Kamla Devi was born in 1974 in Lakhani village of Bageshwar, Uttarakhand, into a humble farmer’s family. Her childhood was spent helping with agricultural work, and she got married at the age of 15. Alongside working in the fields, she continued practicing her singing. Kamla Devi inherited her musical talent from her father, Veera Ram, who himself was a traditional Jagar folk singer.
Her life was full of struggles. Due to financial difficulties, she worked at a roadside dhaba in her early years while also supporting her family. Her husband earned a living through daily wage labor. Her journey toward success began when renowned Uttarakhand folk artist Shiro Mani Pant heard her voice and gave her the opportunity to perform on stage for the first time.
Through her traditional folk singing, she gained recognition at the national level. She became the first folk singer from Uttarakhand to be invited to “Coke Studio Bharat.” She sang the Kumaoni folk song “Sonchadi” alongside Neha Kakkar and Digvijay Singh, which was released in 2024. The song received more than 1.5 million views on YouTube, earning her nationwide recognition.
She is regarded as one of the leading voices promoting the folk music and cultural heritage of Uttarakhand. Apart from “Sonchadi,” she won people’s hearts with several popular songs such as “Teele Dharo,” “Chanara Bouji,” “Rajula Malushahi,” “Ghasiyari,” and the cultural folk song “Lagni Gham.” She has also been appreciated on various cultural platforms for her contribution to folk music.
Kamla Devi has been honored with the “Nanda Shakti Samman 2024” and the “Himalaya Shri Award 2026.” She has been singing traditional folk songs of Uttarakhand for nearly 40 years. According to her, this art is not merely a form of singing but also a way to preserve and keep alive the cultural heritage of Uttarakhand.