| Ruma Guha Thakurta was an Indian singer and actress celebrated for her contributions to Bengali cinema. |
| She established the Kolkata Youth Choir, a group that showcases folk and mass songs through song and dance. |
| Ruma was the first wife of the renowned singer Kishore Kumar. |
| Ruma Guha’s parents, Satyen Ghosh (Monty) and Sati Devi, were musicians who founded the music school Swarbitan in Kolkata. |
| She was related to freedom fighter Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das and was the niece of Bijoya Ray, Satyajit Ray's spouse. |
| Ruma Guha honed her singing under the tutelage of musician Abdul Rehman Khan from the Patiala Gharana. |
| In the early 1940s, she moved from Kolkata to Bombay where she made her Bollywood debut at age 10 in 'Jowar Bhata.' |
| From 1950 to 1958, Ruma appeared in Hindi movies like 'Mashaal,' 'Afsar,' and 'Rag Rang.' |
| Ruma and Kishore separated in 1958 due to differing views on life and career aspirations. |
| In 1959, she made her Bengali cinema debut with 'Khaniker Atithi' and later starred in 'Ganga,' which won a National Award. |
| After marrying Arup Guha Thakurta, she produced and acted in 'Benarasi,' which earned critical acclaim and awards. |
| Her final film was 'The Namesake,' where she portrayed Irrfan Khan's mother. |
| Ruma Guha is remembered for her roles in various films such as 'Abhijaan,' 'Palatak,' 'Antony Firingee,' 'Ganashatru,' and 'Wheelchair.' |
| She revolutionized choir singing in India through the Calcutta Youth Choir, winning awards and global recognition. |
| Under her guidance, the Calcutta Youth Choir won accolades, including first prize at the Copenhagen Youth Festival. |
| They performed at significant events like Nelson Mandela's visit to Kolkata and Fidel Castro's India visit. |
| To honor Nobel laureate Amartya Sen, the choir sang in 1998, adapting diverse music styles. |
| The choir celebrated music ranging from Bhupen Hazarika and Rabindranath Tagore to international artists like Paul Robeson and Pete Seeger. |
| Leaders like Indira Gandhi enjoyed Calcutta Youth Choir's music, and she formally released their album. |
| President Ram Nath Kovind conveyed condolences to Ruma's son, Amit Kumar, after her demise. |
| Ruma Guha Thakurta's last rites were held with state honors at Shahnagar Keoratola Crematorium in Kolkata, West Bengal. |
