Yamunabai Waikar

Yamunabai Waikar (31 December 1915 – 15 May 2018), née Yamunabai Vikram Jawle was an Indian folk artist, known for her expertise in the Marathi folk traditions of Lavani and Tamasha, folk art forms involving music and dance and reported to be one of the leading exponents of the art genres. A recipient of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, she was honored by the Government of India, in 2012, with the fourth highest Indian civilian award of Padma Shri.

Biography

Yamunabai was born in Nunekalame village near Mahabaleshwar, in Satara district of Maharashtra in a family belonging to the Kolhati community. Her father was reported to be a drunkard and her mother busked and Yamnunabai, being the eldest of the five children, performed street dances with her mother. At the age of 10, she joined a folk art group from where she had her first lessons of Lavani. Later, when her father joined them, the family formed a Tamasha troupe with her father playing the Dholki while Bai and her cousin danced.

Awards and recognitions Yamunabai Waikar is a recipient of several awards and honours such as the Padma Shri in 2012 Ahilyabai Holkar Award Life Time Achievement award of Tagore Ratna Samman in 2012. Aditya Vikram Birla Kalasikhara Award from the Sangeet Kala Kendra, founded by Aditya Vikram Birla.in 2012 Rasikmani Shrikrishna Pandit Uttung Gunagaurav Award at the Uttung Anniversary Festival in 2014.