Native name Sindhi: جيوڻي ٻائي Years active 1920–1942 | Birth name Jiwi Died 5 June 1942 | |
Born 22 January 1901
Bhilwara, Rajputana, India ( 1901-01-22 ) Occupation(s) Playback singer, Artist Genres Film score, Kafi, Classical music | ||
Jeevni bai songs
Jeevni Bai (original name Jiwi) (Sindhi: جيوڻي ٻائي) was born on 22 January 1901 in Bhilwara, Rajputana area now in India. She was daughter of Phiko Girglo. She has been a great singer of Sindh. She won the hearts of the listeners through her voice. She died in 1942.
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Early life
Her parents had a profession of begging. When she was seven years old, she accompanied with her other friends used to visit door to door for alms through singing. In 1918 her father migrated from India and settled at Multan due to financial crisis. Here Jeevni met a great singer Ustad Ameer Ali Khan who inspired from her voice so much that he called her as his daughter and trained her in singing.
Conversion to Islam
The whole family of Phiko, the father of Jeevni Bai was so moved from the character of Ameer Ali that one day they became Muslim on the hand of Mutawali of Saeen Hazrat Shams Tabrez. After converting to Islam Phiko became Fateh Mohammad and Jeevni stopped begging door to door.
Singing career
Through Ustad Ameer Ali, Jeevni performed in different functions and crossed steps of her success. People of Sindh loved her and invited her in their programs. Once she came to the Urs of Shah Abdul Karim Bulri, where she met a great singer Maestro Khair Mohammad Khan. Both were inspired of each other. Hence, Jeevni left Multan and lived at Hyderabad, Sindh in order to get training, particularly singing of Kafi, from Ustad Khair Mohammad Khan. She attended all the Programs in company with Ustad Khair Mohammad. Once there was Urs of Shah Qadri where celebrated artists were present like, Bibi Khan, Khair Mohammad Khan, Syed Qaim Ali Shah,Bhooro Sikh, Master Chandur and others but Jeevni outdid all the artists. Master Chandur was stirred from her voice and asked Maharaj Tulsidas to bring Jeevni at Karachi so that her voice may be recorded. Maharaj took her to Karachi and Master Chandur trained her in recording. Lal Chand recorded her first song in the music of Kumar Khan. With the release of this recording, Jeevni broke the records and became beloved singer to everyone. She herself was also a poet so she recorded some of her songs. Mostly she sang Haji Shah and Pursram Zia. Jeevni became the disciple of Saeen Saleh Shah of Ranipur, Sindh in 1928. This saint changed her name from “Jiwi” to “Jeevni Baee”. She received education of Quran from Allah Bux Noonari in Hyderabad, Sindh.
Marriage
She married to Nawab Maka but never had any off springs. She was a melodious singer.
Popularity
Many stories are famous for her. It is told that once she was singing in the presence of a great saint Hazrat Saman Sarkar, her voice left such a magical impact upon the saint that he remained in hypnotized condition until the sun rose. She attended All India Music Conference for thirteen years continuously as a representative of Sindh. They gathered around her program to listen to her songs. She was a generous lady, pious and regular in her prayers. She recorded over hundred gramophones of His Master's Voice Gramophone Recording Company. In an annual function of the company she was awarded a gramophone of gold weighing 10 tola.
Death
She died in 5 June 1942.