Jang Bahadur Singh

Indian folk singer and wrestler (born 1920)

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Jang Bahadur Singh

Jang Bahadur Singh in his early days

Born|  (1920-12-10) 10 December 1920 (age 103)[1]

Kausar, Siwan, Bihar, India

Other names| Sher-e-Bihar [2]
Occupation(s)| Folk Singer, Wrestler [3]
Years active| 1942–1975
Spouse| Mahesha Devi
Children| 6 (3 deceased)
Musical career
Genres| Old Bhojpuri Folk, Bhairavi, Bhajan, Nirgun, Ghazals [4]
Instrument(s)| Vocals

Musical artist

Jang Bahadur Singh (born 10 December 1920). He is an Indian Bhojpuri folk singer and wrestler, who was popular during the 1940s to 1970s in Bihar, Jharkhand & Bengal Region.[5] He is an ardent follower of Mahatma Gandhi and his principles. He was born in Kausad village in Siwan district of Bihar on 10 December 1920. He is a singer of 'Vyas Style', a genre of Bhojpuri folk singing.[6][7] He was a celebrated wrestler in Bihar and Bengal Region. He was given the title of Sher-e-Bihar when he defeated a heavy weight wrestler from Bengal side.[8] He used to inspire the youth to fight for freedom by singing patriotic songs, for which he was also imprisoned by the British.[9] Nowadays, he resides in his paternal village living his remaining years of life in peace.[10][11][12]

## Early life[edit]

Jang Bahadur Singh was born in Kausar Village of Siwan district of Bihar on 10 December 1920.[13] His father Vishun Singh was a farmer and her mother Dharohara Devi was a home-maker. His father had nine sons from three marriages. His father left his mother alone with three sons. She brought up all three children on her own. He is second in all three. His one younger brother named Ramdev Singh was a famous labour leader.[14] At the age of 22-23, Jang Bahadur had come to his younger brother, Ramdev Singh, in Coalfield, Shivpur Koilary of Jharia, Dhanbad.[15] There, He participated in Wrestling match. He was representing Bihar in that wrestling battle. A wrestler of about three quintals fighting from the Bengal side was very famous in those times. He had been never defeated in any wrestling match. But, Jang Bahadur defeated him in that Dhanbad match and got a title Sher-e-Biharin that match. After that he started wrestling in all over Bengal and Bihar Region.[16][17][18]

## Career in wrestling and singing[edit]

Jang Bahadur Singh participated in wrestling matches in his early twenties. But those matches were not giving him any monetary benefit. So, he had to shift his focus from wrestling to a job in Sen Raleigh Bicycle Company in Asansol. Though he had been fighting in small wrestling competitions.[19][20][21] Once he was attending a local music concert known as Dugola. Three popular singers of that time were together defeating a singer in musical battle called Dugola. Jang Bahadur Singh, sitting as a spectator, opposed this. Those singers challenged him to come in the musical battle and sing with them. A wrestler at heart took up this dare. He started practicing music and later defeated those all three singers in different musical battles or Dugola.[22] And a wrestler became a singer.[23][24][25]

Jang Bahadur Singh started singing songs filled with inspiring stories of Ramayana, Characters of Mahabharata, Bhishma, Karna, Kunti, Draupadi, Sita, Bharat, Ram. It was mid forties of 20th century, freedom struggle was rising in the country. He was young and patriotic. He started singing patriotic songs narrating courageous stories of Chandra Shekhar Azad, Bhagat Singh, Subhash Chandra Bose, Veer Abdul Hamid, Mahatma Gandhi etc. on various public gatherings and rebellion-meetings.[26][27] Gradually, he became very popular in the Bhojpuri public. Then there was such a period that even if Jang Bahadur did not attend the event, the organizers used to put his picture on the poster-banner to mobilize the crowd.[28] This came into notice of British Authorities. British officers threatened him to stop singing rebellious songs or be ready to face dire consequences. He pays no heed to them and started singing those songs more vocally. The British were irked of his doings and imprisoned him for months.[29][30][31][32][33]

