dr. Teejan Bai is felt most acutely by the folk arts community of Chhattisgarh and by practitioners and students of Pandavani across the country. She was widely regarded not only as a performer but as a living institution — her performances were considered definitive references for the tradition's vocal style, rhythm, and narrative technique.

Tributes from political leaders across regions, including CM Dhami from Uttarakhand, reflect the cross-regional stature she commanded. State chief ministers routinely issue public condolences on the passing of nationally recognised folk artists, signalling official recognition of intangible cultural heritage as a shared national asset that transcends state boundaries.

What's Next

Cultural bodies, state governments — particularly Chhattisgarh — and the Union government may be expected to announce measures to preserve and promote the Pandavani tradition in her memory. These could include archival projects documenting her performances, scholarships for young Pandavani artists, or the naming of cultural institutions in her honour.

The passing of a figure of Dr. Teejan Bai's stature typically prompts renewed public and policy conversation about the sustainability of folk performance traditions and the need for structured state support to ensure such art forms survive beyond their master practitioners.