Story of Gauhar Jaan: The First Millionaire Singer of India
Gauhar Jaan – a name that evokes a picture of courtly splendor and gramophone records, was prominent in 19th-century India as the country’s first recording superstar and millionaire singer. Let’s talk about her extraordinary life that was full of struggles as well as massive stardom.
Gauhar Jaan was a legendary figure in India’s music history. Born in 1897, she was not a native Indian, per se. Her ancestry comprised diverse faiths and races. However, destiny had willed that she would achieve fame and glory in a country that was not truly her own. In an era when women seldom ventured beyond the threshold of their homes, she became a prominent figure in the field of dance and music. Her melodious voice stirred passions in men’s hearts and set their pulses racing.
Gauhar Jaan’s reputation was further amplified by her high charges, which made her exclusive and unattainable to the common man. In her era, she charged a high fee of Rs.3000 per song, which compared to the recent times equals approximately Rs.1 crore. Thus she achieved her millionaire status as the first Indian singer. Countless people aspired to hear her voice in person. So the Gramophone Company recorded her songs and made them available to the general public. It was on November 2, 102 that Gauhar Jaan recorded her first ‘khayal’ creating history in the Indian music industry. This earned her the title “first recording superstar” of India.
However, Gauhar Jaan’s childhood was marred by struggles despite her illustrious musical career and lavish life. Born as Angelina Yeoward in Azamgarh to an Anglo-Indian mother and Armenian father, her upbringing was complex. Tragically her parents separated when she was just six, and she endured hardships, including being cheated by her relatives and physically abused. Despite the adversities, her life changed when her mother brought her to Benaras, where she received thorough training in classical music and dance from renowned experts and became Gauhar from Angelina.
In 1883, she shifted to Kolkata where Gauhar Jaan’s career spanned from 1902 to 1920, during which she recorded almost 600 songs in ten different languages. She performed for several kings and in fact showcased her talent at King George V’s coronation, as well as King Krishna Raja Wadiyar IV’s durbars in Mysore.
Gauhar Jaan experienced many joys as well as sorrows in her lifetime before saying goodbye to the world on January 17, 1930. Well, she might be gone but not at all forgotten. Her mesmerizing voice combined with her exceptional talent, is etched forever in the hearts of true enthusiasts of Hindustani classical music. They pay their silent homage to this remarkable Diva, who boldly dared to tread the path which no woman had traveled before.
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