Sharda Sinha Death: From going against in-laws to taking Rs 76 for Kahe Tose, 5 must-know life pages of singer

Legendary singer Sharda Sinha is no more. The Padma Bhushan awardee breathed her last on November 5 following a refractory shock due to septicemia. Popularly known as Bihar Kokila, Sinha had a life no less than movies. She lived, loved and embraced all hardships and struggles to reach the top and here are 5 of her life stories that made her an endearing figure for generations to remember.

1. Sharda Sinha’s struggle after marriage

The 72-year-old started singing in her childhood and coming from an educated and well-to-do family, Sharda Sinha always had the support of her family in her musical career. However, after when she got married to Braj Kishore Sharma, her in-laws weren’t too keen on seeing her pursue singing and wanted her to focus on family. However, her husband always stood by her!

She once said in a 2018 interview with The Hindu, “My mother-in-law did not eat food for 3-4 days in protest. When people outside told her that I was good, she accepted me. Maine aangan see lok geeton ko bahar nikala. Main janti nahi thi ki main kya kar rahi this par maine yehi kiya (I took folk songs outside the courtyard. I didn’t know what I was doing but I did what I felt was right).”

2. Sharda Sinha charged just Rs 76 for Maine Pyar Kiya

Salman Khan’s 1989 film Maine Pyar Kiya featured one of the career-best songs of Sharda Sinha titled Kahe Tose Sajna. The track became the epitome of Bollywood romance for decades and was a chartbuster upon its release. However, many don’t know that Sinha was only paid Rs 76 for the song while others might have charged lakhs and crores. Nonetheless, she saw a career spike soon after and went on to earn approximately Rs 20-30 lakhs per song in no time.

3. Sharda Sinha’s love story is one for the books

The singer’s son Anshuman Sinha revealed last week that Mrs Sharda has been sick ever since her husband Braj Kishore Sinha passed away on September 22 this year. The internet is filled with tributes mentioning how the loving wife couldn’t survive more than a month without her love and it’s surely a tale to tell.

In a byte to ANI last night, Anshuman revealed that his mother wanted to die before Braj Kishore but because it didn’t happen, she always wanted to leave her body in the same place as her husband's. This is why Sharda Sinha’s last rites will be held at Patna’s Gangaghat with state honours.

4. Sharda Sinha’s contribution to taking folk music to global space

Sharda Sinha holds a PhD in music and is more than just a singer, she taught across several institutions imparting the knowledge of tunes. This included her lessons at Magadh Mahila College, Prayag Sangeet Samiti, and Lalit Narayan Mithila University. During the same time, she was made the cultural ambassador of the Government of India where she performed in several countries, including Mauritius, Germany, Belgium and Holland.

She also joined All India Radio in the 1980s and was a ‘top grade’ artiste of the state-owned public radio broadcaster. Over the years, she earned several accolades including Padma Bhushan, Padma Shri, Sangeet Natak Academy Award, Rashtriya Devi Ahiliya Samman, Bihar Kala Puraskar, Bihar Ratna, Bhojpuri Ratna and Mithila Vibhuti Samman.

5. Sharda Sinha’s emergence as a voice synonymous with Chhath Puja

While she sang across various genres and north Indian languages, Sharda Sinha in just a few years of her debut became the voice of Chhath Puja (a festival held primarily in North India honouring the sun for giving life). She sang numerous puja songs including Chhathi Maiya Aayi Na Duaariya, Ho Deenanth, Patna Ke Ghate Par, and Kelwa Ke Paat Par among others.

It reached a milestone where Sharda Sinha soon started releasing one song as a mandate every year during the Chhath festival. Not to forget, this year as well, the late singer released a song titled Dukhwa Mitayin Chhathi Maiya while she was battling with her life in Delhi AIIMS. And that’s why she always said, ‘Mai yuhin nahi Sharda kehlati hun’.

RIP Legend. While Chhath would never remain the same without you, every one of your songs will scream the life you lived and the emotions your voice holds in everyone’s hearts.

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