Music fraternity mourns demise of Thumri queen Girija Devi

Kolkata: Iconic Indian classical vocalist Girija Devi passed away here on Tuesday following a cardiac arrest, hospital sources said. She was 88.

"She was brought in a critical condition on Tuesday afternoon. She passed away around 0900 hours," a BM Birla Heart Research Centre spokesperson stated.

Besides Padma Shri (1972) and Padma Bhushan (1989), the veteran was honoured with the Tansen Samman by the Madhya Pradesh government, as well as the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1977).

Below are the tweet that were posted by the music fraternity to express the deep sadness over the death of Girija Devi.

Singer Shubha Mudgal said her death was a colossal loss for Indian music.

"Girija Deviji, Appaji to her family and followers, passes away. Irreparable loss," Mudgal tweeted.

https://twitter.com/smudgal/status/922863449767534592

Veteran lyricist Javed Akhtar said, "Girija Devi was not only a great classical singer but a national treasurer. We are poorer with out her."

https://twitter.com/Javedakhtarjadu/status/922900071053529088

Popular folk singer Malini Awasthi also expressed her grief over Girija Devi's death. She tweeted:

https://twitter.com/maliniawasthi/status/923016240171442176

https://twitter.com/maliniawasthi/status/922897973238833152

Bengali actor Prosenjit Chatterjee said he would mourn her forever.

"Deeply saddened at the demise of eminent classical singer Girija Devi.Thumri lovers like me shall mourn her forever. Rest in peace, Girija Devi," Chatterjee tweeted.

https://twitter.com/prosenjitbumba/status/922867209642246144

Her death marks an end of an era, remarked sarod maestro Amjad Ali Khan.

https://twitter.com/AAKSarod/status/922877987178999808

Ghazal exponent Pankaj Udhas said her death has "left a void" in the Indian classical music while singer Kumar Sanua noted her demise as "an irreparable loss for Indian classical music".

https://twitter.com/Pankajkudhas/status/922871677167398912

Durga Jasraj, daughter of classical vocalist Pandit Jasraj, told IANS: "It's a monumental loss. We don't have anyone after her who specialises in Thumri-Dadra. She was not just an erudite musician, she was also a huge star who regaled audiences for decades around the world. Words fail to describe the loss of treasure the world of music has suffered."

https://twitter.com/DJasraj/status/922879586534293504

On Friday, both Girija Devi and Pandit Jasraj were scheduled to share the stage for an in concert and conversation session at the MTV India Music Summit 2017 in Jaipur, with writer Prasoon Joshi.

Santoor player Abhay Rustum Sopori recalled his personal interactions with Girija Devi.

"Girija aunty was a legendary vocalist and a wonderful person. I feel blessed to know her personally and in my many interactions with she shared her experiences of life which is like a treasure to cherish and absorb.

"We honoured her with SaMaPa Vitasta Award for her lifetime contribution to Indian music in 2006 and I remember having requesting her to let a young musician accompany her to which she agreed when I said that he is exceptionally talented. I was humbled to see her humility," Sopori stated, adding that she will always stay alive with her "magical voice resonating somewhere for ever".

About Girija Devi

Born in 1929 in Varanasi, she received her initial training in vocal music from Shri Sarju Prasad Mishra, and honed her skills under the guidance of Shri Chand Mishra.

An outstanding exponent of Thumri, Tappa, Hori, Chaiti, Kajri, Tarana, Sadra, and other forms of Hindustani classical music, Girija Devi was groomed in the tradition of the Benaras and Seniya gharanas.

She was celebrated for her extensive repertoire of rare traditional 'bandish'.

Lauded for renditions of 'Khayal' with astounding clarity and control, the stalwart was a regular performer on All India Radio and Doordarshan with numerous CDs and audio cassettes to her credit, according to Sangeet Natak Akademi award citation.

Devi performed widely within the country and abroad.