New Delhi, September 30 (Daily Kiran) : Sharda Sinha, known as the “Nightingale of Bihar,” was born on October 1, 1952, in the small village of Hulas in Supaul district. Her voice became synonymous with the Chhath festival, echoing through the air whenever the month of Kartik arrives. The daughter of Sukdev Thakur, Sinha’s journey began with humble beginnings. She received her early training in classical music from Pandit Ramchandra Jha in her village.
Even after moving to her in-laws’ home in Sihma village, Begusarai, Sinha remained committed to her passion for music. She served as a music teacher at a college in Samastipur, gradually breathing new life into folk songs. In 1974, she recorded her first Bhojpuri song, but it was her Chhath song in 1978 that catapulted her to fame. From that moment, she never looked back, leaving her mark in multiple languages, including Maithili, Bhojpuri, Magahi, and Bajjika.
In Bihar, it is often said that Chhath cannot be celebrated without two things: the Sun God and Sharda Sinha’s voice. Her songs transcended mere melodies; they captured the spirit of the festival. Tracks like “Uga Ho Suraj Dev,” “Patna Ke Ghat Par,” and “Suna Chhathi Mai” resonate across every ghat, evoking nostalgia among Biharis living abroad.
Tragically, Sharda Sinha passed away on November 5, 2024, at the age of 72, after battling multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer. Remarkably, just four days before her passing, she released her final Chhath song, “Dukhwa Mitai Chhathi Mai,” from her hospital bed, wishing all devotees a blessed Chhath.
Sinha’s impact extended beyond folk music; she also made a significant mark in Hindi cinema. Her voice graced popular songs from films like “Maine Pyar Kiya” and “Hum Aapke Hain Koun.” The new generation recognized her through the song “Taar Bijli Se Patle Hamare Piya” from “Gangs of Wasseypur-2.”
In recognition of her contributions, the Government of India honored her with the Padma Shri in 1991 and the Padma Bhushan in 2018, among numerous other accolades. Although she may have departed from this world, Sharda Sinha’s legacy will live on as long as Chhath is celebrated and the ghats remain vibrant with her songs.
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