Bahinabai Chaudhari
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Bahinabai Chaudhari | |
|---|---|
| Born | 24 August 1880[1] |
| Died | 3 December 1951 (aged 71) |
| Occupation | Farmer |
| Language | Khandeshi, Marathi[2] |
| Education | None |
| Period | 1880-1952 |
| Genre | Dramatic |
| Subject |
|
| Spouse |
Nathu Chaudhari
(m. 1893; died 1910) |
| Children | 3 |
Bahinabai Chaudhari (24 August 1880 – 3 December 1951) was a Khandeshi language language poet from Jalgaon district of Bombay State, India. She became a noted poet posthumously.
Bahinabai was born in a Mahajan family at Asode in Khandesh region of the present-day Jalgaon district on the 24 August 1880, on the day of Naga Panchami. Her mother's name was Bhimai, and her father's name was Ukhaji Mahajan. She had three brothers - Ghama, Gana, and Ghana, and three sisters - Ahilya, Sita, and Tulsa. At the age of 13, in 1893, she was married to Nathuji Khanderao Chaudhari of Jalgaon. Following her husband's death in 1910, she led a very difficult life because of the economic, social, cultural, and emotional circumstances arising out of widowhood.[3] She had a daughter named Kashi and two sons, Omkar and Sopandev (1907-1982).
Poetic compositions
Bahinabai composed her songs verbally in ovi (ओवी) metre in a mixture of two dialects: Khandeshi and Levaganboli.[4][5] Her son Sopandev, who became a well-known poet, transcribed them.[4][5] According to one account, Sopandev read the story of Savitri and Satyavan to his mother from his textbook, and by the next morning, she had composed a song of the tale.[4] Impressed by her talent, he began writing down of her songs in a notebook. Her poetry is characterized as reflective and abstract with iconic and realist imagery.[4] It captures the essence of her life, reflects the culture of village and farming life, and presents her wisdom.[6]