# Bahinabai Chaudhari

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Marathi language poet (1880–1951)

For the seventeenth century [Varkari](/source/Varkari) saint, see [Bahinabai](/source/Bahinabai).

Bahinabai Chaudhari Born 24 August 1880 (1880-08-24)[1] Asoda, Bombay Presidency, British India (in-present Jalgaon district, Maharashtra, India) Died 3 December 1951(1951-12-03) (aged 71) Jalgaon, Bombay State, India (in-present Maharashtra, India) Occupation Farmer Language Khandeshi, Marathi[2] Education None Period 1880-1952 Genre Dramatic Subject Father's house, life, farmer's life, harvest, agricultural equipment, Pola, Maharashtra's festivals Spouse Nathu Chaudhari ​ ​ (m. 1893; died 1910)​ Children 3

**Bahinabai Chaudhari** (24 August 1880 – 3 December 1951) was a [Khandeshi language](/source/Khandeshi_language) language poet from [Jalgaon district](/source/Jalgaon_district) of [Bombay State](/source/Bombay_State), India. She became a noted poet [posthumously](/source/Posthumous_publication).

## Early life

Bahinabai was born in a [Mahajan](/source/Mahajan) family at Asode in [Khandesh](/source/Khandesh) region of the present-day [Jalgaon district](/source/Jalgaon_district) on the 24 August 1880, on the day of [Naga Panchami](/source/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]

## Posthumous publication

After his mother's death on 3 December 1951, Sopandev found the notebook and shared one of her poems with [Prahlād Keshav (Acharya) Atre](/source/Pralhad_Keshav_Atre)'s attention. Atre recounts calling the first of Bahinabai's poems he heard "pure gold" in his introduction to the collection published under the title *Bahinabainchi gani* (**Bahinabai's Songs**) in 1952 by Suchitra Prakashan.[7][4]

## Legacy

- [North Maharashtra University](/source/North_Maharashtra_University) was renamed the *Kavayitri Bahinabai Chaudhari North Maharashtra University* in her honour.[8]

- [Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University](/source/Yashwantrao_Chavan_Maharashtra_Open_University) has recommended *Bahinabainchi Gani* as a part of their curriculum since June 2012.

- [Balbharati](/source/Balbharati) includes her poems in school textbooks of Marathi language in [Maharashtra state board](/source/Maharashtra_State_Board_of_Secondary_and_Higher_Secondary_Education) schools.[9][10]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["कवयत्री बहिणाबाई चौधरी जन्मदिवस"](https://www.lokmat.com/maharashtra/video-kavantri-bahinabai-chaudhari-birthday/). Lokmat. Retrieved 24 August 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Video : कवयत्री बहिणाबाई चौधरी जन्मदिवस"](https://m.lokmat.com/maharashtra/video-kavantri-bahinabai-chaudhari-birthday/). 24 August 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Marathi Leva Samaj"](https://web.archive.org/web/20170423025131/http://marathilevasamaj.org/bahinabai-chaudhary.html). *marathilevasamaj.org*. Archived from [the original](http://marathilevasamaj.org/bahinabai-chaudhary.html) on 2017-04-23. Retrieved 2016-11-17.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:0_4-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-:0_4-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-:0_4-4) Tharu, Susie; Lalita, K. (1993). *Women Writing in India*. Vol. 1. New Delhi: Oxford University Press. pp. 352–53. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0195631951](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0195631951).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:1_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:1_5-1) Zelliot, Eleanor (1982). "A Note on Bahinabai Chaudhari". *Journal of South Asian Literature*. **17** (1): 102.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Centre, Kavayatri Bahinabai Chaudhari Study and Research. ["Kavayatri Bahinabai Chaudhari Study and Research Centre > Home"](https://web.archive.org/web/20161117144830/http://www.nmu.ac.in/bcsrc/en-us/home.aspx). *www.nmu.ac.in*. Archived from [the original](http://www.nmu.ac.in/bcsrc/en-us/home.aspx) on 2016-11-17. Retrieved 2016-11-17.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-n_7-0)** ["Famous Personalities"](https://web.archive.org/web/20090315090159/http://nashikcorporation.com/html/personalities/index.shtml). Nashik Municipal Corporation. Archived from [the original](http://www.nashikcorporation.com/html/personalities/index.shtml) on 2009-03-15. Retrieved 2009-08-13.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["बहिणाबाई चौधरी विद्यापीठ नामांतराच्या श्रेयासाठी लढाई"](https://www.loksatta.com/maharashtra-news/north-maharashtra-university-bahinabai-chaudhari-1650593/). *Loksatta* (in Marathi). 2018-03-24. Retrieved 2021-03-24.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** [https://www.cart.ebalbharati.in/BalBooks/pdfs/701010001.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjpv-z5ycnvAhXP73MBHQvJDYo4ChAWMAd6BAgAEAI&usg=AOvVaw1qqkNRF4T0YF4L9_Ehf8Fo](https://www.cart.ebalbharati.in/BalBooks/pdfs/701010001.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjpv-z5ycnvAhXP73MBHQvJDYo4ChAWMAd6BAgAEAI&usg=AOvVaw1qqkNRF4T0YF4L9_Ehf8Fo)[*[permanent dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*]

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["'बालभारती' मध्ये कविता राऊत"](https://www.loksatta.com/krida-news/kavita-raut-savarpada-express-in-balbharti-1105465/). *Loksatta* (in Marathi). 2015-05-22. Retrieved 2021-03-24.

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