CM Samrat Choudhary pays tribute to Bihar Kokila Sharda Sinha
Synopsis
Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary paid tribute to legendary folk singer Sharda Sinha on her death anniversary, honouring the Padma Vibhushan awardee known as Bihar Kokila for her invaluable contributions to Maithili and Bhojpuri music traditions.
Key Takeaways
Bihar CM Samrat Choudhary paid tribute to folk legend Sharda Sinha on her death anniversary, 5 November 2026 .
Sharda Sinha was widely known as Bihar Kokila (Nightingale of Bihar) for her mastery of Maithili and Bhojpuri folk music.
She was a recipient of the Padma Vibhushan , India's second-highest civilian honour.
Her devotional Chhath Puja songs became a defining part of the festival's cultural identity across Bihar and its diaspora.
CM Choudhary described her voice and contribution as ones that 'will always remain alive in our memories.'
A voice that turned Chhath Puja into a collective emotion for millions of Biharis fell silent — but on her death anniversary, Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary ensured it echoed once more. On Thursday, 5 November 2026, the CM posted a heartfelt tribute on X honouring Sharda Sinha, the legendary folk singer celebrated as Bihar Kokila (the Nightingale of Bihar).
Posting in Hindi, CM Choudhary wrote: 'On the death anniversary of the great folk singer Sharda Sinha ji — honoured with the Padma Vibhushan, the Bihar Kokila who gave Bihar's rich folk culture and music tradition a new identity with her melodious voice — I offer my humble tribute and heartfelt homage. Her melodious voice and invaluable contribution will always remain alive in our memories.'Who was Sharda Sinha — the voice Bihar called its own
Sharda Sinha was one of India's most beloved regional folk artists, renowned for her mastery of Maithili and Bhojpuri music traditions. Her renditions of Chhath Puja devotional songs became near-inseparable from the festival itself — played in homes and public ghats across Bihar, Jharkhand, and the Bihari diaspora worldwide. The Government of India awarded her the Padma Vibhushan, the country's second-highest civilian honour, in recognition of her decades-long contribution to Indian folk music. The title Bihar Kokila — gifted to her by an adoring public — spoke to something the award citation could not fully capture: she was not merely a singer but a living archive of her state's cultural soul.A tradition of political tribute to cultural identity
In Bihar's political landscape, honouring folk artists is rarely a purely ceremonial act. BJP leaders in the state have consistently woven tributes to regional cultural figures into their public communication — a pattern that acknowledges the deep pride Biharis hold for their artistic heritage. For CM Choudhary, paying homage to Sharda Sinha on her death anniversary reinforces a connection between the state government and the living cultural memory that artists like her created. Folk music communities and Bihari cultural organisations continue to keep her repertoire alive through festivals and community events, and state-level programmes dedicated to her legacy are likely to remain a fixture in the cultural calendar. Sharda Sinha's melodies outlived her. And on a November morning, Bihar's Chief Minister made certain the state had not forgotten.Point of View
Which makes honouring her anniversary a politically unifying gesture. As CM, Choudhary's post also signals that the state government sees cultural memory as an active political resource, not just ceremonial obligation. The consistency of such tributes across BJP leaders in Bihar suggests a coordinated effort to position the party as a steward of Bihari civilisational pride.
NationPress
5 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Sharda Sinha?
Sharda Sinha was a celebrated Indian folk singer known as Bihar Kokila (Nightingale of Bihar), famous for her Maithili and Bhojpuri music, especially Chhath Puja devotional songs. She was honoured with the Padma Vibhushan, India's second-highest civilian award.
What is the death anniversary of Sharda Sinha?
Bihar CM Samrat Choudhary's 2026 tribute was posted on 5 November, marking the anniversary of her passing. She was honoured for her lifetime contribution to Bihar's folk music heritage.
Why is Sharda Sinha called Bihar Kokila?
Sharda Sinha earned the title Bihar Kokila — meaning Nightingale of Bihar — because of her extraordinarily melodious voice and her role in bringing Bihari folk music, especially Chhath Puja songs, to national and global audiences.
What award did Sharda Sinha receive from the Government of India?
Sharda Sinha was awarded the Padma Vibhushan, India's second-highest civilian honour, in recognition of her outstanding contributions to Indian folk and regional music.
What did Bihar CM Samrat Choudhary say about Sharda Sinha?
CM Samrat Choudhary described Sharda Sinha as the Bihar Kokila who gave Bihar's folk culture a new identity, and said her melodious voice and invaluable contribution 'will always remain alive in our memories.'
