CM Samrat Choudhary pays tribute to Bhikhari Thakur on death anniversary
Synopsis
Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary marked the death anniversary of Bhikhari Thakur — the 'Shakespeare of Bhojpuri' — on 10 July 2026, honouring the folk playwright's timeless contribution to social awareness through loknatya and lokgeet, and affirming his place in Bihar's cultural heritage.
Key Takeaways
Bihar CM Samrat Choudhary posted a tribute to Bhikhari Thakur on his death anniversary on 10 July 2026 .
Bhikhari Thakur (1887–1971) is widely called the 'Bhojpuri ke Shakespeare' for his pioneering folk plays and songs.
His landmark work Bidesiya addressed male migration and its social consequences, resonating across the Bhojpuri belt of Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh.
Thakur's loknatya tradition tackled caste discrimination, women's exploitation and social reform at the grassroots level.
The tribute reflects a broader Bihar government pattern of affirming Bhojpuri and regional cultural identities through official social media communication.
Advocates continue to push for Bhojpuri's inclusion in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, a demand that gains visibility around such cultural anniversaries.
Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary on Friday, 10 July 2026 paid homage to Bhikhari Thakur, the celebrated Bhojpuri playwright and folk artist revered as the 'Bhojpuri ke Shakespeare' (Shakespeare of Bhojpuri), on his death anniversary. Choudhary offered what he called 'koti-koti naman evam vinamra shraddhanjali' (countless salutations and humble tribute) through a post on X, underscoring the enduring cultural legacy of the folk icon.
Context
In his post, CM Choudhary described Bhikhari Thakur as someone who 'spread the flame of awareness and social consciousness in society through his timeless works, folk plays and folk songs.' He added that Thakur's literature, folk art and social message 'will always enrich our cultural heritage and continue to inspire generations to come.' The tribute was accompanied by the hashtag #BhikhariThakur.
Bhikhari Thakur was born in 1887 in the Saran district of present-day Bihar and passed away in 1971. His best-known work, Bidesiya, dramatised the anguish of families left behind when men migrated to cities for work — a theme that resonated deeply across the Bhojpuri belt spanning Bihar, eastern Uttar Pradesh and the Bhojpuri diaspora worldwide.
Policy Backdrop
Bihar governments across political formations have periodically championed Bhojpuri and Maithili traditions as pillars of state-level heritage promotion. Tributes to regional literary icons on social media have become a consistent feature of political communication in India, serving to affirm sub-regional linguistic and cultural identities without necessarily announcing new policy measures.
Advocates for Bhojpuri have long sought official recognition for the language, including its inclusion in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution. Cultural anniversaries such as Bhikhari Thakur's death anniversary often renew public conversation around such demands, even when formal announcements are absent.
Stakeholders and Impact
Bhojpuri is spoken by an estimated five to six crore people in Bihar and neighbouring regions, making Bhikhari Thakur's legacy politically and culturally significant to a vast constituency. Folk theatre practitioners, Bhojpuri artists and cultural organisations in Bihar regularly invoke his work as a touchstone for grassroots social commentary.
Thakur's plays tackled caste discrimination, the exploitation of women and the social costs of male migration at a time when such themes were rarely addressed in mainstream literature. His loknatya (folk theatre) tradition continues to be performed across rural Bihar and is taught in several universities as part of folklore and Hindi studies curricula.
What's Next
Observers of Bihar's cultural calendar will watch whether the state government follows the tribute with concrete announcements — such as a Bhojpuri cultural festival, a new literary award in Bhikhari Thakur's name, or a push to strengthen existing folk-arts institutions in the run-up to upcoming state events. The Chief Minister's public acknowledgement keeps the spotlight on Bhojpuri heritage at a moment when the language's advocates continue to press for greater institutional recognition.
Point of View
Reinforcing the BJP's broader narrative of celebrating indigenous culture. While the post carries no policy announcement, it keeps the question of Bhojpuri's institutional recognition — including its Eighth Schedule status — in public discourse without committing the government to any specific action. Such tributes function as low-cost, high-visibility signals to a large Bhojpuri-speaking constituency ahead of any future electoral cycle.
NationPress
10 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Bhikhari Thakur and why is he called the Shakespeare of Bhojpuri?
Bhikhari Thakur (1887–1971) was a Bhojpuri playwright, poet and folk actor from Bihar's Saran district. He earned the title 'Shakespeare of Bhojpuri' for his prolific and socially powerful folk plays and songs — particularly 'Bidesiya' — that addressed migration, caste oppression and women's rights through accessible loknatya (folk theatre).
When is Bhikhari Thakur's death anniversary observed?
Bhikhari Thakur passed away in 1971. His death anniversary is observed in July each year, with Bihar CM Samrat Choudhary publicly marking the occasion on 10 July 2026 with a tribute on X.
What did Bihar CM Samrat Choudhary say about Bhikhari Thakur?
CM Choudhary described Bhikhari Thakur as someone who 'spread the flame of awareness and social consciousness through his timeless works, folk plays and folk songs,' adding that his literature and social message 'will always enrich our cultural heritage and inspire generations to come.'
What is Bhikhari Thakur's most famous work?
'Bidesiya' is Bhikhari Thakur's best-known folk play. It dramatises the grief of families left behind when men migrate to cities for work, a theme deeply relevant to the Bhojpuri-speaking belt of Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh.
Is Bhojpuri an official language in India?
Bhojpuri is not currently included in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, which lists officially recognised languages. Advocates have long campaigned for its inclusion, and cultural anniversaries like Bhikhari Thakur's death anniversary often renew public attention to this demand.
