Ajita Srivastava
Ajita Srivastava | |
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![]() Srivastava in 2022 | |
Born | |
Known for | Kajari folk songs |
Awards | Padma Shri (2022) Uttar Pradesh Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (2017) |
Ajita Srivastava was an Indian singer, educationist and social worker. Srivastava popularised and promoted Kajari folk songs, a form of folk music from Mirzapur and the surrounding region.[1] She was awarded Padma Shri in 2022 by the Government of India for her contributions in the field of arts.[2] Srivastava died on 17 August 2024, aged 70.[3]
Life and education
Srivastava was born in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. She completed her Sangeet Prabhakar from Prayag Sangeet Samiti in Prayagraj, B. Ed. from Gorakhpur University and M. A. from Banaras Hindu University.[4]
Srivastava married Rasbihari Lal, a poet, writer and lawyer from Mirzapur, and settled there. They had one child.[5]
Career
Srivastava started her professional career with All India Radio Varanasi in 1980. She was associated with and performed for various organisations including All India Radio, Lucknow Doordarshan, Sangeet Natak Akademi Uttar Pradesh, Indian Council for Cultural Relations, Ministry of External Affairs, NCZCC Prayagraj, Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Culture, Government of Delhi, Indian Army and T-Series among others.[4]
In 2017, she retired as a lecturer from the Arya Kanya Inter College after 40 years of teaching.[6] Since then, she worked to preserve, promote and propagate Kajari and other folk music of the region on the national and international level.[7]
Awards
- 2022 – Padma Shri[2]
- 2021 – Vishwa Hindi Shodh Samvardhan Award
- 2021 – Kajali Kokila Award
- 2021 – Yogya Sikshaika evam Kajali Gayika Award
- 2021, 2010 – SAARC FOSWAL Award
- 2021, 2020, 2019 – Nari Shakti Puraskaar by Government of Uttar Pradesh
- 2020 – Kashi Anand Samman
- 2019 – Harit Uttar Pradesh, Swachch Uttar Pradesh Visisth Samman
- 2019 – Kajali Karyashala Mukhya Prashikshika Award
- 2017 – Namami Jagriti Samman
- 2017 – Uttar Pradesh Sangeet Natak Akademi Award[1]
- 2011 – Vaishya Gaurav Samman
- 2008 – Nari Shakti Samman by Amar Ujala
- 1996 – Kajali Samragyi Award
References
- ^ a b "मीरजापुर की कजरी गायिका अजिता श्रीवास्तव को पद्मश्री, संगीत नाटक अकादमी पुरस्कार से भी हो चुकी हैं सम्मानित". Zee News (in Hindi). Retrieved 22 March 2022.
- ^ a b "Padma Awardees 2022" (PDF). Padma Awards.
- ^ शुक्ला, अभिषेक (17 August 2024). "Ajita Srivastava Death: प्रसिद्ध कजरी गायिका पद्मश्री अजीता श्रीवास्तव का निधन, संगीत जगत में शोक की लहर". Navbharat Times (in Hindi). Retrieved 19 August 2025.
- ^ a b "पद्म पुरस्कार 2022 : मीरजापुर की कजरी गायिका अजीता श्रीवास्तव को पद्मश्री, 42 वर्षों की निरंतर साधना व तप के बाद मिली सफलता". Dainik Jagran (in Hindi). Retrieved 22 March 2022.
- ^ "वाराणसी के 6 लोगों को मिला पदम पुरस्कार, मिर्ज़ापुर की अजीता श्रीवास्तव भी शामिल, जानिए इनके जीवन की कहानी". mirzapurofficial.in (in Hindi). 27 January 2022. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
- ^ "कजरी गायिका अजिता श्रीवास्तव को मिला पद्मश्री अवॉर्ड, 36 वर्षों से गायन के क्षेत्र में कर रही हैं काम". ETV Bharat News. 26 January 2022. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
- ^ Ganga, A. B. P. (26 January 2022). "मिर्जापुर की प्रसिद्ध कजली गायिका अजीता श्रीवास्तव को मिला पद्म श्री अवार्ड, ऐसा रहा करियर". www.abplive.com (in Hindi). Retrieved 22 March 2022.
External links
- सावन और कजरी interview with DD Uttar Pradesh on YouTube (in Hindi)