Gulab Bai

Gulab Bai (1926–1996), popularly known as Gulab jaan, was an Indian stage performer of Nautanki,^[1] the first female artist of the traditional operatic drama ^[2] and considered by many as its pre-eminent exponent.^[3] She was the founder of the Great Gulab Theatre Company, a successful Nautanki troupe.^[4] The Government of India awarded her the fourth highest civilian award of Padma Shri in 1990.^[5]

Biography

Gulab Bai was born in 1926 in Balpurva, in

Her rising popularity helped her to establish a Nautanki troupe of her own, the Great Gulab Theatre Company, against the wishes of Trimohan Lal.[4] The company was said to be an instant success. The responsibility of the management of the company and her growing age forced her to curb her own performances by the 1960s ^[2] and she groomed her little sister, Sukhbadan, later day Nanda Guha, as the leading performer, who over the years became a noted performer in her own right.^[4] Her daughter, Madhu, is also a known performer.^[2] Towards the latter part of her career, Nautanki's appeal, as an art form, gradually waned.^[6]

The Government of India honoured her with the civilian award of the

• Nautanki

References