Janki Lal Bhand (born 1943), also known as Monkey Man and ''बहरूपिया बाबा'', is an Indian

Saang Saang, also known as Swang (meaning "imitation") or Svang, is a popular folk dance–theatre form and a traditional style of storytelling in Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and the Malwa region of Madhya Pradesh. Swang incorporates suitable t ...

and

Behrupiya A behrupiya or bahrupiya (Hindustani language, Hindustani: बहरूपिया or بہروپیا) is an Impressionist (entertainment), impressionist in the traditional performing arts of India, Nepal and Bangladesh. Once popular and widesprea ...

(impersonation) artist from

Rajasthan Rajasthan (; Literal translation, lit. 'Land of Kings') is a States and union territories of India, state in northwestern India. It covers or 10.4 per cent of India's total geographical area. It is the List of states and union territories of ...

. He is renowned for his mastery of the traditional art of disguise and impersonation, and has played a crucial role in reviving this folk tradition. He received the

Padma Shri The Padma Shri (IAST: ''padma śrī'', lit. 'Lotus Honour'), also spelled Padma Shree, is the fourth-highest Indian honours system, civilian award of the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan. In ...

award in 2024, the fourth-highest civilian honour in India, for his contributions to the arts.

Early life

Bhand was born on 1 January 1943 in

Chittorgarh Chittorgarh (; also Chitror or Chittor or Chittaurgarh) is a major city in the state of Rajasthan in western India. It lies on the Berach River, a tributary of the Banas, and is the administrative headquarters of Chittorgarh District. It wa ...

, then part of the

Kingdom of Mewar The Kingdom of Mewar was an independent Hindu kingdom that existed in the Rajputana region of the Indian subcontinent and later became a dominant state in medieval India. The kingdom was initially founded and ruled by the Guhila dynasty, foll ...

. He belongs to the Bhand community, traditionally associated with performance and satire in Indian society. He did not receive any formal education. In 1963, he moved to

Bhilwara Bhilwara () is a city and administrative headquarters in Bhilwara district of the Mewar region of Rajasthan, India. It has been termed as 'Textile city'. History Stone Age tools dating from 5,012 to 200,000 years were found in Bundi and ...

where he initially worked as a labourer in a textile mill. However, his passion for performance led him to pursue Behrupiya art full-time.

Career

Bhand has been performing for over six decades and is known for portraying mythological, historical, and social characters with accuracy and flair. He is credited with keeping the Behrupiya tradition alive, especially at a time when it was fading from public memory. He has performed in more than 10 countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, and Germany, where he gained international recognition as the "Monkey Man" for his animal impersonations. In India, he is affectionately known as "बहरूपिया बाबा". His acts are not limited to entertainment but often carry strong social messages about hygiene, education, caste equality, and national integration.

Personal life

Bhand belongs to the Scheduled Caste community in Rajasthan. His family has been involved in Behrupiya performance for three generations. He has a son, Laadu Lal Bhand, who is also active in the art form. He continues to advocate for the promotion and institutional support of traditional folk arts, particularly Behrupiya, and has called on younger generations to take up the mantle.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bhand, Janki Lal Living people 1943 births Indian artists Recipients of the Padma Shri Recipients of the Padma Shri in arts People from Rajasthan Impressionist artists

Early life

Career

Personal life

See also

References