Jewel of Hindustani classical music, Girija Devi, passes away at 88

kolkata — Iconic Indian classical vocalist Girija Devi passed away here on Tuesday following a cardiac arrest, hospital sources said. She was 88.

“She was brought in a critical condition on Tuesday afternoon. She passed away around 9pm,” a BM Birla Heart Research Centre spokesperson said.

Besides Padma Shri (1972) and Padma Bhushan (1989), the veteran was honoured with the Tansen Samman by the Madhya Pradesh government, as well as the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1977).

Gifted with a resonating magical voice that captivated the refined listeners of Hindustani classical music for generations, Girija Devi played a key part in popularising and raising the profile of Thumri, that gave her the ‘Thumri Queen.

Born on May 8, 1929, in Varanasi, to a zamindar, Ramdeo Rai, Girija Devi began taking music lessons when she was a child of five. Her first guru was vocalist and sarangi player Sarju Prasad Misra, and then Sri Chand Misra.

Girija Devi always loved to recount her childhood days in Varanasi, where “I considered myself more as a boy, than a girl”.

Rao encouraged her to learn swimming, horse riding and stick fighting, which she loved, but never had much interest in studies.

“At the same time, I did play with dolls, and spent time arranging for my doll’s marriage,” Girija Devi said during an interview a few years back. At that tender age, she learnt appellation Khayal, Dhrupad, Dhamar, Tarana, Indian folk music and Bhajan. With Varanasi being a hub of both Hindu and Muslim classical singers, the elements from both traditions enriched her repertoire and increased

Girija deviji’s music appealed across generations. her pioneering efforts to popularise Indian classical music will always be remembered

Narendra Modi, PM

her knowledge. In 1949, Girija Devi‘s performance was aired by the Allahabad station of All India Radio, which had then just started its broadcast. Recognising her talent, the AIR authorities treated the 20-year-old at par with established singers like Sehnai maestro Bismillah Khan, Hindustani singer Siddheswari Devi and table exponent Kanthe Maharaj. “During that time there was no system of audition or grading of artists. But I found from the contract forms that I was paid the same amount of money as these artists.” Two years later, Girija Devi gave her first public performance at a music conference in Bihar’s Arrah, alongside the likes of Pundit Omkarnath Thakur and Kanthe Maharaj.

In 1952, she paid her first visit to Kolkata — which became her home two and a half decades later - to take part in the Sadarang Sangeet Sammelan.

Emotional tributes poured in from the Indian film industry, politicians and music fraternity.

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 added.

Singer Shubha Mudgala said her death was a “colossal loss for Indian music”.

“Girija Deviji, Appaji to her family and followers, passes away. Irreparable loss,” Mudgal tweeted.

Veteran lyricist Javed Akhtar said: “Girija Devi was not only a great classical singer but a national treasurer. We are poorer with out her.” Her death marks an end of an era, remarked sarod maestro Amjad Ali Khan.

West Bengal Chief Minister Banerjee described the Hindusthani classical singer as one of the finest exponents of the genre. —