## Personal life[edit]

Jung Bahadur Singh in his old age

Jang Bahadur Singh has four sons and two daughters. His career as a musician came to a complete halt when many accidents happened in his family. In 1970, his son and daughter died suddenly. He got broken and gradually reduced his singing on the stage. Misfortune had not given up yet, wife Mahesha Devi got badly burnt while cooking one day. Jang Bahadur had to take care of his wife. He could not understand whether to handle his music or family. His voice began to break.[34][35] Around 1980, another son died of cancer. Then Jang Bahadur was completely broken from inside. He has two living sons, the elder son is mentally and physically disabled. The younger son Raju has taken care of the whole family as he earns while living in abroad.[36][37][38] At the age of 102, he still sings kirtan in the temple of his village. His younger brother and labor leader Ramdev Singh died in April 2022. Whenever he remembers his brother, he starts singing Nirgun and Kabir-bhajans.[39][40][41]

## References[edit]

1. ^ "Google News -The 102-year-old "Jung Bahadur Singh", whose patriotic songs moved the British, lives in obscurity. The 102-year-old "Jung Bahadur Singh", whose patriotic songs made the British government tremble, lives in obscurity. -". 14 August 2022.
2. ^ "Independence Day: आजादी के गुमनाम हीरो हैं बिहार के जंग बहादुर, अंग्रेजों के कान में गड़ते थे उनके भोजपुरी गीत".
3. ^ "जानिए कैसा है भोजपुरी में देशभक्ति गीतों को आवाज़ देने वाले 102 वर्षीय भोजपुरी लोक गायक जंग बहादुर सिंह का संघर्ष भरा जीवन » BeforePrint News | Hyperlocal News Hindi". 6 August 2022.
4. ^ "भोजपुरी देशभक्ति गीतों की आवाज़ हैं, 102 वर्षीय भोजपुरी लोक-गायक जंग बहादुर सिंह". 7 August 2022.
5. ^ "102 साल के जंग बहादुर सिंह को राष्ट्रवादी गानों के लिए जाना पड़ा था जेल | Sanmarg". 16 August 2022.
6. ^ "भोजपुरी लोक गायक जंग बहादुर सिंह, जो 102 साल की उम्र में भी देशभक्तों में भर देते हैं जोश". Navbharat Times.
7. ^ "ये हैं जंग बहादुर सिंह, 102 साल की उम्र के गायक, गुमनामी में बीती जिंदगी, अब मिल रहा नाम". 5 August 2022.
8. ^ "102 वर्ष के लोक गायक जंग बहादुर सिंह भोजपुरी के वो हीरा हैं, जिन्हें देश और समाज से प्यार है".
9. ^ "देशभक्तों में जोश भरने वाले भोजपुरी गायक की कहानी". 2 August 2022.
10. ^ "गुमनामी में जी रहे व्यास शैली के बेजोड़ भोजपुरी लोकगायक जंग बहादुर सिंह". 6 July 2022.
11. ^ "Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav: देश भक्तों में जोश भरने वाले भोजपुरी लोक गायक जंग बहादुर सिंह आज गुमनामी के अंधेरे में जीने को विवश!". 11 July 2022.
12. ^ "LUCKNOW CITY - Page 13".
13. ^ "आजादी के लिए देशभक्ति गीत गाने वाले जंग बहादुर सिंह, 102 साल की उम्र में भी जिंदादिली की मिसाल".
14. ^ "भोजपुरी देशभक्ति गीतों की आवाज क्यों है 102 की उम्र में गुमनाम". 8 August 2022.
15. ^ "Bhojpuri में पढ़ें- 102 बरिस के हो गइनी भैरवी के बेजोड़ गायक जंग बहादुर बाबू". 11 May 2022.
