Chandigarh, 06 November 2024: Renowned folk singer Sharda Sinha, whose voice resonated in Bhojpuri, Maithili, and Magahi folk music, passed away on Tuesday night at the age of 72. She had been receiving treatment at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi and died at 9:20 pm due to refractory shock caused by septicemia, an AIIMS official confirmed.
Sinha was widely known for her iconic folk songs such as ‘Kartik Maas Ijoriya’ and ‘Koyal Bin,’ as well as Bollywood hits like ‘Taar Bijli’ from Gangs of Wasseypur- II and ‘Babul’ from Hum Aapke Hain Koun. Her voice made a lasting impact on audiences, particularly during cultural events like Chhath Puja and weddings in her native Bihar and parts of eastern Uttar Pradesh.
The singer had been battling multiple myeloma, a form of blood cancer, since 2017. Due to complications, she had been on ventilator support in the intensive care unit of AIIMS’ Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital (IRCH) for the past month.
Earlier, AIIMS officials had announced that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was personally monitoring her condition and had expressed his prayers for her recovery.
“The Hon’ble Prime Minister is continuously monitoring her condition and in direct contact with the treating doctors,” AIIMS posted on X (formerly Twitter). Union Minister Giriraj Singh also visited Sinha at the hospital to offer his support.
Known as Bihar Kokila (The Nightingale of Bihar), Sinha was a beloved figure, especially for her contributions to folk music. Some of her most famous tracks include ‘Chhathi Maiya Aayi Na Duaariya,’ ‘Dwar Chekai,’ and ‘Patna Se.’ Her death marks the loss of one of the most iconic voices in Indian folk music.
