National
‘No singer like Girija Devi will ever be born’ (First Person)
By Pandit Jasraj
India’s music scene has suffered a colossal loss with the demise of Girija Devi. Filling this void will be very difficult… It can’t happen. She was such a great performer.
I used to call her ‘jiji’. It means elder sister. She was six months older to me, and in the music industry, the world knows, there was nobody to compare her talent.
I had first heard on a national programme in 1956. I had felt really nice about it. People had started talking about her talent that time.
Later, she used to travel in and out of Kolkata a lot. She used to come often to our house. We had a very sweet relationship. We used to banter about singing. She was a very sweet lady. The eyes well up with tears now when I take her name. She used to sing so well, and with such precision and practice. She had a sharp voice.
I have a very good bond with all musicians, but Girija Devi always had a special place. She was an institution in herself and the vacuum she has left, will never be filled. I feel no singer like Girija Devi will ever be born. The world is ‘bahu ratna vasundhara’, but I feel nobody can take the place of Girija Devi.
I have done a lot of programmes and tours with Girija Devi. When she joined the ITC Music Research Academy, after that our travels together got reduced. But before that, I did a lot of programmes with her. Bihar, Assam, Bengal, Punjab, Delhi, UP, Bihar… There was no place where Girija Devi reached and I didn’t, and vice versa. We used to prefer to stay in the same hotel, and always asked for rooms close by.
It was a very sweet relationship. Today, it has become only a memory.
Last night, when my daughter Durga told me, ‘Bapuji, Girija Devi nahin rahi’, I became quiet and numb. I didn’t say anything. Hum maun ho gaye. Koi bhaasha hi nahi nikal rahi thhi (I went silent. There were no words to express what I was feeling). I spoke in the morning when Durga asked me, ‘Aap theek hain (Are you okay)?’ I said, ‘Ab theek hun? (Now I am okay’).
The kind of shock I got, it will only heal with time. It’s tough to get over this shock so soon.
As far as her singing was concerned, she used to also sing Khayal very well. Of course, she was the queen of Thumri. She was also very knowledgeable. She knew a lot of things and secrets about music. I don’t know any such knowledgeable talent. It’s a huge loss for the music industry.
I have memories and memories of her.
I don’t remember when I met her last. It must have been at least two years since I met her last.
I was so excited about the upcoming event (MTV India Music Summit 2017 in Jaipur, where Girija Devi and he were to share the stage for a conversation with writer Prasoon Joshi). I was thinking what our Prasoon saab will ask us, what will Jiji say and what I will say. I was a little scared, but I was also happy that I will meet Jiji and talk to her about music and everything else.
Suddenly, sab choor-mur ho gaya (everything crumbled). Building hi dhay gayi (The building has collapsed).
She was a very large-hearted lady. She used to take care of everyone and she used to also contribute towards charity. She was a very clean-hearted lady. As a human, she was a wonderful lady.
“Babul mora naihar chhooto hi jaaye”. She used to sing this beautifully. Ab naiya chhod ke chali gayi… naiyya sach mein chhoot gayi (But now the boat has embarked).
(As told to Radhika Bhirani)
–IANS
rb/vm
Lucknow: Vishal Singh, a renowned social worker from Lucknow, also known as Foodman, has once again made India proud. He was honored by the Happy Hands Gloves Cooperative Limited Company in Korathai, Thailand, for his work with the Hunger Free World Mission.
The Hunger Free World Mission’s meeting was held in Korathai, Thailand, under Vishal Singh’s leadership. Representatives from several countries, including Mr. Raja Dwivedi (Managing Director of Happy Hands Gloves Limited), Thailand Coordinator Mr. Raja Mishra, and member Mr. Varun Singh, attended the event.
Under Vishal Singh’s leadership, the attendees took a pledge to work together toward creating a hunger-free world.
Speaking on the occasion, Vishal Singh explained that the main goal of the Hunger Free World Mission is social participation. He said the mission is not just about feeding people but also about meeting other basic needs of those who are struggling. The mission focuses on helping families of terminally ill patients in hospitals by providing food and shelter. It also works to fulfill essential needs like education, jobs, and care for the elderly.
For the last 16 years, the Vijay Sri Foundation has been providing free services, benefiting thousands of people. Vishal Singh highlighted that the mission aims to gain global recognition like other organizations such as WHO, WWF, and Red Cross, which work for social causes.
During this meeting, Vishal Singh was appointed as the Chairman of the Hunger Free World Mission by representatives from various countries. They also discussed holding regular meetings in different countries to push the mission forward.
Business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has also supported this humanitarian mission, vowing to promote the idea of “Seva Parmo Dharma” (Service is the highest duty) worldwide. Vishal Singh praised him, stating that people like Dr .Abhishek Verma inspire others to work for the betterment of society.
Recently, Romania’s Ambassador, Mr . Daniela Sezonov Ţane, invited Vishal Singh to the Romanian Embassy in Delhi, where they discussed the mission in detail. Impressed by his humanitarian work, she honored Vishal Singh and invited him to Romania to take the mission forward .
Food man Vishal Singh has been serving the people of India for the past 16 years. Through the Vijay Sri Foundation, he provides free meals to cancer patients & their families ,shelter, and education for women & children along with running free old-age homes in Lucknow.
In addition to his humanitarian work, Vishal Singh also addresses issues like crime and corruption through his role as Chairman of Seva Path Media and Managing Director of Vijay Sri Foundation.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Vishal Singh and his team worked tirelessly to provide food and help to the needy, including starving children, elderly citizens, and pregnant women. Despite contracting the virus himself, he continued to assist others after his recovery. He even created a life-saving oxygen regulator using household items, which was praised by doctors both in India and abroad.
In his address at the meeting, Vishal Singh spoke about his mission to create a hunger-free world. He pointed out that India’s large population, along with issues like unemployment and poverty, has caused the country to fall on the Hunger Index. He urged people to contribute just one handful of grains daily to help create a hunger-free world.
He concluded by saying that through social participation, we can empower the people around us, meet their basic needs, and work together to build a stronger, more prosperous, and developed society.
Foodman Vishal Singh Honored for Hunger Free World Mission in Bangkok
Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
Cheers and Cheers: Barzilla’s Joyful Ode to Inclusivity and Celebration
Casino Days Reveal Internal Data on Most Popular Smartphones
Meghalaya Reserves Legalized Gambling and Sports Betting for Tourists
IPL 20202 UPDATE: KXIP vs MI IPL Dream11 Team Prediction for Today Match, Update Point Table of all Team.
In a Live debate AAP leader Syed Asad Abbas hurls abuses to BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma.
‘India’s Most Wanted’ trailer out Arjun Kapoor on hunt of Osama-Bin-Laden
Time to move on: Sonakshi on Shatrughan’s joining Congress
