Legendary Folk Singer Sharda Sinha, Padma Bhushan Awardee, Passes Away at 72

Legendary Folk Singer Sharda Sinha, Padma Bhushan Recipient, Passes Away at 72 Due to Cancer Complications, Leaving Behind a Timeless Musical Legacy

Sharda Sinha, the renowned folk singer, has left behind. She had been suffering from multiple myeloma, a kind of cancer affecting the bone marrow, since 2017. She was also being treated in the hospital’s oncology department. It is a sad day as Sharda Sinha will be remembered for her sweet melodious voice and her outstanding contributions to Bhojpuri and Maithili music. Her condition deteriorated, and she died from septicemia when on the ventilator, but her legacy would touch millions of lives through music.
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The news was confirmed by her family, and her son gave vent to his grief by posting the following: “Your prayers and love will always be with mother. She has been called by Chhathi Maiya to her side.” His words reflect the deep connection Sharda Sinha had with the Chhath festival, where her devotional songs remain an integral part of the celebrations. Her voice and music are the synonyms of this spiritual festival and will forever be ringing in generations ahead.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolence by saying that she has indeed left a great void as she leaves. He also said, “The echoes of her melodious songs associated with the great festival of faith, Chhath, will always remain.” Modi was keeping track of her health and was continuously in touch with AIIMS officials during the treatment. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also termed her loss as his bad luck. He said about her, “She had been a very talented artist who popularised the language and folk music of this land all over the nation”. Singh said, “Her death has taken away with it an influential voice for the world of folk music.”.

Minister Amit Shah of Home too appreciated Sinha’s value addition to Indian music and reflected on the last 50 years. He did a fair amount of reminiscence and called her, or rather addressed her lovingly as “Bihar Kokila,” the nightingale of Bihar, an award that elevated Maithili and Bhojpuri folk music to some extraordinary heights. Shah observed, “Her work in music will always be seen and remembered as part and parcel of Indian culture while continuing to do the excellent service she did for bringing those folk traditions to new fans through her songs, singing, and filmwork.”.

Decades-long music career, Sinha was a household name for generations in the Bhojpuri and Maithili music world. In particular, her songs dedicated to the Chhath festival became an integral part of the religious ritual observed in Bihar and surrounding states. Her association with Hindi cinema was equally impressive. Her songs in popular films like Maine Pyar Kiya and Hum Aapke Hain Kaun still ring in the ears. She has proved her versatility appealability to younger audiences with the recent years contribution to Anurag Kashyap’s Gangs of Wasseypur through the song “Taar Bijli”.

Sharda Sinha was conferred the Padma Bhushan, India’s third-highest civilian honour, in 2018 for her outstanding contribution to the arts. Prior to that, she was awarded the Padma Shri in 1991 and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award. All these honours made her a source of cultural pride not only for Bihar but for the whole of India.

The news of her death comes when music circles are still coming to terms with the news of her husband, Braj Kishore Sinha’s death weeks ago after a brain haemorrhage. The couple has completed 54 years of marriage and his untimely death makes the moment even more painful for the loved ones and fans.

Her contributions to folk music, her soothing voice, and her ability to connect with people through traditional melodies will remain unmatched. And so, while the world of folk music grieves the loss of a legend, Sharda Sinha’s songs will continue to inspire and comfort listeners for generations to come.

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