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It was 2009 and I had just entered the realm of Amity campus when one fine day we as youngsters were given the offer to go and cover a live performance by late Girija Devi better known as Appaji in close circles. Popular as the thumri queen of India she never had an air around her, given the dedication and command over her craft. Throughout the performance each and everyone at the Sangeet Natak Akademi heard her with rapt attention. I got the opportunity to even capture the doyen frame by frame. Appaji’s death leaves a void in Hindustani classical music for there are very few people who have reached her stature. Malini Awasthi happens to be her closest shishya who has been able to take the art of thumri to places in some ways. From Banaras the other noted name is Pandit Chhanulal Mishra.
Born on 8 May 1929 she was an Indian classical singer of the Seniya and Banaras gharanas. A doyen in classical and semi classical music she helped elevate the profile of thumri. She passed away on 24 October 2017.
Girija Devi not just earned respect but got all the top national honours for her immense contribution to the field of music. She took lessons in singing khyal and tappa from vocalist and sarangi player Sarju Prasad Misra starting at the age of five. Having starred in the movie Yaad rahe aged nine she continued studies under Sri Chand Misra in a variety of styles.
Her first public debut was in 1949 on AIR Allahabad, after getting married to a businessman circa 1946. Her troubles too acted spoilsport. She at a tender age faced opposition because it was believed no upper class woman should perform publicly. Her first public concert was in Bihar in 1951.She also worked as a faculty member of the ITC Sangeet Research Academy in Kolkata in the 1980s and of the Banaras Hindu University during the early 1990s. She was a strong votary for preserving Indian classical music heritage. Devi often toured and continued to perform in 2009.
Devi was known for the purabi ang thumri style. Among the other styles she was adept at were kajri, chaiti, and holi and she sang khyal, Indian folk music, and tappa.
Girija Devi has performed in India and throughout the globe in places like United States of America, the former USSR and various other European countries.
Girija Devi was also an accomplished composer, who has composed a lot of bandishes and thumris. The Tansen award named after Tansen, who was one of the nine gems in the court of Emperor Akbar, was also conferred to Girija Devi.
Girija Devi was conferred the –
Padma Shri (1972) Padma Bhushan (1989) Padma Vibhushan (2016)[7] Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1977) Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship (2010)[8] Maha Sangeet Samman Award (2012)[9] Sangeet Samman Award ( Dover Lane Music Conference) GiMA Awards 2012 (Lifetime Achievement) TanaRiri Puraskar
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