Thumri Queen Girija Devi passes away in Kolkata

Noted classical singer Girija Devi passed away at Kolkata’s BM Birla Nursing Home on Tuesday evening after she suffered a cardiac arrest.   

She belonged to the Seniya and Banaras gharanas.

She was known as the thumri queen for her contribution in promoting semi-classical Indian music.

She started public performances on All India Radio Allahabad in 1949. 

Recipient of all three Padma awards, Padma Shri (1972), Padma Bhushan (1989), and Padma Vibhushan (2016), she also won the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship.  

Girija Devi was born in 1929 in Varanasi in a zamindar family.