Sharda Sinha Dies At 72: 'Bihar Kokila' Synonymous With Chhath Songs, Passes Away During Festival

Sharda Sinha Death: The popular folk singer and recipient of Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan passed in New Delhi's All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). She was 72. Sinha was celebrated for her soulful renditions of folk music, particularly during the Chhath festival. She was battling multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer, since 2017. Her health condition recently worsened, leading to her being placed on a ventilator. However, she could not survive. The news of her death was confirmed by her son Anshuman in a social media post. 

There was an outpouring of grief on social media after the news of Sinha's death surfaced. Unfortunately, the folk artist, who was known for recording songs on Chhath Puja, died as this year's festival celebrations began nationwide. Her songs on Chhath are widely popular. Even during her health battles, Sharda recorded a song for Chhath devotees. The song titled Dukhva Mitaai Chhathi Maiya was released before the festival commenced on Tuesday, November 5. 

Sharda Sinha's career could not have been possible without her family's support

Sharda Sinha started her singing career in the 1970s. She was inclined towards music from a young age and was encouraged by her father. When she was in school, she performed on stage for the first time at Durga Puja pandal. At first, she faced opposition from the local villagers. However, her family stood by her side and supported her decision to pursue music beyond just a hobby. In an interview, Sinha credited her success to her father Sukhdev Thakur, and her husband Brajkishore Sinha.

Sharda was a popular name in Bhojpuri, Maithili and Hindi folk music. She was honoured with the Padma Shri in 1991 for her contribution to music. Her work was recognised further with the Padma Bhushan in 2018. She has also been honoured with a National Film Award for her contributions to regional cinema.