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Sharda Sinha
Sinha in 2018
Born	(1952-10-01)1 October 1952 Hulas, Bihar, India
Died	5 November 2024(2024-11-05) (aged 72) New Delhi, India
Nationality	Indian
Other names	Bihar Swar Kokila
Alma mater	Magadh Mahila College, Prayag Sangeet Samiti, Lalit Narayan Mithila University
Occupation(s)	Singer, folk singer, classical singer
Years active	1980–2024
Spouse	Brajkishore Sinha ​ ​(m. 1970; died 2024)​
Children	2
Awards	Padma Shri (1991) Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (2000) Padma Bhushan (2018)

Sharda Sinha (1 October 1952 – 5 November 2024) was an Indian folk and classical singer. Hailing from Bihar, she predominantly sang in Maithili and Bhojpuri language and is called Bihar Kokila, the cuckoo of Bihar. Sinha has sung many folk songs including "Vivah Geet", "Chhath Geet". In 1991, she received the Padma Shri award for her contribution to music. In 2000, she received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for her contribution to the field of music. She was awarded Padma Bhushan, India's third highest civilian award, on the eve of Republic Day in 2018.

Early life

Sinha was born on 1 October 1952 in the village of Hulas of Raghopur block of Supaul district, Bihar in a Bhumihar Brahmin family. She was the only daughter amongst nine children of Sukhdev Thakur. Her in-laws' home is in Sihama village in Begusarai district.

Career

Sinha started her career by singing Maithili folk songs. Apart from Maithili, Sinha sang in Bhojpuri, Magahi and Hindi. Prayag Sangeet Samiti organised Basant Mahotsava at Allahabad where Sinha presented numerous songs based on the theme of spring season, where the advent of spring was narrated through folk songs. She regularly performed during Chhath Puja festivities. She performed when the Prime Minister of Mauritius Navin Ramgoolam came to Bihar.

Sinha performed at Pragati Maidan in the Bihar Utsav, 2010, New Delhi.

Sinha had also lent her voice to some Hindi film songs, including "Kahe Toh Se Sajna" from Salman Khan's debut film Maine Pyar Kiya, "Taar Bijli" from Anurag Kashyap's critically acclaimed Gangs of Wasseypur Part 2, "Kaun Si Nagaria" from Chaarfutiya Chhokare and Nitin Neera Chandra's Deswa.

Chhath songs

Sinha is known for her Chhath-related devotional songs. She came out with two new songs on Chhath after a decade in 2018. Her last album of devotional songs was released in 2006.

In the songs – with lyrics such as Supawo Naa Mile Maai and Pahile Pahil Chhathi Maiya – Sharda urged people to come to Bihar during Chhath. Other Chhath songs played during the festival include Kelwa Ke Paat Par Ugalan Suraj Mal Jhake Jhuke, Hey Chhathi Maiya, Ho Dinanath, Bahangi Lachakat Jaaye, Roje Roje Ugelaa, Suna Chhathi Maai, Jode Jode Supawa and Patna Ke Ghat Par. Though old, the songs are relevant and devotees play them every year.

"High-handedness of music companies and lack of good lyrics had kept me away all this while," Sharda told The Telegraph on 3 November 2016. "As these issues got addressed this year, I rendered my voice to the songs." It took 20 days to shoot the songs, which were released on Diwali.

The lyricist for Supawo Naa Mile Maai (5.57 minutes) is Hriday Narayan Jha and for Pahile Pahil Chhathi Maiya (6.57 minutes) both Shanti Jain and Sharda. Pahile Pahil... – produced by Neetu Chandra, Nitin Neera Chandra and Anshuman Sinha – was released under the banners of Swar Sharda (Sharda Sinha Music Foundation), Champaran Talkies and Neo Bihar. Supawo Na Mile Maai has been released under the banner of Swar Sharda and produced by Anshuman.

Sharda's last album on Chhath, Arag, had eight songs. In her entire career, she has sung 62 Chhath songs in nine albums released by T-Series, HMV and Tips. "Through these songs, I have tried my level best to save our rich culture and tradition," Sharda said. "There is a urban contemporary feel so that people can relate to it."

Personal life and death

She married Brajkishore Sinha in 1970, with whom she had a son, Anshuman and daughter, Vandana. Husband Brajkishore died from a brain haemorrhage in September 2024.

Sinha suffered from multiple myeloma from 2017. On 5 November 2024, she was put on ventilator support at AIIMS Delhi. She died later that night, at the age of 72. Her last rites were performed on 7 November 2024 in Patna with full state honours.

Awards and recognition

Sinha received numerous awards throughout her career, notably the Padma Shri in 1991, the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2000, and the Padma Bhushan in 2018.

