Sharda Sinha beyond Chhath songs: Her contributions to literature, folk arts in Bihar

Sharda Sinha, Bihar kokila oregon the songbird of Bihar, passed distant connected November 5. In the affluent tributes being paid to her, her Chhath songs are getting predominant mention. Over the years, Sinha’s melodious dependable has go an inseparable portion of Chhath celebrations, and her songs are capable to marque immoderate migrant Bihari homesick. Even portion battling decease successful the hospital, she had released a Chhath opus this twelvemonth — “Dukhwa Mitai Chhathi Maiya, Raue Asara Hamar” (Mother Chhathi, region our sorrows, you are our hope), written by people writer Hriday Narayan Jha.

Sharda Sinha’s contributions to Bihari literature

However, Sharda Sinha didn’t conscionable sing Chhath songs. Probably lesser known, but arsenic important, are her contributions successful popularising the works of Bihari lit among the masses, by singing the songs of stalwart writers and poets. Those who couldn’t work were made acquainted with the works of Bihari greats done her fashionable songs.

Sharda Sinha died connected November 5. (Photo: Sharda Sinha/Facebook)

Sinha gave people lit a beardown identity. Mahendar Misir (March 16, 1865 – October 16, 1946) is known arsenic ‘Purabiya badshaah’ for his songs successful the purbi dialect. Sinha, done her voice, immortalised galore of his songs, specified arsenic Humni ke rahab jani, dunu ho praani. In the song, a woman is asking her husband, who is perchance going distant for work, who volition look aft her successful his absence. This taxable of separation owed to migration is inactive applicable successful Bihar today, and Sinha’s dependable captures the pathos and resilience beautifully.

She gave dependable to the works of poets similar Bhikhari Thakur (known arsenic the Shakespeare of Bhojpuri), Mahadev Halwai, Ram Sakal Singh, Naresh Sinha, and Vikal Samastipuri.

She besides popularised the 14th-century Maithili writer Vidyapati’s lit done her singing. In 1 of the songs, a pistillate tells a crow cawing successful her courtyard that if her hubby returns, she volition overgarment his beak with gold, erstwhile again reflecting the themes of migration and separation.

Sinha was awarded the Padma Shri successful 1991 and Padma Bhushan successful 2018 for her distinctive enactment successful bringing people poets’ creations retired of obscurity.

For poets and writers who were her contemporaries, she would beryllium with them and amended their works.

Songs of life

Sinha sang songs for each ritual related to matrimony ceremonies: Haldi, Tilak, the wedding, Lawa Merai to the bride’s farewell and Duar Chhekai. She captured successful her songs the joys and sorrows of a woman’s beingness aft reaching her in-laws’ home. She has articulated some the tribulations and triumphs of women’s lives.

In an aged medium ‘Piritiya’, she sang a singular socialist Bhojpuri song, successful which a pistillate labourer tells the zamindar she volition nary longer enactment for him, arsenic helium sends his ain lad to schoolhouse portion making hers graze his buffaloes.

Besides singing successful Bhojpuri, Maithili, Magahi, and Vajjika, Sharda Sinha besides sang for Hindi films. She sang successful Rajshri Productions’ Maine Pyar Kiya and Hum Aapke Hain Kaun, moving with euphony manager Ram-Laxman. She besides sang ‘taar bijli se patle hamare piya’ successful Anurag Kashyap’s acclaimed movie Gangs of Wasseypur.

Sharda Sinha was calved connected October 1, 1952. Until her death, she remained dedicated to people songs and music. Her songs correspond the people essence of Bihari identity.

Ashutosh Kumar Pandey is simply a freelance writer based successful Arrah, Bihar