Ajita Srivastava

Ajita Srivastava is an Indian singer, educationist and a social worker. Srivastava is known for popularizing and promoting the Kajari folk songs, a popular form of folk music from Mirzapur and the surrounding region. She was awarded Padma Shri in 2022 by the Government of India for her contributions in the field of arts.

Life and education
Srivastava was born in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. She has completed her Sangeet Prabhakar from Prayag Sangeet Samiti in Prayagraj, B. Ed. from Gorakhpur University and M. A. from Banaras Hindu University.

Later, Srivastava married Rasbihari Lal, a famous poet, writer and lawyer by profession from Mirzapur, and settled there. Her only child, Anurag Anand serves in the Indian Air Force.

Career
Srivastava started her professional career with All India Radio Varanasi in 1980. She has been associated with and performed for various organizations 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.

In 2017, she retired as a lecturer from the Arya Kanya Inter College after 40 years of teaching career. Since then, she has fully dedicated her time to preserve, promote and propagate Kajari and other folk music of the region on national and international level.

Awards

 * 2022 – Padma Shri
 * 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
 * 2011 – Vaishya Gaurav Samman
 * 2008 – Nari Shakti Samman by Amar Ujala
 * 1996 – Kajali Samragyi Award