Remembering Gauhar Jaan

Hindustani classical musician, India’s first recording artist Gauhar Jaan was born on June 26, in 1873. She came from a mixed culture and reflected the secular ethos of Indian classical music. Born in Calcutta to Victoria, who later shifted to Benaras converted to Islam and became Badi Malka Jaan; her grandmother was a Hindu, grandfather British and father an Armenian christian. Originally Eileen Angelina Yeoward, she became a Muslim and adopted the name Gauhar. However, her musical compositions were full of devotion to Lord Krishna.

According to historian and writer Vikram Sampath who has digitised recordings, and has authored the book, ‘My Name if Gauhar Jaan’ - When recording technology came to India in the early decades of the 20th century, it was the women who accepted this very novel and unfamiliar medium and adapted to it. 

Disregarding several superstitions (recording on evil English instruments would displease the gods and make one lose one’s voice) that were floated by men, they went ahead and recorded. This not only helped democratise music and bring it out of the confines of the kothas (brothels) and courts, but also liberated these performing women from the clutches of their exploitative patrons. 

And evidently much of the credit goes to Gauhar, who had around 600 records in 10 languages ranging across various forms - khayal and dhrupad to thumri, dadra, kajri, hori, chaiti and bhajan.

It was revolutionary feat that she abridged the expansive format of Hindustani music pieces into just 3 minutes to be fitted into a single disc of the times. She would end her recording with a uniquely spirited announcement – ‘My name is Gauhar Jaan!’

She lived an extravagant life, but the ending was a lonely one. However, on her 145th birth anniversary, the Google Doodle brings her memory back to music lovers. 

Snippet: Hindi film director Ashutosh Gowariker bought the film-making rights for Vikram Sampath’s book, ‘My Name is Gauhar Jaan’