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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 9 p.m.,” a BM Birla Heart Research Centre spokesperson told news agency IANS.
Demise of great vocalist and Thumri queen Girija Devi came as a big shocker to the music lovers of Varanasi, the birth place of the eminent singer. Girija Devi, fondly known as Appa ji.
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Devi was born in Varanasi, on 8 May 1929, to Ramdeo Rai, a zamindar. Her father Ramdeo Rai, a zamindar, encouraged her to start learning classical music from Pandit Sarju Prasad Misra when she was 5-years-old.
Known as the “thumri queen”, Girija Devi popularised the genre of semi-classical Indian music. She was conferred with all three Padma awards, and was honoured with the Padma Vibhushan in 2016.
She was a Khayal singer but was popularly known for Thumri and Dadra, along with the many other forms of folk music like Kajri, Chiati, Hori and Barahmasa.
May her soul rest in peace!
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