Thumri queen Girija Devi passes away at 88
KOLKATA/VARANASI: Eminent classical singer and Padma Vibhushan awardee Girija Devi passed away at a city hospital here on Tuesday night following a cardiac arrest, hospital sources said. She was 88 and survived by a daughter.
Considered as the queen of Thumri and fondly called ‘Appa ji,’ Girija Devi was taken to the city’s BM Birla Heart Research Centre in the afternoon with cardiovascular ailments. She was put on life support, her family sources said.
“Girija Devi’s condition was quite critical when she was brought to the hospital. She was admitted to the CCU and was under constant watch. But she passed away at around 8.45 pm,” hospital spokesperson told PTI.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled her death, saying the singer’s music appealed across generations and her pioneering efforts to popularise Indian classical music would always be remembered.
“Saddened by demise of Girija Devi ji. Indian classical music has lost one of its most melodious voices. My thoughts are with her admirers,” he tweeted.
A legendary singer of the “Banaras gharana”, Girija Devi had received Padma Shri in 1972, Padma Bhushan in 1989 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2016.
Born in a zamindar family at a village near Banaras on May 8, 1929, music was a part of Girija Devi’s life from a very early age.
Folk singer Malini Awasthi, her pupil, said, “Music was a ‘sadhna’ for her. She lived classical music throughout her life. She was such a great ‘sangeet sadhak’ that words are little to describe her persona. Her demise has created a big void which cannot be filled.”
VARANASI :Kashi’s classical artistes and residents called the death of iconic classic vocalist Girija Devi an irreparable loss to the Banaras Gharana.
Girija Devi, who died in Kolkata, was the eldest amongst the Banaras Gharana artistes. She was also a Padma Vibhushan awardee.
Sarod maestro Pt Vikas Maharaj said, “We lost our guardian. She was our guide. She carried forward the Banaras Gharana legacy and nurtured it. She was an encyclopedia of classical music and wanted to set up a national level classical music institute of the Banaras Gharana in the oldest living city.”
Prof Sharda Velankar, former dean of the faculty of performing arts, Banaras Hindu University, said, “It is a very big loss to classical music. Because of Girija Devi, Banarasi Thumri is well known not only in India but also abroad. She took Banarasi Thumri, Chaiti and Dadra to the international platform.”
During her stay in Varanasi, she gave classical singing tips and riyaaz to young artistes, Velankar said. Despite being an internationally acclaimed artiste, she was down to earth and was always open to guiding young artistes who used to visit her for her blessings.
Folk singer Malini Awasthi, her pupil, was inconsolable when she came to know of the death.
“Music was sadhna for her. She lived classical music throughout her life. She was such a great sangeet sadhak that words are little to describe her persona. Her demise has created a big void which cannot be fulfilled,” she told Hindustan Times over the phone.
Noted musician Rajeshwar Acharya said, “She was like my elder sister. She made Banaras proud on the national and international stage time and again. “
Pt Deobrat Mishra, a young sitar artiste, said: “No one will be able to take her place. She guided many young classical artistes and promoted them. She was very affable and kind to the inspiring artistes. We will miss her a lot. This is a personal loss for me.”