Chhappan Chhuri was such a courtesan of Allahabad, whose dance was very popular in the beginning of 19th century, she also sang in the welcome of George V.She used to sing in such a way that the people listening to her were mesmerized. Many people loved him one-sidedly through his voiceWhen he refused to show his face to the Maharaja of Rewa, he became very angry but later showered him with gifts.
There are such stories of courtesans in India that you will be surprised to hear them. Some true stories of their love. Some real stories of his wealth and glory. Some stories of his Najo style. One such courtesan lived in Allahabad, whose name was Janaki Bai, but people know her only by the name of Chhappan Chhuri. She definitely used to use knives on hearts but this was not the reason for naming her Chhappan Chhuri.
Neelam Saran Gaur, professor of literature at Allahabad University, wrote a book on the life of that courtesan, “Requiem in raga janki”For this, he was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award in the English category. This book tells about his life. However, Janaki Bai alias Chhappan Churi has also been mentioned in Kapil Pandey’s book “Phoolsunghi”. Apart from this, there are other stories regarding Chappan Chhuri.
story of chhappan churi
In Bollywood, the adjective ‘Chhappan Chhuri’ was used in the dialogues of many films in such a way that it seemed that we were talking about a woman who, through her looks and mannerisms, stabs the heart with so many knives that you don’t even have to ask. Well, now let us come to the real story of courtesan Janaki Bai and know why she was called Chhappan Chhuri.
First of all, it was through the book of Neelam Saran Gaur, in which her story was told along with how she was, how she used to sing and how she became Chhappan Chhuri.
Mother and daughter were sold to a brothel
Janaki Bai was born in 1880 in Varanasi. Mother’s name was Manaki Devi. Father’s name Pehalwan Singh. The father abandoned both mother and daughter after the birth of the daughter. Such circumstances arose in front of him that he was sold to a brothel in Allahabad. Manaki came to that brothel with her younger daughter in her lap. And she enjoyed life there so much that one day she became its mistress.
Tawaif Chappan Chhuri i.e. Janaki Bai Allahabadi (illustration by Anand)
The constable was angry with Janaki but…
Janaki Bai was interested in music and singing since childhood, hence she was made proficient in Hindustani classical music. Janaki was not only extremely beautiful but also used to do magic with her melodious voice. When she was just 12 years old, a police constable Raghunandan was infatuated with her. He sent a love proposal to Janaki which was rejected. Then when he tried to have sex, he failed in that too.
continued to inflict wound after wound with a knife
Angered, Raghunandan attacked him with a knife. Wounds kept on spreading from body to face. Janaki’s condition became critical. There was no chance of survival but she survived but the beauty of her face was replaced by scars. Since 56 wounds were inflicted on him with a knife, he came to be known as Chappan Chhuri. For this reason, Tajindagi kept singing from behind the curtain, hiding her face.
always sang from behind the curtain
Janaki Bai used to give her full name as Janaki Bai Allahabadi but for the public she became Chhappan Chhuri. The voice is such that anyone can go crazy. She also used to go out to sing and wherever her gathering was organised, she used to sing behind the curtain despite the demand of the public and when her melodious voice and her style from behind the curtain reached people’s songs, it would become like magic. Was. It was said that many people fell in love with him one-sidedly only because his voice took away their senses.
If you scold a jealous lover…
Vikram Sampat’s book, ‘My name is Gauhar Jaan!’ – The Life and Times of a Musician’ He has also been mentioned in. In which it was said that Allahabad’s courtesan Janaki Bai had a jealous lover, who was madly in love with her, when she scolded him, he injured her by hitting her 56 times.
one more story
Kapil Pandey’s book ‘flower sniffer’ I also have the story of Janaki Bai Allahabadi. Jankibai was a very famous courtesan. Gauhar respected him till her death. It is said that a devoted fan of Jankibai was so mesmerized by her songs that he spent all his wealth on her. However, he had never seen her face. Not even a glimpse, because she was always veiled.
One day this lover became so intoxicated that after coming close to Janaki Bai, he lifted her veil without thinking. Then his eyes fell on Janaki Bai’s black and stained face. He could not even imagine that a woman who sings such a melodious intoxicating song would be like this. He got distracted. In this anger he stabbed me repeatedly with a knife. Jankibai miraculously survived the fifty-six blows. He got a colorful new nickname – Chhappan Churi or Chhappan Chauk.
used to charge thousands of rupees
He also wrote a book of Urdu poems named ‘Diwan-e-Janaki’. Janaki Bai had recorded more than 100 songs and ghazals. At that time she used to charge thousands of rupees for a song. Some say that it was Frederick William Gaisberg who first recorded them. Those records were either lost or destroyed.
His recordings have a distinct flavor of eastern Uttar Pradesh or Purab, mostly singing in the semi-classical styles of bhajan, kajri, chaiti and also renditions like hori. It is said that many of his records sold over 25,000 copies, which was unheard of even for his most accomplished contemporaries.
The marriage took place but it did not last.
Janaki Bai’s marriage to Sheikh Abdul Haq, a lawyer from Allahabad, did not work out. This relationship ended after a few years because she found out that he was cheating on her.
He established a charitable trust in his name, which still exists in Allahabad. He handed over all his property and the immense wealth he acquired through his records and performances to the Trust for the purpose of providing financial assistance to needy students, distributing blankets to the poor, donating to temples and mosques along with running free kitchens.
He died on 18 May 1934 in Allahabad. His last rites were performed there. His grave is present in the Kalahanda cemetery of Adarshnagar, Allahabad but in a dilapidated condition.
Even the king of Rewa was refused to show his face
There was a grand royal feast in the court of Rewa princely state in central India. The Maharaja was a connoisseur of art. He became mesmerized by the songs and music of Janaki Bai at that feast. The singer’s melodious voice and tune immediately attracted his attention. He was surprised why the singer had decided to perform from behind the curtain. When they inquired, they were told that she was one of the most popular courtesans of the North Indian city of Allahabad – Janaki Bai.
Why is a courtesan shy of keeping herself away from the eyes of her patron, the Maharaja of a state, that she has kept herself veiled? Thinking this the king got angry. He demanded that the artist present himself before him along with his face. But Janaki Bai refused saying that she would prefer to face the wrath of the king and end the concert.
Well, after the program he told Raja that the real reason for staying behind the scenes was that he had been stabbed 56 times with a knife on his face. Therefore she does not want to show her face to anyone. The king showered her with valuable gifts and said that the power of her music outweighed anything she might consider her failings.
Dhela was a courtesan
Similarly, there was a courtesan named Dhela. This was also not the real name. This adjective was also given to him to create a special situation. Actually her name was Gulzaribai. As per the name, Gulzar, like a blooming garden of flowers, shining like the moon, like an angel like heaven. But one day there was a dispute between two groups regarding him and a lot of stones were thrown. That’s why his name got stuck forever.
Tags: allahabad news, Love, Love Story, music
FIRST PUBLISHED: May 10, 2024, 12:13 IST