Quick Info
| Profession | Indian classical singer |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Indian |
| Date of Birth | 08/05/1929 |
| Age | 88 years (died on 24, Oct, 2017) |
| Birthplace | Varanasi, United Provinces, British India |
| Date of Death | 24/10/2017 |
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Bio/Wiki
| Real Name | Girija Devi |
|---|---|
| Nickname | Thumri Queen, Appa Ji |
| Gharana (Music School) | Seniya and Banaras Gharanas |
| Guru/Ustaad/Mentor | Sarju Prasad Misra and Chand Misra |
| Musical Specialization | Thumri, Dadra, Kajri, Chaiti, Tappa, Hori |
| Public Debut | 1949 at All India Radio, Allahabad |
| First Public Concert | 1951 in Bihar |
| Career Span | Over seven decades |
Personal Life
| Zodiac sign/Sun sign | Taurus |
|---|---|
| Hometown | Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India |
| Religion | Hinduism |
| Hobbies | Watching Periodic Films, Listening to Music |
Relationships & More
| Marital Status | Widowed | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Husband/Spouse | Name Not Known (A Businessman) | ||||
| Marriage Date | Year 1946 | ||||
| Children |
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Family
| Father | Ramdeo Rai (A Zamindar and music enthusiast) |
|---|---|
| Mother | Name Not Known |
Career
| Awards/Honours |
|
|---|---|
| Notable Students | Mamta Bhargava (founder of Alankar School of Music) |
| Notable Performances | Performed for audiences including Dr. Radhakrishnan, Sarojini Naidu, Waheeda Rahman, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Indira Gandhi during the 1960s and 1970s |
Favourites
| Favourite Food | Paan (Betel) |
|---|---|
| Favourite Politicians |
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| Favourite Singer | Lata Mangeshkar |
Some Lesser Known Facts
| 1. Girija Devi was a celebrated figure in Indian Classical singing. | |
| 2. She was born into a Zamindar family in Varanasi. | |
| 3. Her father, a musician, instructed her in music. | |
| 4. Girija Devi commenced her musical training at a young age and made her public debut in 1949. | |
| 5. Despite facing opposition for performing in public, she persisted in her art. | |
| 6. She was recognized for her distinct singing approach and diverse selection of songs. | |
| 7. Later in her career, she shifted towards devotional singing. | |
| 8. Her charm, humor, and love for toys and dolls were notable traits. | |
| 9. Girija Devi passed away on 24 October 2017 following a heart attack. | |
| 10. Girija Devi commenced her musical training at a young age under Sarju Prasad Misra at age five. | |
| 11. She made her public debut in 1949 at All India Radio Allahabad, facing family opposition as public singing was not socially acceptable for upper-class women at the time. | |
| 12. She transformed thumri singing by infusing it with devotional and prayerful elements, moving away from lewd associations. | |
| 13. Her performances combined technical intricacy of classical music with expressiveness of folk traditions. | |
| 14. She acted in a movie titled Yaad Rahe when she was nine years old. | |
| 15. Girija Devi passed away on 24 October 2017 at BM Birla Hospital in Kolkata at age 88. |