Girija Devi
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Achievements
Priyanka Dasgupta, Oct 25 2017: The Times of India
Born in 1929 in Varanasi, she received her initial training in vocal music from Shri Sarju Prasad Mishra and honed her skills under the guidance of Shri Chand Mishra. An exponent of Thumri, Tappa, Hori, Chaiti, Kajri, Tarana, Sadra and other forms of Hindustani classical music, Girija Devi was groomed in the tradition of the Benaras and Seniya gharanas. She was known as the “Queen of Thumri“ for popularising the genre of semi-classical Indian music. It was after the death of her husband that she shifted to Kolkata.
The recipient of all three Padma awards, the veteran singer was honoured with the Tansen Samman by the MP government, as well as the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1977).
Lauded for renditions of `Khayal' with astounding clarity and control, the stalwart was a regular performer on All India Radio and Doordarshan with numerous CDs and audio cassettes to her credit.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi mourned the demise of the iconic vocalist, saying Indian classical music has lost one of its most melodious voices. “Girija Deviji's music appealed across generations. Her pioneering efforts to popularise Indian classical music will always be remembered,“ he tweeted.
According to Pt Vijay Kichlu, the Indian classical music lost the delicacy of “purav ang gaikee“ and “bol banao“ with her death. “I had the honour of persuading her to come and settle down in Kolkata after she lost her husband in 1977. She has been the oldest guru that Sangeet Research Academy has had since its inception. She might have needed assistance while walking. But age was never a stumbling block when it came to her performance. On stage, she was a tigress,“ remembered Pt Kichlu. In a message, sarod maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan wrote: “It's a great Loss for d World of music, especially Thumri style of Singing... She became an institution in her life time... She has left many disciples to Continue her legacy . (sic)“ Ustad Rashid Khan, who knew her since his Sangeet Research Academy days, described her as a legend with“exceptional tonal quality“.
After being conferred with the Padma Vibhushan in 2016, she had wanted the government to give her a plot to build an academy. “Benaras is a melting pot of literature and culture. I want to build an academy that celebrates the rich heritage of that place,“ she had told TOI during an interaction.
