Remembering Thumri Queen Girija Devi: Rare photos from the Indian Express archives

Eminent thumri singer Girija Devi passed away at the age of 88 in Kolkata on Tuesday evening. Being one of the foundational figures of Banaras and Senia gharana, Girija Devi brought thumri from the courts and kothas onto the proscenium stage, died on Tuesday after a cardiac arrest. She at 88. She was rushed to BM Birla Hospital in Kolkata but died hours after being on ventilator. Click through for rare photos of the classical musician from the Indian Express archives.

Friends and family gather at the funeral of Singer Girija Devi at Sangeet Research Academy, at Tollygunj in South Kolkata on Wednesday. (Source: Express Photo by Subham Dutta)

People observe prayers at the funeral of Singer Girija Devi at Sangeet Research Academy, at Tollygunj in South Kolkata on Wednesday. (Source: Express Photo by Subham Dutta)

Girija Devi's musical journey found Dr Radhakrishnan, Sarojini Naidu, Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi in the audiences in the 1960s and 70s. An undated photo of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi with singer Girija Devi and Waheeda Rehman. (Express archive photo)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled her death, saying the singer’s music appealed across generations and her pioneering efforts to popularise Indian classical music would always be remembered. An undated photo of Shoba Gurtu and Girija Devi giving their performance at music festival organised for Rajiv Gandhi Bhavan in New Delhi. (Express photo by Hemant Chawala)

Girija Devi was born to Ramdeo Rai, a zamindar, and grew up in Banaras, singing shaadi ke geet for her doll’s wedding. Her father taught her, after which she trained under Sarju Prasad Misra and Chand Mishra. An undated photo of Kishori Amonkar and Girija Devi hugging each other at press conference on music festival. (Express photo by Ravi Batra)

After her husband’s demise, she forayed into devotional singing, giving another dimension to her music and putting the prism of Purabiya lilt to them without being a prisoner to the style.. Girija Devi with Ranjni on February 14, 1996. (Express photo by Ravi Batra)

Almost two months ago, thumri queen Girija Devi, wrapped in an off-white Banarasi, sat at a private baithak in Central Delhi, and sang what is known as the song of despair. Just after ending the thumri, she said with a smile, “Bahut accha laga aap sab aaye. Ab pata nahi dobara aa paungi ya nahi. Nabbey ke hone ja rahi hoon (It feels great that all of you have come. I don’t know if I’ll be able to come again. I am about to be 90)”. A photo from Express archive of Padma Bhushan Girija Devi performes during the Sawai Gandharva Music Festival. (Express photo by Pavan Khengre)

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. Here is a photo of actor Raj Kumar and classical singer Girija Devi. (Express Photo by Pravin Panchal)

The legendary singer of the “Benaras gharana” had received Padma Shri in 1972, Padma Bhushan in 1989 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2016. Girija Devi also received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award 2010 from Vice-President Hamid Ansari on July 22, 2011. (Express photo by Praveen Jain. New Delhi)