Basanti Bisht

Padma Shri Basanti Bisht

1953, Luwani Village, Chamoli

Basanti Bisht, also known as Basanti Devi Bisht, is a folk singer of Uttarakhand, famously known for being the first women singer of the Jagar folk form jagar form is traditionally done by men but Basanti Bisht broke the tradition and today is a very well-known folk singer. And even today she is trying to preserve this traditional form of singing. She is one of the leading artists and she always promotes this musical form.

She was the first girl students who got 1st position in the district board examination of 5th standard later, she was awarded a scholarship of twenty rupees per month for further studies for upcoming three years.

In 1996, she became the first lady Pradhan, when she was elected in her village by the people and their blessings. 

Early Life and Career

In 1953, Basanti Bisht was born in Luwani Village Chamoli District Uttarakhand, growing up listening to her mother’s jagar songs. She used to sing with her mother at many fairs, and village festivals during that time she fell in love with this form of music.

She studied till class 5th in her villages school which was almost a mile away from her village, she was the first girl students who got 1st position in the district board examination of 5th standard later, she was awarded a scholarship of twenty rupees per month for further studies for upcoming three years, but she could not pursue her further education, because the senior school was far away from her home and village and the village school had no class beyond 5th standard, the senior school was almost fifteen-kilo meter away which she could not reach by walking alone through the jungle. This was the main reason she could not pursue her further studies. Later she got married.

Musical Career

Till her 40s she was entirely into her home chores and other home stuff, her professional career began in her 40s she moved to Jalandhar with her husband where she started to learn music once again at the Pracheen Kala Kendra, but in the beginning classes she felt shy in younger students and she was in her 40s she took the first step to learn professional music when her daughter’s teacher started teaching her how to play harmonium, that’s how she took a first step, this was just the beginning of a legendary career.

Later she started to sing in public appearances like Bhajans, film songs, festivals, etc. after that, her husband retired from his services and the family settled in Dehradun later she joined All India Radio (AIR) Station in 1996 in Najibabad. She is an “A” grade artist of Akashwani.

In 1996, she became the first lady Pradhan, when she was elected in her village by the people and their blessings. Over a while she realized that the musical gift that she got from her mother and other village elders in her childhood was unique, its called “Jaagar singing”, she realized that people are no longer singing the ancients folk music tradition of the Uttarakhand and that’s why she took it on herself responsibility to search for classic sings and render them in the same old tunes.

Basanti Bisht’s singing is known for slightly nasal voice production and the slow pace of rhythm, which is the typical form of the Garhwali singing style of Uttarakhand.

Marriage Life

Basanti Bisht was married to an artillery soldier at the very early age of fifteen and she remained a housewife for most of her lifetime, that’s why her professional music career began much later in the 40s. her husband retired as a Naik from the Indian Army, her son is a wing commander in the Indian Air Force and her daughter is a retired captain she is married to a colonel in the Indian Army. Her family has been a part of Indian Services for years.

AWARDS/ACHIEVEMENTS

Basanti Bisht ’s most famous works Goriya re, Dhokebaj Dagdiya, Nyoli, Pyari Sumna, Dajyu Bordera, Phon Karana, O Syali Sali Rukma, Para Bheeda Jadiyon, and Devara Jaare Ju and many more.

• In 2017, she was awarded Rashtriya Matoshri Ahilya Devi Samman by the Madhya Pradesh Government.
• Padma Shiri Samman for her contribution to the field of folk music in 2017.
• First ladies by the ministry of women and child development government of India 2018.
• Teelu Rauteli Nari Shakti Samman by the Government of Uttarakhand.

We all appeal to the Government of India to honor Basanti Bisht with the Padma Vibhushan award.