Girija Devi (8 May 1929 – 24 October 2017) was an Indian classical singer of the Seniya and Banarasgharanas. She performed classical and light classical music and helped elevate the profile of thumri. She was dubbed as the 'Queen of Thumri' for her contribution in the genre.[1][2] She died on 24 October 2017.
Girija Devi was born in Varanasi, on 8 May 1929, to Ramdeo Rai, a zamindar.[3] Her father played the harmonium and taught music, and had Girija Devi take lessons in singing khyal and tappa from vocalist and sarangi player Sarju Prasad Misra starting at the age of five.[4] She starred in the movie Yaad rahe aged nine and continued her studies under Chand Misra in a variety of styles.[4]
Performing careeredit
Devi in 2006
Girija Devi made her public debut in 1949 on All India RadioAllahabad, after marrying a businessman circa 1946, but faced opposition from her mother and grandmother because it was traditionally believed that no upper-class woman should perform publicly.[3][4][5] Girija Devi agreed not to perform privately for others, but gave her first public concert in Bihar in 1951.[4] She studied with Sri Chand Misra until he died in the early 1960s, worked as a faculty member of the ITC Sangeet Research Academy in Kolkata in the 1980s and of the Banaras Hindu University during the early 1990s, and taught several students to preserve her musical heritage.[4] Girija Devi often toured and continued to perform in 2009.[4][6]
She died on 24 October 2017 following a cardiac arrest at the BM Birla Heart Research Centre in Kolkata at the age of 88.[9]
Awardsedit
Mohd. Hamid Ansari presenting the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship 2010 to Girija Devi, at the investiture ceremony of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowships and Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards 2010
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For the Indian politician see Girija Devi politician Girija Devi 8 May 1929 24 October 2017 was an Indian classical singer of the Seniya and Banaras gharanas She performed classical and light classical music and helped elevate the profile of thumri She was dubbed as the Queen of Thumri for her contribution in the genre 1 2 She died on 24 October 2017 Girija DeviDevi performing in Bharat Bhavan Bhopal July 2015 Background informationBorn8 May 1929Benares Benares State British IndiaDied24 October 2017 aged 88 Kolkata West Bengal IndiaGenresHindustani classical musicInstrument s vocalYears active1949 2017 Contents 1 Early life 2 Performing career 3 Awards 4 References 5 Further reading 6 External linksEarly life editGirija Devi was born in Varanasi on 8 May 1929 to Ramdeo Rai a zamindar 3 Her father played the harmonium and taught music and had Girija Devi take lessons in singing khyal and tappa from vocalist and sarangi player Sarju Prasad Misra starting at the age of five 4 She starred in the movie Yaad rahe aged nine and continued her studies under Chand Misra in a variety of styles 4 Performing career edit nbsp Devi in 2006Girija Devi made her public debut in 1949 on All India Radio Allahabad after marrying a businessman circa 1946 but faced opposition from her mother and grandmother because it was traditionally believed that no upper class woman should perform publicly 3 4 5 Girija Devi agreed not to perform privately for others but gave her first public concert in Bihar in 1951 4 She studied with Sri Chand Misra until he died in the early 1960s worked as a faculty member of the ITC Sangeet Research Academy in Kolkata in the 1980s and of the Banaras Hindu University during the early 1990s and taught several students to preserve her musical heritage 4 Girija Devi often toured and continued to perform in 2009 4 6 Girija Devi sang in the Banaras gharana and performed the purabi ang thumri style typical of the tradition whose status she helped elevate 5 7 Her repertoire included the semi classical genres kajri chaiti and holi and she sang khyal Indian folk music and tappa 5 8 The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians once stated that her semi classical singing combined her classical training with the regional characteristics of the songs of Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh 4 She died on 24 October 2017 following a cardiac arrest at the BM Birla Heart Research Centre in Kolkata at the age of 88 9 Awards edit nbsp Mohd Hamid Ansari presenting the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship 2010 to Girija Devi at the investiture ceremony of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowships and Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards 2010Padma Shri 1972 Padma Bhushan 1989 Padma Vibhushan 2016 10 Sangeet Natak Akademi Award 1977 Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship 2010 11 Maha Sangeet Samman Award 2012 12 Sangeet Samman Award Dover Lane Music Conference GiMA Awards 2012 Lifetime Achievement TanaRiri PuraskarReferences edit Quint The 25 October 2017 Remembering a Legend Flashes of Thumri Queen Girija Devi s Life TheQuint Retrieved 2 September 2022 Queen of Thumri Girija Devi dead The Hindu PTI 24 October 2017 ISSN 0971 751X Retrieved 2 September 2022 a href Template Cite news html title Template Cite news cite news a CS1 maint others link a b Ramnarayan Gowri 11 November 2008 Queen of thumri The Hindu Archived from the original on 6 April 2018 Retrieved 11 April 2009 a b c d e f g Dutta Amelia 2001 Devi Girija In Sadie Stanley ed The New Grove dictionary of music and musicians Vol 7 2nd ed London Macmillan Publishers pp 265 266 ISBN 978 0 333 60800 5 a b c Tandon Aditi 17 February 2004 Future of folk music uncertain warns Girija Devi The Tribune Retrieved 11 April 2009 Trivedi Sukumar 5 January 2009 Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia works a charm with his magic flute The Indian Express Retrieved 11 April 2009 Dorian Frederick Broughton Simon Ellingham Mark McConnachie James Trillo Richard Duane Orla 2000 World Music The Rough Guide Rough Guides p 91 ISBN 978 1 85828 636 5 Kumar Raj 2003 Essays on Indian music Discovery Publishing House ISBN 978 81 7141 719 3 Girija Devi passes away at 88 condolences pour in for thumri queen on Twitter The Indian Express 25 October 2017 Retrieved 1 February 2021 Padma Awards PDF Ministry of Home Affairs Government of India 2015 Archived from the original PDF on 15 October 2015 Retrieved 21 July 2015 Padma Awards Ministry of Communications and Information Technology Archived from the original on 17 February 2012 Retrieved 11 March 2009 Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards Hindustani Music Vocal Sangeet Natak Akademi Archived from the original on 1 February 2016 Retrieved 29 December 2009 Further reading editMishra Yatindra 2006 Girija A Journey Through Thumri Rupa ISBN 978 81 291 0857 9 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Girija Devi Girija Devi at AllMusic Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Girija Devi amp oldid 1186597859, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
