Me, The Change: Meet Jahan Geet Singh, the Woman Who Plays Dhol

Jahan Geet Singh is breaking stereotypes by being a female dhol player in a male-dominated field.

Jahan Geet Singh is a student of law at Panjab University. At 14, she was India’s youngest female dhol player. 

(Photo: The Quint)

Video Editor: Prashant Chauhan
Camera: Nitin Chopra

"I will play like a girl and I will play the best dhol I can.” That’s what Jahan Geet told her trainer when he asked her to “play like a man.” Since then, Jahan, India’s youngest female dhol player, has never looked back.

Playing dhol from the age of 12, she has performed at 100 stages times across the world. Her videos have garnered over 20 million views on social media. She has been featured in global magazines and on national TV. Currently, she is pursuing her law degree from the Panjab University. But her journey to be a dhol player wasn't easy.

She struggled to find a dhol teacher as the instrument is traditionally played by men. Although she had made her decision, there were many who taunted her for it and she persevered with the support of her family.

“‘Don’t you have any shame that you decided to play <i>dhol</i>? You could have picked up something else to do.’ People think <i>dhol</i> is for Mirasis, for an oppressed class. People in mine and other cultures are not willing to accept that a girl wants to enter this male-dominated field.”

Jahan Geet Singh, Dhol Player

In the upcoming general elections, Jahan will be voting for the first time. As part of The Quint’s ‘Me, The Change’ campaign, we asked her what matters to her. She wants a reservation quota in education and jobs, like the benefits given to sportspersons, because she believes that musicians and dancers promoting their state’s culture train just as hard as them.

If you know a young woman achiever, or have always been in awe of a friend, or a sister, or a colleague’s grit and gumption, tell us! Nominate a first-time woman voter who’s changing the world.