Mother-in-law was against Sharda Sinha’s songs, she stopped eating and drinking in anger, this is how her first song was recorded

Bihar’s folk singer Sharda Sinha is no more among us. The son shared this post last night on November 5 and told this sad news to the whole world with a heavy heart. he/she wrote in his/her post, ‘Your prayers and love will always be with mother. Chhathi Maiya has called the mother to herself. Mother is no longer physically among us. Let us know how Sharda Sinha became such a big singer from an ordinary woman. Even before the news of Sharda Sinha’s passing came, her son had indicated that now difficult times have come for her. he/she had appealed to all his/her fans to pray for him/her. However, Honi could not be avoided and breathed his/her last at around 9:20 pm on Tuesday night at AIIMS, Delhi. Sharda Sinha, whose identity is her Chhath songs and the story of writing and singing these songs is also quite interesting.

No daughter was born till about 30-35 years ago

In a conversation with Bhaskar about two years ago, Sharda Sinha had narrated many stories related to her life. he/she had said, ‘No daughter was born in the house till 30-35 years before my birth. I was born after many wishes. I am the only sister of 8 brothers and my mother had also raised money for me.

Sharda Sinha’s first recorded song

Recalling his/her first song, he/she had said, ‘My first recorded song was the one I sang for the first time at my brother’s wedding. I had sung this song to ask my brother for a kiss at Kohbar Dwar Chhekai. Actually, elder sister-in-law had said that you will not get such a thing, ask for it by singing. So I sang and it was like this – Dwar ke chikai neg pehle chukaiyo, hey Dularua bhaiya, tab jahiya kohbar apan.’

Got offer to sing bhajan in Thakurbari

She had told that she got married in the year 1970 and she went to her in-laws’ house in Begusarai, where the atmosphere was completely different. Mother-in-law was not averse to playing his/her songs as long as it was within the walls of the house. However, his/her father-in-law liked bhajan kirtan. Shardar Sinha had told, ‘Only 5 days had passed since the marriage when the village head told my father-in-law that he/she has heard that your daughter-in-law sings very well, so please sing a song or two. ‘ he/she said – Ask your daughter-in-law to sing bhajans in Thakurbari (village temple). And with this, father-in-law gave permission to sing bhajans in Thakurbari.

She followed her father-in-law without making eye contact.

However, mother-in-law did not like all this. he/she did not like that his/her daughter-in-law sang among the people. Sharda Sinha had said in her interview, ‘I got a chance to sing and without thinking anything, I followed my mother-in-law and father-in-law without making eye contact. She started singing the hymn of Tulsidas ji with her pallu on her head – Mohe Raghuvar ki sudhi came to mind.

Gradually the mother-in-law’s opposition diminished.

he/she had further said, ‘The joy of singing was so great that I forgot where I was. After the song, father-in-law and village elders gave blessings. But mother-in-law became so angry that she did not eat food for two days. After this, somehow her husband convinced her and asked her – If we had sung, would she have thrown us out of the house? With this, mother-in-law’s opposition gradually reduced.

My husband was very ill in his/her childhood.

Since childhood, our grandmother, especially our grandmother, used to come to Patna and celebrate Chhath. It is said that offering Arghya in river Ganga is considered very auspicious and sacred. From that time onwards, the Chhath songs sung at home used to be heard in my ears and they sounded so good that they were remembered. he/she said, ‘Apart from my mother, my mother-in-law also used to celebrate Chhath. Being the elder daughter-in-law, my mother-in-law used to tell me every ritual of Chhath and the stories related to it. My mother-in-law and I used to celebrate Chhath because my husband was very ill in his/her childhood. he/she prayed to Chhathi Maiya for his/her recovery. By preserving these stories of my life, I wrote Chhath songs to be sung in every village and recorded them.

Four such songs of Chhath

‘Domini Beti Sup Lele Thar Che’, ‘Angana Mein Pokhari Khanaib, Chhathi Maiya Aithin Aaj’, ‘Mora Bhaiya Gaila Munger’ and Shyama Khele Gaila Haili O Bhaiya’ were four such songs of Chhath, which I recorded in 1978.

‘I kept this fast for my husband, son, daughter and family’

he/she has also said a lot about Chhath songs. he/she said, ‘Kelwa Ke Paat Par Uge La Suraj Dev’, ‘Ho Dinanath’, ‘Sona Saath Kuniya Ho Dinanath’ are some of the songs which I used to sing to my grandmother at home and after marriage to my mother-in-law during Chhath. had heard. he/she told that through these songs, the Sun God is prayed to rise early. They are also told that I have observed this fast for the good health and happiness and peace of my husband, son-daughter and family. From here I felt that these songs must be sung.