c. 1910
13.75x
8.80cm
The famous Indian singer Gohar Jan, queen of early LP recordings and the first Indian artist to be recorded on gramophone on November 2, 1902. Born in Azamgarh, north India as Angelina Yeoward in 1873 she became the most famous nautch girl and singer of the postcard era. Her almost unbelievable, fascinating and ultimately tragic story is masterfully told by Vikram Sampath in his excellent book My Name is Gauhar Jaan! (2010). It is titled after the phrase she used, in English, to announce herself after each of her recordings. His book opens with the question Which story would you find more pleasing? Should I narrate the tale of the world or the one of my life?
A younger Gohar Jan can be seen in a postcard with her mother, Malka Jan.