Born in 1918 to the family of a court singer at the princely state of Orchha, Asghari underwent rigorous training in music from her Ustad Zahoor Khan. "A brilliant but hot-tempered man," recalls Asghari; he used to beat her with a riding crop if she went offkey. She used to travel with her ustad's troupe to perform at big events. With Independence, the troupe lost its patrons as Orchha was merged with the Union. Asghari started living with a businessman in Agra - whom she bore eight children - till his death in 1958. The family survived by rolling bidis and Asghari supplemented it with a few hundred rupees from an occasional musical soiree. The voice once compared to Begum Akhtar's - the queen of ghazal and thumri - is now a scratchy whisper. She keys a harmonium and attempts singing a semi-classical composition. The voice cracks, lungs give way, and she gives up with a sigh. "This is why I bought this Baja (instrument)," explains Asghari Bai, 78, pointing to a mid-size stereo which has pride of place in her one-room house in Tikamgarh, Madhya Pradesh. She bought it two years ago with a Rs 10,000 state grant meant for treating her low blood pressure. Till the end of the '80s, Asghari was the rage in Hindustani music circles.
After nearly 60 years of relative obscurity, the deluge of honours came in just a decade: the state government's Shikhar Samman, a Tansen Samman and a Padma Shri. Then, as suddenly as it came, the fanfare faded. Nowadays, the talent who would not be denied is back in obscurity. Life is a small, asbestos-topped house with a state pension of Rs 2,200 a month and her pet mongoose Chona for company. Her children live away from her, a son sends her food daily, a granddaughter comes over to operate the stereo - mostly ghazals or her favourite qawwali by the Sabri Brothers - and the TV, her present pastime. It isn't much of a life, but Asghari says she has lived her share of it and is content. Except for two things that still sadden her. And this really rankles. Despite honours, Asghari is still called a tawaif (prostitute), a reference to her days as a travelling singer. The stigma hurts her and her children. One of her daughters dropped out of school because of her classmates' snide remarks. Her eldest son changed his name from Babu Khan to Babulal Gupta, preferring his father's family name.
Here is a link to some of her melodious songs. You can click this link and listen.
1. • Asghari Bai रसिया
2. • असग़री बाई - ठुमरी ...
3. • The forgotten lady Dhr...
4. • Raga Jaijaivanti - Asg...
5. • Raag Poorvi - Asgari B...
6. • Sushri Asghari Bai ...
7. • असग़री बाई -राग बसन्त ...
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