Folk music icon Sharda Sinha passes away at 72; mortal remains taken to Patna for last rites

New Delhi: Renowned folk singer Sharda Sinha, known as the 'Bihar Kokila,' passed away Tuesday night at AIIMS Delhi. She was 72. Sinha, a beloved figure in Bhojpuri, Maithili, and Hindi folk music, died at approximately 9:20 p.m. from refractory shock caused by septicaemia, a severe blood infection, according to officials at AIIMS Delhi.

A cultural ambassador of Bihar’s traditional music, Sinha had been battling multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer, since her diagnosis in 2018. Her health took a critical turn on Monday, leading to her being placed on a ventilator. Sinha’s soulful renditions of folk songs, especially during the Chhath festival, have made her voice synonymous with Bihar’s cultural heritage.

In the early hours of Wednesday, her mortal remains were flown from Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport to Patna, where her final rites will be held. Her son, Anshuman Sinha, confirmed the arrangements, stating, “The last rites will be performed in Patna, at the same place where my father’s were conducted.” Sinha’s passing on the first day of Chhath Puja has cast a shadow over the festival in Bihar, where she was known for her iconic Chhath geet.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences, calling her death an “irreparable loss” for the world of music, and praised her contributions to Bhojpuri and Maithili folk music. Other political leaders, including Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, and BJP MP Manoj Tiwari, also shared their grief. Tiwari said, “Her last rites will be performed with honors in Bihar. She will always remain in our hearts.”

Sinha’s illustrious career spanned over four decades, beginning in the 1970s, and earned her a National Film Award and the Padma Bhushan in 2018 for her contributions to the arts. Her voice became an indelible part of regional cinema, most notably with her song ‘Babool’ from ‘Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!’. (ANI)