Girija Devi, the eminent classical singer and queen of Thumri died at a city hospital in Kolkata. She lost her life due to cardiac arrest. She was 88 years old. She was a legendary singer from “Benaras gharana”. She was also called as Appa ji.
“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”, told a hospital spokesperson.
Condolences message on this demise
“Saddened by demise of Girija Devi ji. Indian classical music has lost one of its most melodious voices. My thoughts are with her admirers”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted.
UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi expressed, “The veteran semi-classical singer from the Banaras and Seniya Gharanas was fondly regarded as the “Queen of Thumri” and “Appaji” to her family and followers.”
“It is an irreparable loss to Indian music and Banaras Gharana of music. She was a guiding figure for us,” said noted Sarod player and Yash Bharati recipient Pt. Vikash Maharaj.
Life of Girija Devi
She was born on May 8, 1929 in a zamindar family near Banaras. Since childhood, Girija Devi was learning singing. She took lessons in khayal and tappa from vocalist Sarju Prasad Misra and Chand Mishra. She has a daughter. Her powerful singing gathered her audiences Dr Radhakrishnan, Sarojini Naidu, Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi.
In year 1949, she made her debut with All India Radio Allahabad. She had worked as a faculty member of the ITC Sangeet Research Academy, Kolkata in the 1980s. She even worked with renowned Banaras Hindu University during the early 1990s.
Girija Devi was honoured with Padma Shri in 1972, the Padma Bhushan in 1989 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2016 for her contribution towards music. She was also awarded with Sangeet Natak Akademi Award and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship.
