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Janki Bai | |
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| Born | Janki Begum 1880 |
| Died | 18 May 1934 (aged 53–54) |
| Other name | Janki Bai of Allahabad |
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| Years active | 1893 – 1934 |
| Spouse | Sheikh Abdul Haq (ex-husband) |
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. A contemporary of Gauhar Jaan, she was a pioneer of commercial recording in India, producing over 250 songs across her career.
Janki Bai was born in Benaras (now Varanasi) in 1880. Her father, Shivbalakram, was a wrestler who abandoned the family, leading her mother, Manki, to seek refuge in Allahabad. There, they were sold into the city's courtesan culture (kotha). Despite these circumstances, Janki received a multifaceted education, becoming proficient in Persian, Urdu, Sanskrit, and English.
Her formal musical training began under Ustad Hassu Khan. She excelled in various classical and light-classical genres, including thumri, dadra, khayal, ghazal, and kajri.
Janki Bai was a massive commercial success. Her records often sold over 25,000 copies, and she commanded fees as high as ₹5,000 per performance. She was famous for her signature ending on recordings, where she would announce her name: "Mera naam Janki Bai Allahabad!".
In 1911, she reached the height of her fame when she was invited to perform for Emperor George V at the Delhi Durbar. Alongside Gauhar Jaan, she sang a specially composed coronation song, "Yeh Jalsa Taajposhi Ka Mumbaarak Ho".
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. 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.
Janki Bai was married for a time to a lawyer, Sheikh Abdul Haq, but the marriage ended after a few years.
She died on May 18, 1934, in Allahabad.
Beyond music, Janki Bai was a recognized poet. She was mentored by the Urdu poet Akbar Allahabadi and published a collection of Urdu poems titled Diwan-e-Janki. In her later years, she devoted her wealth to charity. She founded a trust in Allahabad (now Prayagraj) that continues to support needy students and provide for the poor.
Her life is the subject of the Sahitya Akademi Award-winning novel Requiem in Raga Janki (2018) by Neelum Saran Gour. A monument known as Chhappan Chhuri Ki Mazaar exists in the Kaladanda Kabristaan in Prayagraj.
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