Books by Teju Behan

Born in the village Van in Rajasthan, Tejuben is from the Paua caste of bards and mystic singers of Rajasthan. When she was 10, a terrible drought and famine forced the family to move away from the village in search of food and a living. They wandered around until they reached Ahmedabad, where the family lived in a makeshift slum. Tejuben met the artist and singer Ganesh Jogi there, and the two became childhood friends, finally marrying when she was 16. It is very unusual for women in their community to sing or otherwise participate in public life. Tejuben has a fine voice, and encouraged by her husband Ganesh, she began singing along with him. They performed in restaurants and on the streets. Like Ganesh, she met the well-known artist Haku Shah. Tejuben initially copied her husband's style of art, but then learned to sit by herself and evolve her own style. From the beginning, she loved drawing women, and this has been her inspiration ever since. Her first book with Tara is an account of her life, and how she evolved as an artist. It is set to a song composed by Ganesh and herself.