Iconic Indian classical vocalist Girija Devi passed away following a cardiac arrest here on Tuesday, hospital sources said. She was 88.

‘She was brought in a critical condition on Tuesday afternoon. She passed away around 9:00pm.,’ a hospital spokesperson told IANS.

Born on May 8, 1929, in Varanasi, to a zamindar, Ramdeo Rai, Girija Devi began taking music lessons when she was a child of five years. Her first guru was vocalist and sarangi player Sarju Prasad Misra, and then Sri Chand Misra.

In 1949, Girija Devi as performance was aired by the Allahabad station of All India Radio, which had then just started its broadcast.

Recognising her talent, the AIR authorities treated the 20-year-old at par with established singers like Sehnai maestro Bismillah Khan, Hindustani singer Siddheswari Devi and Table exponent Kanthe Maharaj.

In 1952, she paid her first visit to Kolkata—which became her home two and a half decades later—to take part in the Sadarang Sangit Sammelan.

The best in her came out when she performed in the purabi ang thumri style, and helped in elevating the genre. Her renditions of semi classical forms like Kajri, chaiti, and holi also mesmerised the connoisseurs of Hindustani classical music.

In 1978, after the formation of the ITC Sangeet Research Academy in Kolkata, Girija Devi shifted base to the eastern metropolis, after prodding from the institute's then director Vijay Kichlu.

In the early 90s, she also taught at the Banaras Hindu University, thus leaving behind a large number of students to carry on her legacy.

She performed extensively within the country and abroad and was widely feted.

Besides Padma Shri (1972), Padma Bhushan (1989) and Padma Vibhushan (2016), the stalwart was honoured with the Tansen Samman by the Madhya Pradesh government, besides receiving the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1977).