Girija Devi Biography 
Girija Devi is a classical singer of the Banaras gharana. She performs classical and light classical music and has given significant contributions to thumri, a form of light music. She was awarded the Padma Shri in 1972 and the Padma Bhushan in 1989. She has also received Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1977 and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship in 2010. TanaRiri Puraskar, Maha Sangeet Samman Award (2012), Sangeet Samman Award and most recently, life time achievement awards at GiMA Awards 2012. Her repertoire includes the semi-classical genres holi, kajri, chaiti etc and she is also called, ‘Queen of thumri’.
Girija was born in Varanasi on May 8, 1929. Her father Ramdeo Rai was a harmonium expert who taught her lessons of harmonium. He was a zamindar and he loved music. From the age of 5, she started learning music. He used to take young Girija to concerts, satsang and bhajans. She learnt khyal and tappa from Pandit Sarju Prasad Misra and later Shrichand Mishra. She got married to a businessman in 1946. Her guru used to bring home thumri experts such as Rasoolanbai and Bade Moti Bai. Her first concert was for AIR, conducted in 1949 at the age of 20. But her public appearance was opposed by conservative family. Devi agreed not to perform privately for others, but gave her first public concert in Bihar in 1951. She studied under Guru, Sri Chand Misra until his death took place in late 60’s.
As a teacher she has worked for ITC Sangeet Research Academy in Kolkata during 1980s and Banaras Hindu University during the early 1990s. She has sung in many concerts all over India and abroad. Till 2009, she appeared in concerts. Mamta Bhargava, the founder of ‘The Alankar School of Music’ was her disciple. Her semi classical tunes included the features of Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh.
Published: N/A
Updated: January 07, 2014
