Shanti Hiranand

Shanti Hiranand is an Indian vocalist, classical musician and writer, known for her proficiency as a ghazal singer. She is the author of the book, Begum Akhtar: The Story of My Ammi, a biographical work on Begum Akhtar, a renowned Ghazal singer.

Contents

• Expressions of love thumri dadra i audio jukebox i classical i vocal i shanti hiranand
• Bairan koyaliya bole shanti hiranand album expressions of love thumri dadra
• Songs
• References

Born in a business family based in Lucknow in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, Hiranand studied at the Music College, Lucknow and later shfted to Lahore, when her father relocated his business to the city. Her debut music performance was on 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 1957, she started training 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.

The Government of India awarded her the fourth highest civilian honour of the Padma Shri, in 2007, for her contributions to Hindustani music. Some of her renditions have been compiled and brought out as an audio CD, Expressions of Love by Music Today. Hiranand lives in Lucnkow and is 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.