Google honors Gauhar Jaan on her 145th birth anniversary with a doodle

NEW DELHI:  Continuing its tradition of remembering one great soul at a time, Google had dedicated its today’s doodle to Indian singer and dancer Gauhar Jaan, who was born this day in 1873.

Gauhar Jaan was one of the very first performers who recorded their music on 78 rpm records in India. Her record was released by the reputed Gramophone Company of India.

It might surprise you to know that Gauhar Jaan was of Armenian descent, and was born as Angelina Yeoward in present day Uttar Pradesh’s Aazamgarh. Her mother, Victoria Hemmings, was a well-trained singer and dancer, Indian by birth.

After Victoria divorced her first husband and Angelina’s father, William Robert Yeoward, she began a relationship with a Muslim nobleman named Khursheed. She converted to Islam and took the name Malka Jaan. She changed the name of her daughter from Angelina to Gauhar Jaan.

The mother-daughter duo moved to Benaras along with Khursheed, where Malka Jaan made a name for herself as an accomplished singer and Kathak dancer. Two years later, they left Benaras to move to Calcutta, where Malka Jan started performing in the courts of Nawab Wajid Ali Shah.

It was during her days in Calcutta that Gauhar Jaan began getting formally trained and gained proficiency in various forms of music, which included Rabindra Sangeet, Keertan and Hindustani classical music.

Trained in music under the founding members of the Patiala Gharana – Kalu Ustad, Ustad Vazir Khan of Rampur, and Ustad Ali Baksh – Gauhar Jaan had lessons in Keertan from Charan Das. She also received training in Kathak from the revered Brindadin Maharaj (granduncle of Birju Maharaj).

It was at the courts of Darbhanga Raj (modern day Bihar) in 1887 that Gauhar Jaan performed for the first time. She was appointed the court musician there. By 1896, Jaan had begun performing in Calcutta. Her talent brought her a huge following, along with the title of ‘first dancing girl’ in her records.

Gauhar Jaan earned much fame throughout her lifetime while performing in several cities across India. She was also invited to perform at the Delhi Durbar to celebrate the coronation of King George V.

Under the pen name of ‘Hamdam’, Gauhar Jaan also composed ghazals.

She spent her final days in Mysore, where she moved upon receiving an invitation from Krishna Raja Wadiyar IV. She was appointed a palace musician at the court. However, she passed away a mere 18 months into her stay at Mysore, on January 17, 1930.