Kalpana Patowary

Kalpana Patowary, also credited professionally as Kalpana,^[1]^[2]^[3]^[4] is an Indian folk and playback singer and politician from Assam. She has recorded songs and folk music in several Indian languages, with Bhojpuri music being the major genre.^[5]^[6] Due to her contribution to Bhojpuri music,^[7] she is often referred to by the moniker "Bhojpuri Queen".^[8]^[9]^[10]

Born

Sorbhog, Assam, India

OthernamesKalpana
Bhojpuri Queen

AlmamaterCotton University
Bhatkhande Music Institute

Occupations

Singer
Politician
Actress

Quick facts Born, Other names ...

Kalpana Patowary
Kalpana Patowary
Born	Sorbhog, Assam, India
Other names	Kalpana Bhojpuri Queen
Alma mater	Cotton University Bhatkhande Music Institute
Occupations	Singer Politician Actress
Years active	1993–present
Political party	Asom Gana Parishad (2020–present)
Other political affiliations	Bharatiya Janata Party (2018–2020)
Spouse	Parvez Khan
Children	2
Awards	Bihar Kala Samman (2023–24)
Musical career
Origin	Assam
Genres	Indian Classical Bhojpuri music Assamese music Primitive-acoustic folk Jazz Ghazal Electronic fusion Playback
Instrument	Vocals
Label	Music Box

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Patowary embarked on her career at the age of 4^[11] and received further training from Dipen Roy and Shikha Dutta for Sangeet Bisharad in Hindustani Classical Music at Bhatkhande Sangeet Vishwavidyalaya, Lucknow. ^[12] She has sung in more than 32 languages,^[13] including Bhojpuri, Assamese, Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, and English, throughout her solo musical journey.^[14]^[15]

Early life and background

" Music barons in India were left gaping when Kalpana Patowary, a singer of Indian folk music, was signed on by British recording company Virgin EMI Records in April. They were all the more surprised to see the soaring international demand for her Bhojpuri music album with songs about migration. It seems Bhojpuri folk songs on migration are witnessing resurgence on an unexpected scale."^[16]

Patowary was born in a Yogi-Nath family of Natha Sampradaya community in Barpeta district in Assam. A graduate in English literature, Patowary is an alumnus of Cotton College of Guwahati. Trained in Kamrupiya and Goalporiya folk music by her folksinger father Sri Bipin Nath Patowary, Kalpana started to publicly perform at the age of 4^[17] with her father and is also trained as Sangeet Visharad in Indian classical music from Bhatkhande Music Institute University, Lucknow.^[18] She sings many forms of Bhojpuri folk music including Purvi, Pachra, Kajri, Sohar, Vivaah geet, Chaita, and Nautanki.^[19]^[20]

Patowary has worked little on the works of Bhikhari Thakur and has released an album commemorating his life and work.^[21]^[22]

Career

Patowary holds the distinction of being the inaugural Bhojpuri singer to introduce the age-old Khadi Birha tradition to international platforms.^[23]

In 2013, Patowary featured in the documentary film Bidesia in Bambai, released on 8 December. The documentary provides a perspective on Mumbai through the eyes of migrant workers and their music.^[24]

She received an invitation to perform during a 15-day tour across four Latin American countries, arranged by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs to commemorate Indian Arrival Day.^[25]

A noteworthy achievement is Patowary's pioneering accomplishment as the first woman to record and sing in the Chhaprahiya Purvi style, a genre previously dominated by male artists.

Patowary marked her acting debut in the Bhojpuri movie "Chalat Musafir Moh Liyo Re," portraying the character of Janki alongside co-star Dinesh Lal Yadav.^[26]^[27]

She participated in the reality show Junoon - Kuchh Kar Dikhaane Ka (2008) on NDTV Imagine.

Milestone Musicals by Kalpana Patowary

1.The Legacy of Bhikhari Thakur 1 2.The Legacy of Bhikhari Thakur 2 3.The Sacred Scriptures of Monikut 4.The Anthology of Birha 5.Soul of Chhath 6.Champaran Satyagrah 7.Gangasnan 8.Sourya Urja 9.Jimochhaya-The Deoris 10.Pratimanjali

In September 2025, Patowary was awarded the Bihar Kala Samman 2023–24 by the Government of Bihar for her contribution to Bhojpuri music and arts.^[28]

Political career

On 12 July 2018, Patowary became a member of the BJP in a ceremony graced by the presence of its president, Amit Shah, and Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Modi in Patna.^[29]^[30]^[31]

On 9 October 2020, Patowary affiliated herself with the Asom Gana Parishad during an event conducted at the party's headquarters in Guwahati.^[32]^[33] She also served as the cultural chairperson of the party from from November 2020 during the election campaign.^[34] In the 2021 Assam Assembly election, Patowary contested as a candidate representing the Asom Gana Parishad from the Sarukheri constituency, where the incumbent MLA Jakir Hussain Sikdar defeated her.^[35]^[36]

Patowary endorsed Jan Suraaj Party in the 2025 Bihar Legislative Assembly election citing their commitment with respect to development and social transformation of Bihar.^[37]