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Begum Akhtar : Photo Archive - Photograph 03
| Content Provider | IGNCA - Begum Akhtar Portal |
|---|---|
| Organization | Sangeet Natak Akademi |
| Description | Akhtaribai Faizabadi, along with many of her contemporaries such as Rasoolan Bai, Siddheshwari Devi, Kesarbai Kerkar, Badi Moti Bai, Anjanibai Mapekar, Gangubai Hangal, Hirabai Barodekar and Mogubai Kurdikar, was part of this tradition at a time when the society was going through a major shift. The contribution of Begum Akhtar to the light classical genre of music has been well accepted & acknowledged. To understand this contribution, it is important to view Begum Akhtar’s and of her contemporaries’ lives through the context their lives were embedded in. Saleem Kidwai points out that tawaifs were part of the Nawabi elite society in Lucknow. He quotes Abdul Halim Sharar, “Until a person had association with courtesans, he was not (considered to be) a polished man.” Even though tawaifs suffered dire consequences with the advent of the British rule, they continued to play an important part as they were integrated into lives of elite. “Sons from rich families were sent to them to learn manners, the art of conversation and appreciation of Urdu literature”, says Saleem Kidwai while pointing out the paradoxical nature of power which these women exercised. He says, “Though dependent on men for income, they ruled their own world. Daughters inherited not only the profession of distaff side of the families but also the property. Sons were excluded & men at best played a subsidiary part in their personal lives. In fact, all the men associated with kotha were financially dependent on women. No man had the power over their personal lives, unless they chose to get married.” The demise of tawaifs corresponded with the demise of court patronage and, eventually, this tradition was completely washed over in post-independence India. |
| File Format | JPG / JPEG |
| Access Restriction | Open |
| Subject Keyword | Lucknow Rasoolan Bai Khayal Indian Classical Music Thumri Begum Akhtar Ghazal India Gangubai Hangal Akhtari Bai Faizabadi Siddheshwari Devi Saleem Kidwai British Rule Moti Bai |
| Content Type | Image |
| Resource Type | Photograph |
