Teejan Bai critical at AIIMS Raipur: Padma Vibhushan singer battles sepsis
Synopsis
Teejan Bai, the Padma Vibhushan-winning voice behind Chhattisgarh's Pandwani tradition, is critically ill at AIIMS Raipur with sepsis, lung infection, and acute kidney injury. The 69-year-old, who spent a lifetime carrying a little-known folk form to global stages, is now in the MICU as a multidisciplinary team fights to stabilise her.
Key Takeaways
Teejan Bai , 69 , is admitted to the MICU at AIIMS Raipur in critical condition.
She is battling a severe lung infection , sepsis , and acute kidney injury with persistently low blood pressure.
A multidisciplinary team of critical care experts , pulmonologists , and haematologists is providing round-the-clock treatment.
Teejan Bai holds the Padma Vibhushan (2019) , Padma Bhushan (2003) , Padma Shri (1988) , and Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1995) .
She was born in Ganiyari village near Bhilai, Chhattisgarh in 1956 and is regarded as the foremost exponent of Pandwani folk art.
Padma Vibhushan awardee and legendary Pandwani singer Teejan Bai is fighting for her life in the Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) at AIIMS Raipur, after her health deteriorated suddenly late on Wednesday night. Doctors have described the 69-year-old folk icon's condition as critical, with multiple serious complications under active management.
Medical Condition
According to medical updates, Teejan Bai is suffering from a severe lung infection, bloodstream infection (sepsis), and acute kidney injury. Her blood pressure has remained persistently low, compounding the clinical challenge. A multidisciplinary team comprising critical care specialists, pulmonologists, and haematologists is monitoring her round the clock and administering intensive treatment.
While doctors have managed to achieve a degree of stabilisation, they remain cautious, noting that the risk has not fully subsided. She was shifted to the MICU immediately after her initial assessment upon arrival at the hospital.
Who Is Teejan Bai
Born in 1956 in Ganiyari village near Bhilai in Chhattisgarh, Teejan Bai rose from modest origins to become one of India's most celebrated folk artists. She is widely regarded as the foremost exponent of Pandwani — a traditional Chhattisgarhi folk art form in which episodes from the Mahabharata are rendered through powerful singing and dramatic performance.
Her distinctive style — marked by deep emotional intensity and energetic delivery while seated on stage — carried this relatively obscure regional tradition to international audiences, earning her performances on stages across the world.
Awards and Recognition
Over a career spanning decades, Teejan Bai has received some of India's highest civilian honours. She was conferred the Padma Shri in 1988, the Padma Bhushan in 2003, and the Padma Vibhushan in 2019. She also received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1995, among several other prestigious recognitions for her contribution to Indian folk culture.
Outpouring of Support
News of her hospitalisation has prompted an outpouring of concern across Chhattisgarh and the broader cultural community. Fans, fellow artists, and political leaders have conveyed their hopes for her swift recovery. The Chhattisgarh state government and AIIMS Raipur are reported to be extending all possible medical support to the veteran singer.
As prayers pour in from across the country, the coming days will be closely watched by all those who have been touched by her lifelong dedication to preserving the folk heritage of India.
Point of View
With decades of physically demanding performance behind her, Teejan Bai represents a generation of folk artists who gave everything to their craft with little systemic support in return. Her illness also throws into sharp relief how few successors have been groomed in Pandwani at the same level — making her recovery not just a personal matter but a cultural one.
NationPress
14 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Teejan Bai's current health condition?
Teejan Bai is in critical condition at the MICU of AIIMS Raipur, suffering from a severe lung infection, sepsis, and acute kidney injury. Her blood pressure has been persistently low, and doctors remain cautious despite some degree of stabilisation.
Why was Teejan Bai admitted to AIIMS Raipur?
Teejan Bai was admitted late on Wednesday night after her health deteriorated suddenly. She was immediately shifted to the MICU following an initial assessment, where a multidisciplinary medical team began intensive treatment.
Who is Teejan Bai and why is she significant?
Teejan Bai is a Padma Vibhushan-winning folk artist from Chhattisgarh, widely regarded as the greatest living exponent of Pandwani — a traditional art form in which stories from the Mahabharata are narrated through singing and dramatic performance. She was born in 1956 in Ganiyari village near Bhilai and brought this regional tradition to international recognition.
What awards has Teejan Bai received?
Teejan Bai has received the Padma Shri (1988), Padma Bhushan (2003), Padma Vibhushan (2019), and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1995), among several other honours for her contribution to Indian folk culture.
What is Pandwani, the art form Teejan Bai is known for?
Pandwani is a traditional folk art form of Chhattisgarh in which episodes from the Mahabharata are narrated through powerful singing and dramatic expression, typically performed while seated on stage. Teejan Bai is credited with popularising the form nationally and internationally.
