Renowned folk singer Sharda Sinha, celebrated for her songs in Maithili, Bhojpuri, Magahi, Sanskrit, and Hindi, passed away at AIIMS Delhi on Tuesday. Sinha, who was 72, had been battling multiple myeloma and was placed on ventilator support two days prior. She is survived by her daughter, Vandana, and son, Anshuman.
Known as the “Bihar Kokila” or “Cuckoo of Bihar,” Sinha’s voice became synonymous with traditional songs played during Chhath, weddings, and cultural rituals. She also lent her voice to Bollywood films, including Maine Pyar Kiya and Gangs of Wasseypur.
Sinha’s health struggles began with liver complications, leading her to first seek treatment at ILBS Delhi before being moved to AIIMS. Her family received a supportive call from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday morning, checking on her condition.
Often hailed as the successor to the legendary folk singer Vindhyavasini Devi, Sinha uplifted the reputation of folk artists, bringing classical folk music to a wider audience. In a 2021 interview, she recalled her 50-year musical journey, which began in 1971 at an HMV talent hunt in Lucknow. There, she impressed Begum Akhtar, who praised her voice and encouraged her to continue her musical practice. Sinha went on to record over 1,500 songs, including renditions of Vidyapati’s poems and lyrics by Mahendra Misir and Snehlata.
Sinha’s popularity surged through marriage and Chhath songs, but her Vidyapati compositions, like Kanak Bhudhar Shikhar Vasini, also captivated classical folk music fans. Selective in her Bollywood projects, she focused more on the authenticity of folk music.
Her musical foundation was strengthened by classical training with Pandit Ram Chandra Jha and Raghu Jha of the Panchgachiya Gharana, as well as tutelage under Sitaram Hari Dandekar of the Gwalior Gharana and thumri dadra from Panna Devi of the Kirana Gharana.
Rising during the time of Vindhyavasini Devi’s dominance on the Bihar folk music stage, Sinha forged her unique path. Reflecting on her journey from vinyl to digital, she noted, “I started with SP records, moved to LP and cassettes, then MP3, and now YouTube and Instagram.”
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