• Popular folk singer Sharda Sinha, known as “Bihar Kokila” for her melodious rendition of Chhath and folk songs passed away on November 5. She was 72.

• Sinha pioneered and popularised the rich folk traditions of Bihar beyond its borders.

• Sinha, a trained classical singer who blended the folk in her many songs,  was often called the “Begum Akhtar of Mithila”.

• Her songs were an integral part of Chhath, a festival dedicated to the Sun god. She always released a song during the festival and did so this year too notwithstanding her ill health.

• She was awarded the Padma Bhushan in the field of art in the year 2018.

• President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the demise of the famous folk singer.

Her voice became synonymous with the folk songs

• Born on November 1, 1952 in Bihar’s Supaul district, Sinha was initiated into classical music by Pandit Raghu Jha, an eminent khayal singer of Panchgachiya Gharana. 

• She then trained under Pandit Sitaram Hari Dandekar, a khayal virtuoso and later from Panna Devi, a contemporary of ‘Malika-e-Ghazal’ Begum Akhtar and an exponent of thumri and dadra.  

• Sinha held a master’s degree in Indian classical music-vocal and a PhD. 

• Sinha became a rage when she came out with her debut Maithili number ‘Dularua Bhaiya’ back in 1971.  

• The singer’s voice became synonymous with the folk songs woven in the rich tapestry of everyday culture of Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh.   

• Sinha, whose career spanned more than five decades, lent her voice to songs in Maithili, Bhojpuri and Magahi languages. 

• Some of her popular tracks are ‘Chhathi Maiya Aayi Na Duaariya’, ‘Kartik Maas Ijoriya’, ‘Ho Deenanath’, ‘Barh Re Jatan Se’, ‘Dwar Chekai’, ‘Patna Se’, and ‘Koyal Bin’.

• Sinha will also be remembered for her Bollywood songs, including ‘Taar Bijli’ from ‘Gangs of Wasseypur-II’, ‘Babul’  from ‘Hum Aapke Hain Koun’ and ‘Kahe Toh Se Sajna’ from ‘Maine Pyar Kiya’.  

• As a cultural ambassador of the government of India, Sinha performed in many countries, including Mauritius, Germany, Belgium and Holland. 

• She also performed at All India Radio concerts and cultural festivals across India.  Sinha also served the Department of Music, Women’s College, Samastipur (L.N.M.U. Darbhanga) Bihar for more than four decades. 

• She was the recipient of Sangeet Natak Academy Award in 2000, the Padma Shri in 1991, and the Padma Bhushan in 2018. Over the years, she received various honours besides the Padma awards. These include the Rashtriya Devi Ahiliya Samman, Bihar Kala Puraskar, Bihar Ratna, Bhojpuri Ratna, Mithila Vibhuti Samman.

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