Classical Vocalist Vidushi Meera Banerjee

The empress of Patiala Gayaki, Vidushi Meera Banerjee passed away on the night of June 27, 2012. Born in Meerut on 28th March 1930, Vidushi Meera Banerjee was initiated into music by her musicologist father, Shailendra Kumar Chatterjee. This was followed by a brief period of training under Pandit Chinmoy Lahiri.

She started performing for All India Radio when she was barely thirteen and was honoured with the title of ‘Gitashree’ in 1944. In 1950, she started learning from Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali. The fifties and sixties were a particularly prolific period for her.
She performed extensively, both in India and abroad and several of her long playing discs were released. She married Prasun Banerjee in February 1957, who joined her as a disciple of Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan. Together they recorded several duets, which were also released on disc.
Meera Banerjee’s performances drew appreciation from senior and contemporary musicians wherever she went. Truly a living legend in her time, she received several coveted awards, including the ITC award in 1996 and the West Bengal State Academy Award in 1999. She lent her voice to the Bengali feature film ‘Atithi’ and her song received the best music award in an International Festival.
Her many successful music students prove her capability as a consummate trainer. But perhaps the fittest tribute to Meera Banerjee’s singing came from none other than her Ustad himself. He once commented that when Meera sang, it meant profound satisfaction for the entire soul.

On her Birth Anniversary, Hindustani Classical Music And Everything pays rich tributes to the Legend and are very grateful for her contributions to the Indian Classical Music. 
Biography Credits : www.itcsra.org