Famous Kumaoni singer Kabutari Devi dies of cardiac arrest
Famous Kumaoni folk singer Kabutari Devi, 70, today passed away at a hospital in Uttarakhand's Pithoragarh, following a cardiac arrest. The eminent musician had been living with her daughters after the death of her husband Diwani Ram. Devi, whose songs depicted the struggles in the life of Pahari women, shot to fame after her maiden performance at All India Radio, Lucknow in the 1980s.
Devi's husband was the first to recognize her talent
"Though my mother had received her education in music from her father, it was my father who recognized her talent and took her to the radio stations to perform," said Devi's daughter Hemanti Devi. She was also Uttarakhand's first female folk singer.
We've lost representative voice of the hill culture: Folk historian
The folk singer has received several honors, which includes the Ministry of Culture, Government of Uttarakhand, for her outstanding contribution. Devi is remembered by folk historians as an original voice that represented the culture of the hills. "In her death, we have lost a representative voice of the hill culture especially of societies established in the eastern Kumaon," folk historian PD Pant said.
