Hirabai Barodekar

Renowned Indian classical vocalist from Kirana gharana, daughter of it's legendary founder Abdul Karim Khan and elder sister of Saraswati Rane. She was born in 1905 in Miraj, Maharashtra, British India and died November 1989. Hirabai's musical training started still being a kid receiving her initial training from her brother Sureshbabu Mane. She later became a disciple of the doyen of Kirana gharana Ustad Abdul Wahid Khan – a cousin of her father. She popularized Hindustani classical music among the masses. Hirabai was also the first woman to appear on the professional Marathi stage as actress and singer. She acted in several movies and started a music school to teach music to girls. She received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1965 and the Padma Bhushan in 1970.