Thanks to National Heritage Lottery for the support

Project- Tale of Tawaifs

Preparatory Phase: Building the case for National Heritage Lottery Fund Application

Chandra Chakraborty, the founder of Kalakar and a gold medalist in Semi-Classical music (Thumri, Dadra, Kajri), has always been deeply fascinated by rare and uncommon Semi-Classical compositions. From an early age, she was introduced to the rich Tawaif culture and its compelling stories through her Gurus—Pandit A. Kanan, Vidushi Malabika Kanan, and Padma Vibhushan Girija Devi. Although Chandra sought to learn more, she found that the available literature in Kolkata was limited to figures like Gauhar Jaan, Indubala, and Begum Akhtar. Realizing that there was much more to uncover, Chandra felt a deep connection to the poignant and often tragic lives of the Tawaifs.

Driven by this passion, she embarked on a journey across Delhi, Agra, Lucknow, and Banaras in search of musicians and remnants of this fading tradition. She visited the homes of Tawaifs, many of which are now being demolished to make way for high-rise apartments and shopping malls. Chandra also paid her respects at the grave of Begum Akhtar, which has been recently refurbished and is now under the care of the Indian government and a board of trustees. Despite this, she found that the grave remains in an obscure location, surrounded by a community largely unaware of Akhtar’s legacy. Shockingly, many young people in Lucknow had never even heard of Begum Akhtar, and those familiar with the Tawaif culture were often reluctant to acknowledge or discuss it.

This eye-opening experience revealed a troubling gap in the preservation of a significant part of India’s musical heritage. Other than a few exceptions like Begum Akhtar, Gauhar Jaan, and Indubala, the homes and legacies of many Tawaifs have not been preserved by the government. Chandra realized that most Semi-Classical compositions performed today were originally crafted by these Tawaifs. Inspired by this realization, Chandra and her team at Kalakar Arts felt a pressing need to bring these unheard stories to the forefront, sharing them with musicians, music connoisseurs, and especially the younger generation in both India and the UK.

In cities like Varanasi, Delhi, Agra, and Lucknow, the once-grand homes of famous Tawaifs are now being demolished to make way for multi-story shopping malls. Some of these historic residences have also been repurposed by modern-day courtesans, further erasing the rich cultural heritage they once embodied.

Chandra had the opportunity to meet with Sri Ranti Dev Maitra, an elderly music enthusiast in India who had been meticulously collecting shellac records of the Tawaifs. Mr. Maitra was introduced to this tradition through his grandfather, which sparked a lifelong passion for preserving their legacy. During their conversations, Chandra learned numerous untold stories and was shown personal belongings of the Tawaifs, offering her a rare glimpse into their lives. She also acquired several invaluable records from Mr. Maitra, further enriching her research and connection to this fading cultural heritage.

Original shellac records of Tawaifs, stored in tin boxes

In 2019, Chandra began captivating London audiences with live musicals dedicated to the life of Begum Akhtar, inspired by her Guru, Pandit A. Kanan, who had a close association with the legendary artist. Her journey deepened as she traveled through various cities, uncovering the stories of other renowned Tawaifs, guided by insights from Sri Ranti Dev Maitra. This led Chandra to stage additional musicals celebrating the lives of Indubala, Zohra Bai, Gauhar Jaan, Badi Moti Bai, and Chanda Bai. Alongside her team at Kalakar, Chandra revived and performed several compositions originally sung by these forgotten Tawaifs. The performances left London audiences enthralled, with many expressing their surprise, saying, “We never knew these stories,” and eagerly asking, “We would like to learn more.”

2nd phase – Hurray ! Kalakar Arts have now received the funding for Tale of Tawaifs!

The Kalakar team recognised the importance of preserving the rich tradition and music of the Tawaifs while sharing their life stories with a broader audience. Securing a National Heritage Lottery grant enabled us to organise workshops, stage performances, and preserve historical shellac records. Additionally, we embarked on recording these rare compositions and compiling a book based on the extensive research Chandra conducted throughout this journey. Students have learned these compositions from the preserved records and have performed them at various venues across London. One notable stage show was presented at Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan, London, on May 11^th, 2024.

Shellac records – transported to Kalakar’s office in London

Satarupa Ghosh, learnt the compositions from the record and performed in London.

Students are performing the compositions at Nehru Centre, Indian High Commission

Sangeeta Lahiri performing the Tumri learnt from the records

Sushri and Tanushree performing Kheyal – learnt from the records

Workshops:

Workshops are currently being held in East London, bringing together students from diverse communities and age groups. Participants in these workshops have learned dance movements, the compositions from the records and have learnt the art of script writing and are now actively working on their own scripts. These student contributions will be integrated into the script for the upcoming concert in November. Some students also had the opportunity to attend rehearsals for the previous show on May 11th, where they participated in stage decoration, dress designing, and backstage management. They will also be involved in the rehearsals for the upcoming November performance.

The final phase of the project:

The final stage show will be performed at Rich Mix in East London on Sunday, March 2nd, 2025. The book, Tale of Tawaifs, has been completed and is filled with many unheard stories and rare, unseen photographs. It is set to be published soon.

Photos of finale concert Devi