Hirabai was born as Champākali to Kirānā Gharānā master Ustād Abdul Karim Khān and Tārābāi Māne. Tarabai was the daughter of Sardār Māruti Rāo Māne, a brother of princely Barodā state's "Rajmātā" during the middle of the 19th century. Abdul Karim Khan was the court musician in Baroda when Tarabai was young, and he taught her music. The two fell in love and decided to get married; but Tarabai's parents disapproved of the alliance, and the couple had to leave the state. The couple moved to Bombay, and had two sons: Suresh or Abdul Rehmān, and Krishnā; and three daughters: Champākali, Gulāb, and Sakinā or Chhotutāi. In their adult lives, the five respectively became known as Sureshbābu Māne, Krishnarāo Māne, Hirābāi Badodekar, Kamalābāi Badodekar, and Sarswatibāi Rāne. She had her initial training from her brother Sureshbabu Mane and later training from the doyen of Kirana Gharana, Ustād Abdul Wahid Khān, who was a cousin of her father, Ustad Abdul Karim Khan. She often performed along with her younger sister, Saraswati Rane.
Singing career
Hirabai appeared in her first public performance under patronage of Kesarbai Kerkar at the age of 15. She was an expert in Khyāl, Thumri, Marāthi Nātya Sangeet, and Bhajan. She is credited with having popularised Hindustāni Classical Music among the masses. She was truly pioneer of concerts by women artists in India. She the real pioneer and was the first female artist who introduced ticketed concerts in India. She was always amazingly popular on stages and her shows were jam-packed. A very fragile, honey voice, emotive factor, peaceful and exorbitant vocal clarity are her strengths. She was admired by the real class and those were mass. Her amazing rendition of 'Taar Sa' was very popular and became her hallmark. She made Kirana gharana more popular and rich. Hirabai acted in several movies, including "Suvarna Mandir", "Pratibhā", "Janābāi", and "Municipality". She also started a music school, "Nutan Sangeet Vidyālaya", to teach music to girls. The school staged several plays. Hirabai became a recording artist very early in her career.. She was titled as "Gaanhira". Her nature was so down to earth and peaceful which was truly ideal.
Honors
Hirabai's work inHindustani music fetched her many prestigious accolades. She was awarded with the Sangeet Nātak Akādemi Award in 1965 and the Padma Bhushan Award in 1970. She was also awarded Vishnudas Bhave Award for her contribution to theater. She was chosen to sing the national song, Vande Mātaram, from the Red Fort in India's capital Delhi on the day India received its independence from the British Raj. She visited China and the East African countries as a part of an Indian delegation in 1953. She was titled "Gaan kokila" by Sarojini Naidu. An annual music festival is held in Mumbai by her disciple Dr Prabha Atre by the name 'Sureshbabu – Hirabai Smruti Sangeet Samaroh' since 1992, which has become one of the major festivals of music in the country.
Family
She was married to Shri Manikrao Gandhi-Barodekar. She passed through various troubles in her life especially to family requirements and there were many who were her dependents. Despite being such a talented and a blessed soul she was more ill-treated and tactlessly handled by people around her, to get her down. But she was peaceful and truly ideal by herself.
