SilasCorrie at 18:41, 19 November 2025

2025-11-19T18:41:07Z

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{{Short description|Indian performer of the art of impersonation}}
{{Infobox person
| native_name = जानकी लाल भांड
| native_name_lang = hi
| other_names = Monkey Man and बहरूपिया बाबा
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1 January 1943}}
| birth_place = [[Chittorgarh]], Kingdom of Mewar (present-day Rajasthan, India)
| image = Janki Lal Bhand (cropped).jpg
| caption = Janki Lal Bhand in 2024
| awards = [[Padma Shri]] (2024)
| occupation = [[Behrupiya]]
}}

'''Janki Lal Bhand''' (born 1943), also known as '''Monkey Man''' and '''''बहरूपिया बाबा''''', is an Indian [[Saang]] and [[Behrupiya|Behrupiya]] (impersonation) artist from [[Rajasthan]]. He is renowned for his mastery of the traditional art of disguise and impersonation, and has played a crucial role in reviving this folk tradition. He received the [[Padma Shri]] award in 2024, the fourth-highest civilian honour in India, for his contributions to the arts.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Janki Lal Bhand of Rajasthan Bhilwara who received Padma Shri award|url=https://navbharattimes.indiatimes.com/state/rajasthan/bhilwara/janki-lal-bhand-of-rajasthan-bhilwara-who-received-padma-shri-award/articleshow/107169045.cms|website=Navbharat Times|language=hi}}</ref>

== Early life ==
Bhand was born on 1 January 1943 in [[Chittorgarh]], then part of the [[Kingdom of Mewar]]. He belongs to the [[Bhand]] community, traditionally associated with performance and satire in Indian society. He did not receive any formal education.<ref>{{Cite web|title=From impersonator to Padma Shri awardee: The inspiring journey of Janaki Lal Bhand|url=https://hindi.dynamitenews.com/story/the-journey-from-impersonator-to-becoming-padma-shri-know-who-is-jankilal-bhand|website=Dynamite News|language=hi}}</ref>

In 1963, he moved to [[Bhilwara]] where he initially worked as a labourer in a textile mill. However, his passion for performance led him to pursue Behrupiya art full-time.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Saini |first=Vishwanath |date=26 January 2024 |title=Jankilal Padma Shri Award: कौन हैं जानकीलाल, जिनकी बहुरूपिया कला को पद्म श्री, कभी करते थे मिल मजदूरी |url=https://hindi.oneindia.com/news/jaipur/jankilal-bhand-behrupiya-artist-from-bhilwara-who-will-got-padma-shri-award-2024-876755.html |work=OneIndia |language=hi}}</ref>

== Career ==
Bhand has been performing for over six decades and is known for portraying mythological, historical, and social characters with accuracy and flair. He is credited with keeping the Behrupiya tradition alive, especially at a time when it was fading from public memory.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Padma Shri Awardee Janki Lal Bhand: Keeping Rajasthan’s Behrupiya tradition alive|url=https://www.etvbharat.com/hi/!bharat/janaki-lal-bhand-will-be-honored-padma-award-rjn24012605133|website=ETV Bharat|language=hi}}</ref>

He has performed in more than 10 countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, and Germany, where he gained international recognition as the "Monkey Man" for his animal impersonations. In India, he is affectionately known as "बहरूपिया बाबा".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Joshi |first=Naveen |date=22 April 2024 |title=लुप्त होती बहरूपिया कला सहजने वाले भीलवाड़ा के जानकीलाल भांड को राष्ट्रपति ने पद्मश्री से नवाजा |url=https://rajasthan.ndtv.in/rajasthan-news/jankilal-bhand-of-bhilwara-who-revived-the-dying-art-of-impersonation-was-awarded-padma-shri-by-the-president-5499926 |work=NDTV}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Padma Shri award for impersonator Janaki Lal Bhand|url=https://www.abplive.com/states/rajasthan/padma-awards-2024-bhilwara-bahrupiya-janaki-lal-bhand-will-get-padma-shri-award-famous-as-monkey-man-ann-2595556|website=ABP News|language=hi}}</ref>

His acts are not limited to entertainment but often carry strong social messages about hygiene, education, caste equality, and national integration.<ref>{{Cite news |title=भीलवाड़ा के बहरूपिया बाबा को पद्मश्री अवॉर्ड:भांड कला को 3 पीढ़ियों से जिंदा रखा; मंकी मैन के नाम से हैं मशहूर |url=https://www.bhaskar.com/local/rajasthan/bhilwara/news/padma-shri-award-to-bahrupiya-baba-of-bhilwara-132497001.html |work=Dainik Bhaskar}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
[[Bhand]] belongs to the [[List_of_Scheduled_Castes_in_Rajasthan|Scheduled Caste community in Rajasthan]]. His family has been involved in Behrupiya performance for three generations.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Know what this Rajasthani artist awarded with Padma Shri is disappointed about|url=https://www.themooknayak.com/dalit/know-what-this-rajasthani-artist-who-has-been-awarded-padmashree-is-disappointed-about|website=The Mooknayak|language=hi}}</ref> He has a son, Laadu Lal Bhand, who is also active in the art form.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bhilwara: भीलवाड़ा में बहुरूपिया कलाकार जानकीलाल भांड का भव्य स्वागत, पीएम और राष्ट्रपति का जताया आभार |url=https://zeenews.india.com/hindi/india/rajasthan/bhilwara/bhilwara-grand-welcome-to-impersonator-jankilal-bhand-in-bhilwara-expressed-gratitude-to-pm-and-president/2227868 |website=Zee News |language=hi}}</ref>

He continues to advocate for the promotion and institutional support of traditional folk arts, particularly Behrupiya, and has called on younger generations to take up the mantle.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Padma Shri awardee Janaki Lal Bhand says youth should learn this traditional art |url=https://www.etvbharat.com/hi/!state/padma-shree-awardee-international-impersonator-artist-jankilal-bhand-said-he-wants-to-connect-young-generation-to-this-art-rjs24042904015|website=ETV Bharat|language=hi}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Behrupiya]]
* [[Saang]] (folk theatre)
* [[List_of_Padma_Shri_award_recipients_(2020–2029)|Padma Shri recipients 2024]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bhand, Janki Lal}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1943 births]]
[[Category:Indian artists]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in arts]]
[[Category:People from Rajasthan]]
[[Category:Impressionist artists]]

Janki Lal Bhand - Revision history

SilasCorrie at 18:41, 19 November 2025