Thumri Queen Girija Devi Passes Away at 88

Renowned classical singer and Padma Vibhushan Awardee Girija Devi, 88  succumbed to a cardiac arrest at a hospital in Kolkata on Tuesday at 8:45 pm.

“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.

Her death has set off shock waves through the country. Her admirers took to Twitter to express their grief.

Deeply saddened by the passing away of #Girija #Devi ji, queen of thumri n a doyenne of music. She launched my book in Kolkata in 2010😥 pic.twitter.com/yegkEKJ7p4

— Vikram Sampath (@vikramsampath) October 24, 2017

Girija Devi ji's music appealed across generations. Her pioneering efforts to popularise Indian classical music will always be remembered.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 24, 2017

Sad to hear of demise of classical singer and Queen of Thumri Girija Devi. Our cultural heritage has been left poorer #PresidentKovind

— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) October 25, 2017

Mahan shastriya aur thumri gayika Girija Devi ji hamare bich nahi rahi ye sunke mujhe bahut dukh hua.Hamare unke bahut acche sambandh the. pic.twitter.com/QhrLH5mW2q

— Lata Mangeshkar (@mangeshkarlata) October 24, 2017

Girija Devi was not only a great classical singer but a national treasure too . We are poorer without her . Girija ji , AAP Ko mera salaam .

— Javed Akhtar (@Javedakhtarjadu) October 24, 2017

A look back at the Legend's Life

Girija Devi was born in a zamindar family at a village near Benares on May 8, 1929. Her father used to play the harmonium and teach music. During her formative years, she took lessons in singing khayal and tappa from vocalist Sarju Prasad Misra.

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At 9 she starred in a movie "Yaad Rahe" and continued her studies under Sri Chand Misra in a variety of styles.

She worked as a faculty member of the ITC Sangeet Research Academy, Kolkata in the 1980s and also at the Banaras Hindu University during the early 1990s.

Devi made her public debut in 1949 on All India Radio, Allahabad, after getting married to a businessman in 1946. For this, she faced stiff opposition from her mother and grandmother who were of the view that upper-class woman should perform publicly.

She was a prominent performer of 'purabi ang thumri' style of Banaras Gharana as a result, she got the title of Thumri queen and fondly addresses as Appa ji.

After her husband’s demise, she forayed into devotional singing, giving another dimension to her music. She was awarded the Padma Shri in 1972, Padma Bhushan in 1989 and furthermore, the Padma Vibhushan in 2016. She is survived by a daughter.

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pic credits: Scroll.in