Shanti Hiranand

Summary

Shanti Hiranand (Hindi : शान्ती हीरानंद) (1932 – 10 April 2020) was an Indian vocalist, classical musician and writer, known for her proficiency as a ghazal singer. She was the author of the book Begum Akhtar: The Story of My Ammi, a biographical work on Begum Akhtar, a renowned Ghazal singer.

Shanti Hiranand
Shanti Hiranand
Born1932 (1932)
Died(2020-04-10)April 10, 2020 (aged 87)
Gurugram, India
Known forHindustani music
AwardsPadma Shri (2007)

Biography edit

Born in 1933 in a Sindhi business family based in Lucknow (now in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh), Shanti Hiranand studied at the Bhatkhande Music Institute, when her father had relocated his business in 1940s.[1][2][3]

Her debut music performance was on All India Radio Lahore in 1947 and she continued her music training in Lucknow, under the tutelage of Ustad Aijaz Hussain Khan of Rampur, when her family returned to India after the partition of India in 1947.[4][3] In 1952, an official at a radio station suggested her to train under Begum Akhtar.[2][3] In 1957, she started training in thumri, dadra and ghazal singing under Begum Akhtar and the relationship continued till Akhtar's death in 1974; the story of the relationship is documented in Hiranand's book on Akhtar, Begum Akhtar: The Story of My Ammi, published in 2005.[5][6]

The Government of India awarded her its fourth highest civilian honour, the Padma Shri, in 2007, for her contributions to Hindustani music.[7] Some of her renditions have been compiled and brought out as an audio CD, Expressions of Love by Music Today.[8] She lived in Lucknow and was associated with the efforts of Begum Akhtar Admirer's Group (BAAG Trust) in converting Akhtar's house in Lucknow into a museum in memory of the singer.[9] She taught music at Triveni Kala Sangam, Delhi in her last decades.[3]

Shanti Hiranand died on 10 April 2020 in Gurugram, India.[10][11]

Bibliography edit

  • Shanti Hiranand (2005). Begum Akhtar: The Story of My Ammi. Viva Books. p. 200. ISBN 978-8130901725.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Shanti Hiranand on Indian Raga". Indian Raga. 2016. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  2. ^ a b Kidwai, Saleem (10 April 2020). "With the passing of Shanti Hiranand, the Begum Akhtar era is formally over". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d "Ghazal singer Shanti Hiranand, torchbearer of Begum Akhtar's legacy, passes away". The Indian Express. 11 April 2020. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
  4. ^ "Explaining nuances of ghazals the begum Akhtar way". Times of India. 23 September 2012. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  5. ^ "About the book". Viva Books. 2016. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  6. ^ Rajan, Anjana (19 March 2014). "Looking into the mirror". The Hindu. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  7. ^ "Padma Awards" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 2016. Retrieved 3 January 2016.
  8. ^ "Expressions of Love". Music Today. 2016. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  9. ^ "In memory of Begum Akhtar". Times of India. 16 January 2011. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  10. ^ "Padma Shri singer Shanti Hiranand passes away at 87". 10 April 2020.
  11. ^ "Hindustani classical singer and Padma Shri awardee, Shanti Hiranand, passes away at 87". The Economic Times. 11 April 2020. Retrieved 11 April 2020.

External links edit

  • Shanti Hiranand discography at Discogs