Ajita Srivastava | |
|---|---|
 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 promotedKajari folk songs, a form of folk music fromMirzapur and the surrounding region.[1] She was awardedPadma Shri in 2022 by theGovernment of India for her contributions in the field of arts.[2] Srivastava died on 17 August 2024, aged 70.[3]
Srivastava was born inVaranasi,Uttar Pradesh. She completed herSangeet Prabhakar from Prayag Sangeet Samiti in Prayagraj,B. Ed. fromGorakhpur University andM. A. fromBanaras Hindu University.[4]
Srivastava married Rasbihari Lal, a poet, writer and lawyer from Mirzapur, and settled there. They had one child.[5]
Srivastava started her professional career withAll India Radio Varanasi in 1980. She was associated with and performed for various organisations including All India Radio,LucknowDoordarshan, 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 andT-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]