New Delhi [India]: Renowned folk singer, known as the ‘Bihar Kokila,’ Sharda Sinha passed away on Tuesday at around 9.20 pm due to refractory shock as a result of ‘septicaemia’, said AIIMS Delhi official.
Septicaemia is the medical name for blood poisoning. Sharda Sinha was battling with multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer, which was diagnosed in 2018. Her condition deteriorated on Monday, after which she was placed on a ventilator. She breathed her last at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi.
The 72-year-old Sinha, a music scene veteran since the 1970s, has contributed immensely to Bhojpuri, Maithili, and Hindi folk music and is celebrated for her soulful renditions of folk music.
Known for her contributions to the traditional folk music of Bihar and her iconic Chhath geet, Sharda Sinha is considered a cultural ambassador of the region.
Over the years, her voice has become synonymous with the Chhath festival, which is widely celebrated in Bihar and other parts of North India.
Sinha’s illustrious career began in the 1970s and she went on to achieve national recognition for her work in Bhojpuri, Maithili, and Hindi folk music.
Her famous songs like ‘Babool’ from ‘Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!’ earned her not just fame but also critical acclaim.
In 2018, she was honoured with the prestigious Padma Bhushan, India’s third-highest civilian award, for her contribution to the arts. She has also won a National Film Award, cementing her legacy as one of the leading voices in regional cinema.