Lalan Singh pays tribute to 'Bihar Kokila' Sharda Sinha on her death anniversary
Synopsis
Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh (Lalan Singh) paid homage to Padma Vibhushan Sharda Sinha, 'Bihar Kokila', on her death anniversary, calling her melodious voice an enduring heritage of Indian folk culture.
Key Takeaways
Union Minister Lalan Singh posted a tribute to Sharda Sinha on her death anniversary on 5 November 2026 .
Sharda Sinha held the title 'Bihar Kokila' (Nightingale of Bihar) for her contributions to Maithili and Bhojpuri folk music.
She was awarded the Padma Vibhushan , one of India's highest civilian honours.
Her chhath puja compositions became a defining part of the festival's cultural identity across Bihar and the diaspora.
Lalan Singh described her voice and contributions as 'a heritage of our folk culture' that will endure forever.
A voice that turned chhath ghats and wedding courtyards into sacred sound-spaces — Padma Vibhushan Sharda Sinha, the folk legend Bihar called its own nightingale — was remembered on her death anniversary on Thursday, 5 November 2026 by Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh (Lalan Singh), who offered his homage on X.
Posting in Hindi, the Union Minister for Panchayati Raj, Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying wrote: 'Bihar Kokila' Padma Vibhushan Sharda Sinha ji ki punyatithi par vinamra shraddhanjali evam shat-shat naman. — 'Humble tribute and hundredfold salutations on the death anniversary of Bihar Kokila, Padma Vibhushan Sharda Sinha.' He added that her melodious voice and invaluable contributions 'will forever remain a heritage of our folk culture.'
Who was Sharda Sinha?
Sharda Sinha was one of the most celebrated folk singers in the Maithili and Bhojpuri traditions, earning the affectionate title Bihar Kokila — the Nightingale of Bihar. Her renditions of chhath puja devotional songs became near-inseparable from the festival's identity across Bihar, Jharkhand, and the Indian diaspora worldwide. The government recognised her contributions with the Padma Vibhushan, one of India's highest civilian honours, cementing her place in the country's cultural canon.
Lalan Singh's tribute and its Bihar connect
As a senior Janata Dal (United) leader and a prominent political voice from Bihar, Lalan Singh's tribute carries both personal and political resonance. Bihar's folk music tradition is not merely cultural backdrop — it is woven into the state's social fabric, its festivals, and its sense of identity. Marking Sharda Sinha's death anniversary publicly is in keeping with an established practice among regional leaders of honouring artists who embody their state's heritage on the national stage.
Sinha's legacy endures through the millions of homes where her chhath compositions still play every kartik, and through the generations of folk musicians she inspired across the Gangetic plains.
Point of View
Honouring a Maithili-Bhojpuri icon reinforces regional pride at a time when Bihar's cultural heritage remains a potent political currency. The gesture also signals continuity in the Centre's soft-power approach of recognising folk traditions alongside classical arts. Such commemorations, while ceremonial, keep folk music ecosystems visible in national discourse.
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), renowned for her Maithili and Bhojpuri music, especially her chhath puja devotional songs. She was awarded the Padma Vibhushan by the Government of India.
Why is Sharda Sinha called Bihar Kokila?
'Bihar Kokila' means 'Nightingale of Bihar.' Sharda Sinha earned this title for her exceptional contribution to Bihar's folk music traditions, particularly her iconic renditions of chhath puja songs.
What award did Sharda Sinha receive?
Sharda Sinha was awarded the Padma Vibhushan, one of India's highest civilian honours, in recognition of her invaluable contributions to Maithili and Bhojpuri folk music.
What did Lalan Singh say about Sharda Sinha?
Lalan Singh said that Sharda Sinha's melodious voice and invaluable contributions 'will forever remain a heritage of our folk culture,' offering humble tribute on her death anniversary.
