Renowned Maand singer Mangi Bai passes away

UDAIPUR: Noted Rajasthani folk singer Maangi Bai passed away on Thursday morning. She was 88 and suffered a cardiac attack. Maangi Bai was known for her appealing rendition of ‘Kesariya Balam Aavo ni’ which she had sung on various ocassions of national and international importance.
Mangi Bai was born in Pratapgarh district into a family of traditional musicians and was trained in rendering the ‘Maand’ song of the region by her father Kamal Ram.She was an A-grade artist of All India Radio and Doordarshan and given numerous performances all over the country propagating Rajasthan’s folk musical heritage.
Mangi Bai had lent her voice for many television serials and documentaries besides bringing out many albums on ‘Maand’ style. She taught ‘Maand’ music for 20 years at the West Zone Cultural Center in Udaipur. She has even a book published on the subject. She was conferred the title of ‘Maand Gayika’ by the Rajasthan Sangeet Natak Academy in 2008 for her contribution towards music and also given the state award by the government of Rajathan in 2007.