DYK Sharda Sinha Is Called 'Bihar Kokila'; Know How The Padma Bhushan Awardee Got The Moniker

Sharda Sinha is one of the best-known Bihari folk singers. A Padma Bhushan awardee, Sharda is currently battling blood cancer and is admitted to the AIIMS hospital in New Delhi. She is popularly known as Bihar Kokila, a name by which she is known countrywide.

What does Sharda Sinha's moniker Bihar Kokila mean?

Sharda Sinha has been credited for taking Bihari folk songs to not just India but globally as well. She is particularly known for her songs on the occasion of Chhath known as Chhath Geet. She is affectionately known as Bihar Kokila.

Kokila translates to nightingale or cuckoo, birds known for their melodious voice. Over time, Sharda came to be associated and recognised for her voice giving her the nickname which means cuckoo of Bihar.

Sharda Sinha hospitalised in New Delhi 

The celebrated artist, known for her soul-stirring folk renditions during the Chhath festival, is critically ill and currently receiving care at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi. Sharda Sinha, 72, has been battling multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer, since 2018. Her condition worsened on Monday, leading to her being placed on a ventilator. According to an official statement from AIIMS, the singer is "haemodynamically stable but under constant monitoring."
 

Anshuman Sinha has kept the fans informed about his mother's health, sharing updates through social media and media outlets. The folk singer's decline in health has sparked widespread concern among her fans and well-wishers. Known for her contributions to the traditional folk music of Bihar and her iconic Chhath geet, Sharda Sinha is considered a cultural ambassador of the region. Over the years, her voice has become synonymous with the Chhath festival, which is widely celebrated in Bihar and other parts of North India. Sinha's illustrious career began in the 1970s and she went on to achieve national recognition for her work in Bhojpuri, Maithili, and Hindi folk music.