Page 8 - NIS English 01-15 May,2023

Personality Girija Devi

GIRIJA DEVI

WAS SYNONYMOUS

WITH THUMRI

BORN: MAY 8, 1929 | DIED: OCTOBER 24, 2017

The Thumri queen, Girija Devi, is affectionately known as "Appa Ji" by her fans. Girija
Devi was a Hindustani classical singer who specialised in Khayal, Thumri, Tappa, Kajri,
and Chaiti singing. She was born in a village near Banaras on May 8, 1929. She began
learning music as a child from renowned Sarangi players Sarju Prasad Mishra and
Chandra Mishra. She used to call them as Dada Guru.

n icon of the Poorab Ang Gayaki, Girija Devi, programme. She promised to sing on the radio, at
Agave a new dimension to a long tradition of large concerts, in schools, at guru's houses, and at
Thumri singing and spread it in all directions. For her brother-sister houses, but not anywhere else." In
outstanding contribution to singing, she received the 1949, she sang her first song for Allahabad Radio,
Padma Shri in 1972, the Padma Bhushan in 1989, and she later took part in Sangeet Sammelans in
and the Padma Vibhushan in 2016. Ara, Banaras, and Delhi.
Girija Devi, who belonged to the Senia and Her seriousness, liveliness, and love for classical
Banaras Gharanas, was possibly the only singer in music can be gauged by the fact that she continued
her long career who sang the Nirgunis alongside the to sing even in her last year of life. She sang Nawab
Bhakta poets’ compositions. Thumri songs like Hey Wajid Ali Shah's composition, Babul Mora Naihar
Maan Kari Badaria Barse, Piya Nahin Aaye, Nayan Chhutal Jaye, in a Delhi programme at the age of 88.
Ki Mat Maro Talwariya, and Ram Lalna Re in Jhoole As soon as the song ended, she took betel leaves
Bagiya... were requested at every stage. Of course, from her pan and placed them in her mouth, saying,
she went to her maternal uncle's house in Kolkata "It's great that you all came. I'm not sure if I'll be able
to advance her career in the beginning, but Banaras to come back or not. I'll be 90 years old. She passed
and Kashi remained in her heart. away two months later, on October 24, 2017. Even
Girija Devi, who began singing at the age of five, today, listening to her sing makes one feel as though
quickly established herself as a Khayal and Tappa they are being drenched in a rain of notes.
singer. She also played an untouchable girl in a film On the death of Girija Devi, PM Narendra Modi said
when she was nine years old. In an interview, Girija in condolences, "Saddened by the demise of Girija
Devi stated, "I had made an agreement with my Devi ji, Indian classical music has lost one of its most
husband before marriage that he would let me sing melodious voices. Girija Devi's music attracted every
later." He was also a music fan. Her husband had generation. Her efforts to popularise Indian classical
made it a condition that she not sing in any private music will always remain in our memories.

6 New India Samachar May 1-15, 2023