References

1. Sinha, Ragini (15 November 2021). "शारदा सिन्हा बिहार की एक लोकप्रिय मैथिली गायिका हैं।". Dainik Jagran. Archived from the original on 2 November 2021. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
2. Sharma, Aseem (26 October 2024). "Sharda Sinha aka Bihar Kokila admitted to Delhi AIIMS emergency ward". India TV. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
3. ^ "Padma Awards" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 2015. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 October 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
4. ^ "Folk singer Sharda Sinha, voice of Chhath, dies at 72". The Hindu. 5 November 2024. Archived from the original on 9 November 2024. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
5. ^ "Government announces recipients of 2018 Padma awards". The Times of India. 26 January 2018. Archived from the original on 14 February 2023. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
6. "This Chhath Puja song is making people so nostalgic, they want to go home". The Indian Express. 4 November 2016. Archived from the original on 26 August 2024. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
7. ^ "Veteran Folk Singer Sharda Sinha passes away in New Delhi; President & PM express grief". newsonair.gov.in. 6 November 2024. Retrieved 8 November 2024. Sharda Sinha was born in Supaul on October 1, 1952
8. ^ "Padmashri Sharda Sinha interviewed by Lalit Narayan Jha". Mithila Mirror (Interview). Archived from the original on 14 February 2023. Retrieved 30 August 2020. Time 1:30 to 1:50
9. Singh, Bhupinder (6 November 2024). "Sharda Sinha passes away: How rich was the Bihar Kokila? A look into her net worth, career, family, and more". Indiatimes. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
10. सिंह, प्रियरंजन कुमार (6 November 2024). "पिता ने की थी 2 शादियां, 9 बच्चों में इकलौती बेटी थीं शारदा सिन्हा, अब मायके को लगा सदमा". ABP News (in Hindi). Retrieved 6 November 2024.
11. ^ "Beauty of spring narrated through folk songs". The Times of India. 22 March 2009. Archived from the original on 23 October 2012. Retrieved 25 April 2009.
12. Manisha Prakash (4 October 2003). "Music maestros add to Puja festivities". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 23 October 2012. Retrieved 25 April 2009.
13. "Puja euphoria reaches a crescendo". The Times of India. 4 October 2003. Archived from the original on 23 October 2012. Retrieved 25 April 2009.
14. Faizan Ahmad & Dipak Mishra (19 February 2008). "Mauritius scholarship for two". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 23 October 2012. Retrieved 25 April 2009.
15. "A new brand of music in Gangs Of Wasseypur series – Times of India". The Times of India. August 2012. Archived from the original on 18 May 2022. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
16. "Sharda Sinha's performance at Bihar Utsav an instant hit". The Times of India. 28 March 2010. Archived from the original on 11 August 2011. Retrieved 29 March 2010.
17. ^ Amit Bhelari (4 November 2016). "Sweet and sour festive notes in the air – Sharda back with a bang after decade". The Telegraph (Calcutta). Archived from the original on 4 November 2016. Retrieved 28 November 2016.
18. Gangs of Wasseypur Part 2: Music Review
19. "A tale of everlasting love: Sharda Sinha who could barely survive a month after her husband passed away". The Times of India. 5 November 2024. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
20. "Sharda Sinha's son Anshuman Sinha mourns his mom's death, shares details about her last rites: This is a shocker for all". Hindustan Times. 6 November 2024. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
21. "Sharda Sinha's moving Facebook post for late husband goes viral: Mai jald hi aaungi". India Today. 6 November 2024. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
22. Mishra, Pallav; Bose, Saikat Kumar (27 October 2024). "Renowned Singer Sharda Sinha On Life Support. She Lost Husband Weeks Back". NDTV. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
23. "Renowned Singer Sharda Sinha On Ventilator Support, PM Assures Help". NDTV. 5 November 2024. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
24. भास्कर, ज्योति (5 November 2024). "Sharda Sinha: शारदा सिन्हा का 72 साल की आयु में निधन, दिल्ली के एम्स में ली अंतिम सांस". Amar Ujala (in Hindi). Retrieved 5 November 2024.
25. "Sharda Sinha's Last Rites To Be Performed With Full State Honours". NDTV. 7 November 2024. Retrieved 7 November 2024.

External links

• Sharda Sinha at IMDb
• Sharda Sinha discography at Discogs

• 1952 births
• 2024 deaths
• Hindustani singers
• Indian women classical singers
• Indian women folk singers
• Indian folk singers
• Women musicians from Bihar
• Singers from Bihar
• Recipients of the Padma Shri in arts
• People from Supaul district
• Women Hindustani musicians
• 20th-century Indian singers
• 20th-century Indian women singers
• Recipients of the Padma Bhushan in arts
• 21st-century Indian women singers
• 21st-century Indian singers