Allah Jilai Bai | |
|---|---|
 Allah Jilai Bai on a 2003 Indian stamp | |
| Background information | |
| Born | (1902-02-01)1 February 1902 |
| Died | 3 November 1992(1992-11-03) (aged 90) |
| Genres | Folk |
Allah Jilai Bai (1 February 1902[1] – 3 November 1992)[1] was a folk singer fromRajasthan, India.[1]
Born inBikaner to a family of singers,[1] by the age of 10 she was singing in theDurbar ofMaharaja Ganga Singh.[1] She took singing lessons from Ustad Hussain Baksh Khan and later on from Achhan Maharaj.[1] At one time she sung in the court ofGanga Singh, theMaharajah of Bikaner.[2]
She was well versed inMaand,Thumri,Khayal andDadra.[1] Perhaps her best-known piece isKesaria Balam.[1] In 1982, the Indian Government awarded her thePadma Shri in Arts field,[3][1] one of the highest civilian awards. She was also given theSangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1988 forFolk Music, and was posthumously awarded theRajasthan Ratna in 2012.[2]