Bindhyabasini Devi

Born in 1920 in Muzaffarpur, Bihar, Shrimati Bindhyabasini Devi is an outstanding figure in the field of traditional and folk music. She is considered to be the most accomplished performer of traditional songs of her region in Maithili, Bhojpuri, and Magahi, with the largest repertoire among her peers. In an active career spanning five decades, she has won recognition as a singer of outstanding merit not only in her own State but elsewhere in India, and in other countries like Mauritius. She has rendered a singular service to the world of music by keeping alive a genre of song that calls for musical ability and literary skills in equal measure. For the propagation of traditional music, Shrimati Bindhyabasini Devi has established the Vindhya Kala Mandir in Patna, a centre of excellence in the field of folk music. Among the many honours bestowed on her are the Padma Shri (1974), the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1991), and the Ahilya Bai Award conferred by the Government of Madhya Pradesh (1998). For her contribution to Indian music, Shrimati Bindhyabasini Devi is elected Fellow of Sangeet Natak Akademi.