Shanti Hiranand

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.

Biography 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. She also pursued a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Lucknow.

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.

The Government of India awarded her its fourth highest civilian honour, 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. 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. She taught music at Triveni Kala Sangam, Delhi in her last decades.