Iconic Indian classical vocalist Girija Devi has breathed her last on Tuesday following a cardiac arrest at a Kolkata hospital on Tuesday night. The Thumri Queen was 88 at the time of her death.
The demise of noted vocalist Girija Devi will create a deep void in Indian classical music, her associates and admirers said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to micro-blogging site Twitter on Tuesday to pay tribute to the legendary vocalist and wrote, "Saddened by demise of Girija Devi ji. Indian classical music has lost one of its most melodious voices. My thoughts are with her admirers."
"Girija Devi ji's music appealed across generations. Her pioneering efforts to popularise Indian classical music will always be remembered," he added further.
Sharing a picture of herself and Girija Devi, Indian play back singer Lata Mangeshkar wrote, "Mahan shastriya aur thumri gayika Girija Devi ji hamare bich nahi rahi ye sunke mujhe bahut dukh hua.Hamare unke bahut acche sambandh the."
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"Girija Devi ji ek bahut acchi mahila thi. Main unko shraddhanjali arpan karti hun. ishwar unki aatma ko shanti pradan kare." she tweeted further.
"Seniormost artist of Benaras Gharanas Bidushi Girija Devi is no more. All the artist of Indian classical music will miss her," classical instrumentalist Pt Debojyoti Bose, who was close to her, said.
Describing the death of Girija Devi as a "great loss to the music world", West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed her deep grief.
"Girija Devi's death is a great loss to the music world. We were honoured to confer her with Banga Bibhushan in 2015," Banerjee wrote on her official Twitter account.
Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi also expressed his condolences at the sudden demise of Devi.
Ustad Rashid Khan recalled his association with Girija Devi who was the legendary exponent of Thumri and other forms of Hindustan classical music.
Khan said he had accompanied the artist during tours in the country as well as abroad. "I knew her since my childhood days and she was a mother figure to me," he said.
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Noted lyricist Javed Akhtar tweeted, "Girija Devi was not only a great classical singer but a national treasure too. We are poorer without her. Girija ji, aap ko mera salaam."
Apart from these, Singers Shubha Mudgal, Pankaj Udhas and Bengali actor Prosenjit Chatterjee also paid tribute to the legend.
Devi, who was the classical singer of the Seniya and Benaras gharanas, had received Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan, Sangeet Natak Akademi awards among many.
She took lessons in Khayal and Tappa from vocalist and sarangi player Sarju Prasad Misra at the age of five.
(With PTI inputs)
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