India's forgotten singing superstar, once took more money than Lata Mangeshkar, Md Rafi, traveled in private train, her name was...
Long before the renowned legends like Lata Mangeshkar and Mohammed Rafi dominated the music world. There was a woman who ruled the Gramophone. She rose from a series of rejections to becoming India's first music recording star. She carved a space for herself in the male-dominated world and became a millionaire.
Yes, the person we are talking about is none other than Gauhar Jaan
Gaurhar Jaan was one of the finest singers in the early 1900s. However, she was born on 26 June 1873 as Angelina Yeoward in Azamgarh to an Armenian Christian father and an Indian mother. But later, her parents got separated, and Guahar's mother converted to Islam after she married to Muslim man Khurshid. Her mother became Malka Jaan, and Angelina became Gauhar Khan. Eventually, Gauhar and her mother Malka moved to Kolkata, where she was trained in classical music and eventually began performing in royal courts by the age of 15. The 'Gramophone Girl'
Back in 1902, Gauhar Khan recorded a song on a gramophone disc and became the first Indian artist to record a song on a gramophone. She became a trendsetter who redefined the way classical music was presented. At a time when people used to run their houses for a few hundred, Gauhar started charging Rs. 1000-3000 per recording. Decades later, Lata Mangeshkar and Mohammed Rafi used to charge Rs 500 per song in the 1950s. She also earned the title of 'Gramophone Girl'. Gauhar Jaan's Fame and Fortune
Gauhar Khan soon earned name and fame, and became a millionaire with her voice reaching to masses. Not only that, she led a luxurious life; she travelled in a buggy driven by horses, which was exclusive only for the Viceroy of India. Besides this, she also owned a private train coach during that time. In 1911, she was invited to perform at the coronation of King George V in Delhi Durbar. A Lonely End
Despite earning massive wealth and a name for herself, Gauhar Jaan died a lonely death. During her final years, she had moved to Mysore, where she was appointed as court musician by Ruler Krishna Raja Wadiyar IV. According to reports, she suffered from depression in her last years and succumbed to a lonely death. After she passed away, many claimants to her estate came in the hope of getting a share of her fortune. However, Gauhar Jaan had already spent all her money and had no fortune but an unforgettable musical legacy that she left behind.
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