Girija Devi

Girija Devi (8th May 1929, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh) is an Indian singer and represents the Banaras Gharana of singers. She is adept at different genres of Hindustani vocal music including Khyal, Thumri, Dadra, Chaiti and Kajari, but she excels in the Poorab ang Thumri. In fact, she's the last living 'queen of thumri'.

Her father Ramdeo Rai was a local Zaminadar and interested in classical Indian music. He initiated her daughter's musical training when she was five years old. Her gurus were Pandit Sarju Prasad Mishra and Shrichand Mishra. Her first public recital (1949) from All India Radio, Allhabad, followed by recitals from stage at Arrah, Bihar, were highly appreciated. During her active singing career, she has rendered her recitations in several parts of India, as also in other parts of the world, including the USA, the former USSR, and several countries of Europe.

In recognition of her contributions in the field of music, Governmet of India has conferred on her the Padma Shree (1972), and the Padma Bhushan (1989), which are among the highest civilian awards of the Republic of India. Her contributions have also been recognized by various circles, and she has also received an honoury D. Litt. From the Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth.

Further reading

• India’s 50 Most Illustrious Women (ISBN 8188086193) by Indra Gupta
• Girija : A Journey through Thumri by Yatindra Mishra