Allah Jilai Bai | |
|---|---|
 Allah Jilai Bai on a 2003 Indian stamp | |
| Background information | |
| Born | 1 February 1902 Jaisingh Desar Magra, Bikaner, Bikaner State, British India |
| Died | 3 November 1992 (aged 90) |
| Genres | Folk |
Allah Jilai Bai (1 February 1902[1] – 3 November 1992)[1] was a folk singer from Rajasthan, India.[1]
Born in Bikaner to a family of singers,[1] by the age of 10 she was singing in the Durbar of Maharaja 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 of Ganga Singh, the Maharajah of Bikaner.[2]
She was well versed in Maand, Thumri, Khayal and Dadra.[1] Perhaps her best-known piece is Kesaria Balam.[1] In 1982, the Indian Government awarded her the Padma Shri in Arts field,[3][1] one of the highest civilian awards. She was also given the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1988 for Folk Music, and was posthumously awarded the Rajasthan Ratna in 2012.[2]