Thumri Queen Girija Devi, 'pride of Banaras Gharana', dead
Eminent classical singer Girija Devi, the 'Queen of Thumri', passed away in Kolkata yesterday after a cardiac arrest. She was 88. When brought in, she was "quite critical" and was put on life support, but passed away around 8:45 pm. Her demise is an irreparable loss to Banaras Gharana, admirers mourned. Girija Devi is survived by her daughter.
A glance at Appa Ji's musical life
Girija Devi (Appa Ji) was born in Varanasi in 1929. She was taught by vocalist Sarju Prasad Misra early on. She worked as faculty at the ITC Sangeet Research Academy, Kolkata, and at the Banaras Hindu University later. Her purabi ang thumri style was especially known. Girija Devi was awarded the Padma Shri in 1972, Padma Bhushan in 1989 and Padma Vibhushan in 2016.
PM Modi tweets his condolences
Renowned personalities pay homage to the lost soul
Eminent personalities including the PM and president mourned her loss. Singer Shubha Mudgal called it an "irreparable loss". Lyricist Javed Akhtar said, "We are poorer without her." "Thumri lovers like me shall mourn her forever," actor Prosenjit Chatterjee tweeted. Sarod maestro Amjad Ali Khan and singer Shankar Mahadevan mourned the "end of an era". Rajasthan CM Vasundhara Rajea and WB CM Mamata Banerjee also paid homage.
