Collegevidya at 19:06, 5 January 2026

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{{short description|Indian singer (1880–1934)}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Janki Bai
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| birth_name = Janki Begum
| birth_date = {{Birth year|1880}}
| birth_place = [[Benaras]], [[Presidencies and provinces of British India|British India]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|1934|05|18|1880|df=yes}}
| death_place = [[Allahabad]], [[Presidencies and provinces of British India|British India]]
| other_names = ''Janki Bai of Allahabad''
| occupation = {{Hlist | Singer | Poet | Classical Singer}}
| spouse = Sheikh Abdul Haq (ex-husband)
| children =
| years_active = 1893 – 1934
| relatives =
}}

'''Janki Bai''' (1880–1934), popularly known by her moniker '''Chhappan Chhuri''' (lit. "Fifty-six Knives"), was an Indian Hindustani classical singer, poet, and one of the earliest superstars of the gramophone era.<ref name=TheHindu/><ref name=IndianExpress/> A contemporary of [[Gauhar Jaan]], she was a pioneer of commercial recording in [[India]], producing over 250 songs across her career.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thevoiceoffashion.com/intersections/columns/janki-bais-closet-of-beauty-and-pain-2497|title=Janki Bai's Closet of Beauty and Pain|website=The Voice of Fashion|date=May 6, 2019}}</ref><ref name=IndianExpress/>

== Early life ==
Janki Bai was born in [[Benaras]] (now [[Varanasi]]) in 1880.<ref name=IndianExpress/> Her father, Shivbalakram, was a wrestler who abandoned the family, leading her mother, Manki, to seek refuge in [[Allahabad]].<ref name=IndianExpress/> There, they were sold into the city's courtesan culture (kotha).<ref name=IndianExpress/> Despite these circumstances, Janki received a multifaceted education, becoming proficient in Persian, Urdu, Sanskrit, and English.<ref name=ThePrint>{{cite web|url=https://theprint.in/opinion/treasured-tunes/janki-bai-singer-disfigured-by-56-stab-wounds-sold-more-records-than-her-contemporaries/243124/|title=Janki Bai, singer disfigured by 56 stab wounds sold more records than her contemporaries|website=The Print|date=June 2, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/culture/books/heavily-fictionalised-tale-of-the-gramophone-era/cid/1675356|title=Heavily fictionalised tale of the gramophone era|website=The Telegraph India|date=November 15, 2018}}</ref>

== Career ==
=== Musical career ===
Her formal musical training began under Ustad Hassu Khan.<ref name=TheHindu/> She excelled in various classical and light-classical genres, including thumri, dadra, khayal, ghazal, and kajri.<ref name=TheHindu/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/art-and-culture/on-the-record-a-book-on-the-life-and-compelling-music-of-janki-bai-ilahabadi-5231774/|title=On the record: A book on the life and compelling music of Janki Bai Ilahabadi|website=Indian Express|date=June 25, 2018}}</ref>

=== Gramophone success ===
Janki Bai was a massive commercial success.<ref name=IndianExpress/> Her records often sold over 25,000 copies, and she commanded fees as high as ₹5,000 per performance.<ref name=ThePrint/> She was famous for her signature ending on recordings, where she would announce her name: "Mera naam Janki Bai Allahabad!".<ref name=ThePrint/>

=== Delhi Durbar ===
In 1911, she reached the height of her fame when she was invited to perform for Emperor [[George V]] at the [[Delhi Durbar]].<ref name=TheHindu/> Alongside [[Gauhar Jaan]], she sang a specially composed coronation song, ''"Yeh Jalsa Taajposhi Ka Mumbaarak Ho"''.<ref name=TheHindu>{{cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/society/history-and-culture/star-of-the-gramophone-era/article24461033.ece|title=Star of the gramophone era|website=The Hindu|date=July 19, 2018}}</ref>

=== The name "Chhappan Chhuri" ===
Her nickname, Chhappan Chhuri, originated from a traumatic event in her youth. According to local legend, she survived a brutal knife attack—reputedly 56 stab wounds—inflicted by a rejected suitor or a miscreant.<ref name=TheHindu/> The resulting facial scars led her to perform behind a veil for much of her life, though she eventually embraced the name as a symbol of her resilience.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chitreshdasinstitute.org/veilofjankibai|title=Veil of Janki Bai|website=Chitresh Das Institute|date=December 8, 2025}}</ref><ref name=TheHindu/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thefridaytimes.com/10-Jul-2020/chhappan-chhuri-kishwar-naheed-at-80|title=Chhappan Chhuri: Kishwar Naheed At 80|website=The Friday Times|date=July 10, 2020}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
Janki Bai was married for a time to a lawyer, Sheikh Abdul Haq, but the marriage ended after a few years.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1420123|title=FICTION: THE SONG OF FIFTY-SIX KNIVES|website=Dawn Newspaper|date=July 15, 2018}}</ref><ref name=ThePrint/><ref name=IndianExpress/>

== Death ==
She died on May 18, 1934, in [[Allahabad]].<ref name=IndianExpress/>

== Literary work and philanthropy ==
Beyond music, Janki Bai was a recognized poet.<ref name=TheHindu/> She was mentored by the Urdu poet [[Akbar Allahabadi]] and published a collection of Urdu poems titled ''Diwan-e-Janki''.<ref name=TheHindu/> In her later years, she devoted her wealth to charity.<ref name=ThePrint/> She founded a trust in [[Allahabad]] (now [[Prayagraj]]) that continues to support needy students and provide for the poor.<ref name=ThePrint/>

== Legacy ==
Her life is the subject of the Sahitya Akademi Award-winning novel ''Requiem in Raga Janki'' (2018) by [[Neelum Saran Gour]].<ref name=IndianExpress>{{cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/books-and-literature/book-janki-bai-ilahabadi-chhappan-chhuri-sahitya-akademi-award-9095574/|title=A book on Janki Bai Ilahabadi, better known as Chhappan Chhuri — she of the 56 knife gashes – has won this year's Sahitya Akademi Award|website=Indian Express|date=January 4, 2024}}</ref> A monument known as ''Chhappan Chhuri Ki Mazaar'' exists in the Kaladanda Kabristaan in [[Prayagraj]].<ref name=ThePrint/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indulgexpress.com/culture/books/2018/Jun/28/singing-up-a-storm-neelum-saran-gour-speaks-about-her-new-book-requiem-in-raga-janki-8444.html|title=Singing up a storm: Neelum Saran Gour speaks about her new book, Requiem in Raga Janki|website=Indulg Express|date=June 28, 2018}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{Discogs artist|Janki Bai}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bai, Janki}}
[[Category:1880 births]]
[[Category:1934 deaths]]
[[Category:Indian women ghazal singers]]
[[Category:19th-century Indian women singers]]
[[Category:Indian ghazal singers]]
[[Category:Hindustani singers]]
[[Category:Women Hindustani musicians]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian women classical singers]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian women singers]]
[[Category:Indian courtesans]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian women artists]]
[[Category:Indian women classical singers]]

Janki Bai - Revision history

Collegevidya at 19:06, 5 January 2026