Thumri Queen late Girija Devi will be honoured with the prestigious Sumitra Charat Ram Award for Lifetime Achievement posthumously
- Girija Devi was a celebrated classical singer of the Seniya and Benaras gharana.
- She performed classical and light classical music and helped elevate the profile of thumri.
- The award was instituted six years ago in the memory of Delhi's well-known art patron, Sumitra Charat Ram, by her daughter Shobha Deepak Singh.
- The Sumitra Charat Ram Award is given to those individuals who have shown great contribution in the field of Indian classical dance and music or other disciplines of Indian art and culture including theatre during the last 15 years and who have had a significant impact in promoting a particular art form.
- In previous years, the award has been given to artistes like Pandit Birju Maharaj, Pandit Jasraj, Kishori Amonkar, Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia among others.