16. ^ "Jang Bahadur was the first wrestler of wrestling riot, till date he has not got the status of freedom fighter. | पहले कुश्ती के दंगल के पहलवान थे जंग बहादुर, आज तक स्वतंत्रता सेनानी का दर्जा नहीं मिला - Dainik Bhaskar".
17. ^ "गुमनामी में जी रहे भोजपुरी देशभक्ति गायक जंग बहादुर सिंह".
18. ^ "देश भक्ति गीतों के तरानों से होती है लोकगायक जंगबहादुर सिंह की सुबह".
19. ^ "West Bengal --दुख के बाद भी मूंछों पर ताव, -फिरंगी राज से लोहा लेने वाले 102 साल के पहलवान लोकगायक जंगबहादुर गुमनामी के अंधेरे | West Bengal News". 13 August 2022.
20. ^ https://bharattimes.co.in/azadi-ka-amrit-mahotsav-story-of-102-year-old-unsung-patriot-singer/
21. ^ "Whose patriotic songs trembled the British, 102-year-old "Jang Bahadur Singh" is living a life of oblivion - Dailyindia.net". 14 August 2022.
22. ^ "102 वर्ष के होने पर भी लोक गायन की जंगबहादुर सिंह की टंकार की गूंज करती है आश्चर्यचकित". 24 June 2022.
23. ^ "लोकगायिकी के अनसंग हीरो हैं जंग बहादुर सिंह, जिनके तरानों से ब्रिटिश हुकूमत भी डरती थी".
24. ^ "Recognition of a Bhojpuri folklore vocalist, Jang Bahadur Singh, will be a great recognition for the Bhojpuri Culture".
25. ^ "कभी देशभक्ति गीतों से भरते थे आजादी के मतवालों में जान, आज उम्र का शतक पार कर जी रहे गुमनाम जिंदगी". 8 August 2022.
26. ^ "जिनके देशभक्ति के गाने से कांपते थे अंग्रेज, 102 साल के "जंग बहादुर सिंह" जी रहे गुमनामी की जिंदगी". 14 August 2022.
27. ^ "आजादी के लिए देशभक्ति गीत गाने वाले जंग बहादुर सिंह, 102 साल की उम्र में भी जिंदादिली की मिसाल". 8 August 2022.
28. ^ "जंग बहादुर सिंह के भोजपुरी देशभक्ति गीतों से थर-थर कांपती थी ब्रिटीश हुकूमत, पढ़े वीरता की अनूठी कहानी". 18 August 2022.
29. ^ "जंग बहादुर सिंह भोजपुरी लोक गायकी के वो उस्ताद, जो गांधी, सुभाष की वीरगाथा सुनाते थे, आज भुला दिए गए". 11 July 2022.
30. ^ "Bhojpuri folk singer Jang Bahadur Singh, who, even at the age of 102, fills patriots with enthusiasm". 10 February 2023.
31. ^ "भोजपुरी गायक जंगबहादुर सिंह को पद्म पुरस्कार से सम्मानित करने की उठने लगी है मांग". 6 July 2022.
32. ^ "गुमनामी के अंधेरे में जीने को विवश भोजपुरी देशभक्ति गीत गायक 102 वर्षीय जंग बहादुर सिंह". 8 August 2022.
33. ^ "भोजपुरी देशभक्ति गीतों की आवाज़ हैं 102 वर्षीय लोक गायक जंग बहादुर सिंह". 9 August 2022.
34. ^ "Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav: Story of 102-year-old Unsung Patriot Singer".
35. ^ https://unanews.in/भोजपुरी-देशभक्ति-गीतों-क/
36. ^ "Jang Bahadur Singh Story: 102 वर्षीय 'जंग बहादुर' को कहा जाता है भोजपुरी लोकगीत का सरताज, जानें उनकी कहानी". 17 August 2022.
37. ^ "लोक गायक जंग बहादुर के देशभक्ति गीतों को सुन गर्व से सीना हो जाता है चौड़ा".
38. ^ "स्वतंत्रता सेनानी जंगबहादुर सिंह के देशभक्ति गीतों से कांपते थे अंग्रेज, 102 साल में आज भी हाई है जोश".
39. ^ "Bhojpuri संगीत के 'जंगबहादुर' की कहानी, जिनकी गायकी का दीवाना था Bihar".
40. ^ "पहलवानी करते गाने लगे आजादी के तराने, आज गुमनाम हैं 102 वर्ष के भोजपुरी गायक जंगबहादुर सिंह".
41. ^ "Bhojpuri: मिलिए 102 वर्षीय भोजपुरी लोकगायक से, जो आज भी अपनी आवाज के जादू से भर देते हैं देशभक्तों में जोश".