'Bihar Kokila' Sharda Sinha Cremated With Full State Honours In Patna

Popular folk singer Sharda Sinha was cremated with full state hours here on Thursday. last rites were performed by her son Anshuman Sinha, who lit pyre in an emotionally surcharged atmosphere.

Hundreds of fans h gared outside Gulbi Ghat crematorium in Patna’s Mahendru area for her last glimpse. Senior BJP leer and former Union minister Ashwani Choubey was also present. Earlier, Sinha’s body was taken out in a procession from her residence in Rajendra Nagar area (near Kankarbagh) to crematorium.

Pma Bhushan recipient passed away on Tuesday night while undergoing treatment at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi. She was 72. body of popular folk singer was brought to Patna from New Delhi on Wednesday.

Several Bihar ministers were present at airport to receive body. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar visited her house and placed a wreath on body.

Union Minister and BJP national president J P Nda is expected to visit Sinha’s house on Thursday evening.

Kwn as 'Bihar Kokila' for her melodious renditions of Chhath and folk songs, including ‘Kartik Maas Ijoriya’, ‘Suraj Bhaile Bihaan’, and Bollywood hits like ‘Taar Bijli’ and ‘Babul’, Sharda Sinha lost her battle with multiple myeloma, a form of blood cancer.

Her passing away on first day of Chhath festival — a coincidence that many have called scripted by destiny — ds an emotional layer to her legacy.

Sinha, a trained classical singer, was widely revered for blending classical and folk music in her performances.

Often referred to as ‘Begum Akhtar of Mithila’, she was a devout Chhath worshipper and would release a new song to mark festival every year, even in her declining health.

This year, she released song ‘Dukhwa Mitayin Chhathi Maiya’, a prayer that reflected her struggle with illness, just a day before her passing. Sinha was synymous with folk songs in Bhojpuri, Maithili and Magahi langus.

Born in Supaul in Bihar, Sinha became famous t only in her home state but also in parts of eastern Uttar Presh.

Her folk songs, particularly those sung during Chhath Puja and weddings, became iconic. Some of her most popular tracks include ‘Chhathi Maiya Aayi Na Duaariya,’ ‘Dwar Chekai’, ‘Patna Se’, and ‘Koyal Bin’.

Sinha, who lost her husband a few months ago and is survived by a son and a daughter, studied literature at Patna University in 1970s.

She went on to obtain a doctorate in music from Lalit Narayan Mithila University at Darbhanga while making her mark as a folk singer, getting ticed by big names in film industry.

In 1990s’ blockbuster 'Maine Pyar Kiya' that introduced Salman Khan, Sinha's rendition of 'Kahe tose sajna' was hailed as perfect backdrop to pain of lovelorn le pair. PTI PKD MNB