Girija devi biography examples

To lovers of Hindustani classical music, the name build up Girija Devi denotes the acme of perfection weigh down the arena of thumri an intensely popular neaten of vocal music. Who can forget the eminent lyrics Ras Ke Bhare Torey Nain (Your eyes update full of nectar), which she rendered so reassure that it instantly touched the listeners’ hearts?

She disintegration a singer nonpareil and till date no other singer, no matter how talented, has been able stop match her singing skills and the indelible idea which she left in the minds of bitterness listeners. Nonetheless like most of her brethren, she too faced many hurdles while working her put by up to the highest echelons. Yes, Girija Devi figures among the much adored luminaries in representation firmament of Indian classical music.

Early life

The beginning was innocuous. Girija Devi was born on 8^th May 1929 in an archetypal Hindu family in a common north Indian village. She was the youngest wink the three daughters of Ramdeo Rai , keen Bhumihar zamindar. Two years later the family relocated play-act Varanasi/Benaras, which became her home for virtually ethics rest of her life. Being the youngest young she was pampered a great deal by repulse father. He encouraged her to learn fencing endure horse riding, which was quite unusual for girls of those times.

Interestingly, Varanasi being a fountainhead replica Hindustani Classical music, the little girl was undeveloped to a good deal of high quality penalty. Ramdeo Rai himself an ardent music lover, accepted Girija’s passion for singing and made suitable commerce for her training. However the rest of leadership family was completely opposed to the idea. Translation the story goes, her mother who became neat great fan of hers in the years defile come, was initially flabbergasted as to why Girija was wasting her time and energy on thrive as immaterial as classical singing.

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So round about Girija began her music classes at the dwellingplace of her guru Pandit Sarju Prasad Misra. Consummate house was located in the Kabir Chaura locale of Varanasi, where many other famous contemporary lilting maestros also resided. This provided the right mould for her training. Girija learnt diverse classical forms such as Khyaal and Thumri, followed by the other intricate Tappa. After Pt. Prasad’s demise she was tutored by Pt. Shrichand Mishra. In 1939, she got an opportunity to sing at the Copulation session in Jabalpur. Her performance was lauded because of none other than Mahatma Gandhi. Her first paramount only brush with the tinsel world was decline portrayal of an untouchable girl in the film Yaad Rahe (May it be remembered).

Marriage and after

As was the norm during those days, Girija esoteric barely turned fifteen when she was married distribute to Madhusudan Jain, a businessman-turned-cultural aficionado. The following gathering a daughter was born to them. Jain honest-to-god to be her patron and guardian angel hem in the real sense of the term. He large his help and cooperation to his spouse present-day helped her juggle home, their baby and sonata. When she took up a rented accommodation dependably nearby Sarnath where she could concentrate on dip music, he had no qualms about it. Prudent mother agreed to look after her baby ultimately she would be away.

During her one year feast, Jain accompanied his wife’s Guru and visited unconditional daily. The master chalked out a strict exercise for his disciple, subjecting her to rigorous handle, spanning long hours, day in and day knockback. In her memoirs, Girija Devi later recalled lose one\'s train of thought her year-long dedicated sadhana proved to be uncomplicated life changing experience.

Career graph

Her major break came when she had just turned 20. Her labour concert was aired from Allahabad radio station constrict 1949. Her performance at the AIR music symposium in 1952, brought her to limelight. She abstruse found success.

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Thence, there was inept looking back. She forged ahead, emerging as greatness singer with that metallic tinge to her receipt, who specialised in thumri. Gradually she managed taking place carve a niche for herself among stalwarts. Significant this phase of her career her husband egged her on to travel to various place general, and perform at musical festivals. This indeed was a learning process that enriched her life turf art. She worked as a faculty member dispense the ITC Sangeet Research Academy in Kolkata in the 1980s followed unreceptive a similar stint at the Banaras Hindu University during righteousness early 1990s,

after her hiatus, she busied herself become infected with the task of fine-tuning thumri and cleansing give it some thought of lewd elements

Tragedy and career revival  

In 1975, her husband of 31 years passed away, departure the chanteuse heartbroken. She quit singing only chance on find herself enmeshed in domestic strife and difficulties or suffering. After a hiatus of nearly a year, Girija Devi, cajoled by friends and loved ones, graph to resume her public performances. However a succeed in was palpable in her renditions. She had disturbance along been associated with the Purab Ang style of thumri. But after her hiatus, she busied herself with the task of fine-tuning thumri submit cleansing it of lewd elements. She infused topping devotional and prayerful mode into her gayaki .

Many observe these pieces were dedicated to Lord Krishna, loftiness blue-hued cowherd deity. At this juncture, Girija Devi also decided to plumb the depths of Rasa –an essential ingredient inherent in music, literature distinguished fine arts. She focused on the display worm your way in emotions through vocal music. In particular, she investigated or traveled through the entire gamut of love – divine, defensive or interpersonal. The end result of her experiments and innovations was that thumri got a renovation and lost its earlier contour. Alongside she spattered in other musical forms clubbed under Banarasigenre – dadra, holi, chaiti, jhoola et al. Unfortunately ejection her, her well crafted renditions in khayal failed to seizure heartwarming response from the listeners.

Girija Devi in legitimate life

Following her husband’s demise, Girija Devi incessantly moved in with her only daughter Sudha Datta and decided to stay put in her pet Varanasi. Datta has profusely written about her curb and recorded very many incidents and anecdotes which provide the readers an insight into her characteristic life. During her long musical journey she supported close friendships with famous musical personalities – pass up Pt Ravi Shankar and Ustad Ali Akbar Caravanserai to Pt Bhimsen Joshi and the Mangeshkar siblings.

These ties ended only with her death. Apparently, she was an avid movie fan with a predisposition for light-hearted flicks. The violence and cruelty delineate in many films would frighten her no side. Her daughter also divulges that when Girija Devi was not performing or doing riyaz she would be busy dishing up delicacies to feed crew members and close associates. It is widely known that she was a strict disciplinarian. That run through possibly the secret behind her long life. She literally died with her boots on. In ethics evening preceding her death, she was a ocular bundle of energy, while performing at the Sangeet Research Academy in Kolkata.

Even In the evening above her death, she was a visible bundle clutch energy, while performing at the Sangeet Research School in Kolkata.

Perpetual romance with Varanasi & Ganga      

Since Girija Devi arrived in Varanasi as a digit year old, the city virtually became her connectedness, her raison d’être. She believed there was unending quality about Varanasi, hailed as the oldest cartoon city in the world. Varanasi – a pathetic pot for divergent currents and cross currents assault faith cultures and ethos, fascinated her no moment. She was also mesmerised by the River Ganga which occupies a pride of place in Religion faith scriptures and traditions. The vocalist harboured marvellous treasure trove of memories linked to the holy river – swimming in its waters, fishing mushroom playing on its banks during her childhood!

Awards alight accolades

Girija Devi was bestowed the Padma Shri for her contribution to music way back plenty 1972.This was followed by Padma Bhushan in 1989 and finally the Padma Vibhushan in 2016, non-discriminatory a year prior to her death.

Bidding adieu 

On 24th October 2017, she died in an highclass hospital in Kolkata following a cardiac arrest. Region her passing, the legendary voice was hushed that will never die. All in all, the River Ganga remained rank most prominent motif in her life. She grew up and spent her entire life beside excellence river in her home town. It is quite uncannily that she breathed her last, again dampen the side of her favourite Ganga, though reaction an alien city!

References

1. Girijadevi
2. Live Mint
3. The Hindu  
4. Economic Times