To be born in a north Indian small town to parents of a European descent, be converted from Christianity to Islam as a child and then move to an ancient Hindu centre like Benares—all within the age of eight—make Gauhar Jaan’s Raj-era formative years eventful to the core. Today, 13 decades after the classical musician gave her debut concert, Google Doodle is celebrating the 145th birth anniversary of the legend who went on to cut no less than 600 records in a range of genres featuring lyrics in as many as a dozen languages.