Girija Devi

Girija Devi (b. May 8, 1929, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India) 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. She has been described as the "last living queen of thumri".Her father Ramdeo Rai was a local Zaminadar and interested in classical Indian music. He initiated his 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, Allahabad, 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 U.S., the former USSR, and several countries of Europe.

Recognition

Girija Devi's expertise has been recognized repeatedly over the years, and she has been conferred with a number of awards, including the following:

* Padma Shree in 1972, and the Padma Bhushan in 1989, which are among the highest civilian awards of the Republic of India.
* Tansen award, named after Tansen, of Madhya Pradesh state government
* The Ustad Hafiz Ali Khan award in 1966
* The Sangeet Natak Kala Academy Awards of Uttar Pradesh and Delhi
* An honorary D. Litt. From the Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth, Varanasi; Rabindra Bharti University, Kolkata; Dr. Purushottam Das Tondon Open University, Allahabad and Sampoornanand Sanskrit University, Varanasi
* Kolkata honoured her as the 'CULTURAL AMBASSADOR' on International Women's Day.
* Kalpataru Award from Prayag Sangeet Samiti, Allahabad

She has served as a member of many important committees relating to music including the Central Audition Board Committee of the All India Radio and Sangeet Nataka Academy.

A documentary - Girija, has also been made in her honour by the government of India.

A quote

"I love decorating words with music. Take for instance the line 'rasa ke bhare toreb nain', suggesting the Lord’s eyes being a repository of emotions. I imagine a hindered gopis or devotees seeking attention in the eyes of the Lords. Some see in him a tinge of jealousy. Others perceive a hint of pride or carefree abandon. Others see only a divinity; some the playfulness of Krishna. I use notes to suit the mood of the sentiment so that a single line can be sung to at least 25 different interpretations."

Trivia

After one of her renditions, some people from the audience approached her daughter to tell her to request her mother not to sing so passionately, otherwise her mother (Girija Devi) would meet the fate of Mirabai, a 15th century mystic and devotee of Krishna. One of the legends associated with Mirabai states that Mirabai had vanished and was absorbed into the being of Krishna while passionately singing her devotional hymns; and no traces of her mortal remain could be found.

Discography

** 2005 - [http://www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/music/pid/6894796/a/Confluence:+Meeting+Of+Mind+&+Melodies.htm Confluence: Meeting of Mind and Melodies] w/ Ustad Amjad Ali Khan
** 2004 - [http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=6807245&BAB=E Vocal] - Thumri, Tappa and Hori
** 2001 - [http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=7038821&BAB=E Diva]
** 1991 - [http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=1045591&BAB=E Girija Devi and Zakir Hussain] w/ Ustad Zakir_Hussain
** [http://www.music-city.org/Girija-Devi/Songs-from-Varanasi-139182/ Songs from Varanasi]
** [http://www.emusic.com/artist/11575/11575968.html Girija Devi w/ Ustad Bismillah Khan]

Further reading

*"India’s 50 Most Illustrious Women" (ISBN 81-88086-19-3) by Indra Gupta
*"Girija : A Journey through Thumri" by "Yatindra Mishra"

External links

* [http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&searchlink=GIRIJA|DEVI&sql=11:9bsxlfhe5cqe~T1 Girija Devi]