Sharda Sinha: example of folk singing (file photo)
The absence of folk singer Sharda Sinha is the biggest loss to the tradition of folk songs, where melody, music, indigenous language, customs and traditions are practiced with discipline. Popular songs, especially Bhojpuri songs, have been targeted for their lightness and vulgarity, but Sharda Sinha’s Bhojpuri songs are recitation of life values and social traditions. There are the desires of rural women and also the working world of farmers. He often complained about double meanings and obscene words in popular tunes. A few years before his death, he had said: I want to conduct a cleanliness campaign on folk songs or Bhojpuri songs. She had openly said: She wants to prepare the new generation. But today his wish remained unfulfilled.
Had it not been for Sharda Sinha, the musical splendor of weddings, folk songs and the Chhath festival of Purvanchal might not have been seen today, making the world its admirer. Apart from popular songs, he has left an indelible mark of his singing in easy music, ghazals, classical music and even in some films. Now, who will carry forward their tradition seems to be a difficult question in today’s music and musical environment. Folk singers like Malini Awasthi, Maithili Thakur and Deepali Sahay are part of their tradition. But the search for indigenous charm in Sharda Sinha’s voice will continue.
History of struggle of musical practice.
At the time when Sharda Sinha started singing, it was not very easy for a woman from an elite family to go on stage and sing. This was a rebellion that shook tradition and the environment. Sharda Sinha’s life journey, her personal struggle and her artistic practice contain transformative dimensions. After Padmashree, he received the Padma Bhushan award for his contribution and practice in folk art heritage. I had a long conversation with him after receiving the Padma Bhushan award. This interview was about the journey of his life, his musical journey and his future plans. In this interview, he talked about taking a resolution to bring about a big change in Bhojpuri songs and music. He said he wants to teach folk music to the new generation.
Discipline in popular songs is not easy.
Sharda Sinha had answered the question: I have always paid attention to selection. The good thing is that people also liked my songs. But now I want to carry out a clean-up campaign in folk music. Understand that this is my wish now. I think you can only teach someone a lesson when you yourself are disciplined.
He said that I have remained very disciplined and controlled in the midst of many temptations in my life. This is part of my meditation. For the past twenty-five years I have been telling my loved ones that if you have talent, follow the right path. There is no lack of talent here, it’s just that the direction is wrong and that’s why they go astray. That’s why I want to launch a cleanliness drive, especially in Bhojpuri. It is necessary to give direction to the new generation. They are in a hurry.
What is the meaning of the cleanup mission in music?
I asked him what is the meaning of the cleanliness campaign? Is there cleanliness in the vocabulary, expression and representation of Bhojpuri songs and music? Then he said: Yes, you are absolutely right. This is what I mean. He further said: Look, there is no dirt in this world of ours. But because of the way the words are chosen here or the way they are expressed, we have no hesitation in saying that it has become very dirty. Even without nudity, we can represent makeup well and get closer to people’s sensibilities.
Nudity is not necessary in entertainment.
Sharda Sinha said that such representation provides entertainment and in fact it is healthy entertainment but some people have started considering nudity as necessary, this is very sad. And this is the reason why today people think about Bhojpuri has become similar. They believe that Bhojpuri means vulgarity. However, that is not the case. This environment has been created thanks to some people. It is said that one fish fouls the entire pond, and that is exactly what is happening.
Now I asked you this question: People are considering Bhojpuri folk singing as synonymous with vulgarity or obscenity… But we also see vulgarity in Rajasthani, Haryanvi or Punjabi folk singing, but why do people focus only on the Bhojpuri?
Lightness damages popular culture
In response to this he said that this is a very good question. Along with Bhojpuri, he has also mentioned those regional languages that contain obscenities. Thank you so much. Many people still target only Bhojpuri. As far as obscenity is concerned, it is common in many regional languages. You are talking about the dialects of the Hindi speaking region, I have also heard obscene words in Tamil language. I have heard in Bengali. But obscenity always damages any cultural dignity. Popular culture cannot be understood lightly.
professional practice of folk singing
Believe me, when Sharda Sinha started singing, no professional tradition of folk singing had developed. He worked hard for this. He had a fight on the ground. But later, a great achievement was added to his name: no folk festival of Bihar or Purvanchal is complete without his songs. Unless their songs are played, the color and joy of the folk festival is not felt.
He said I worked very hard to collect popular songs. I used to collect songs from wherever I could. Each song has its own interesting story. But nothing was done systematically. Suppose you choose two or four songs from the books of Bhojpuri, Maithili and Hindi lyricist poets like Vidyapati, Bhikhari Thakur, Mahendra Mishra or Gopaldas Neeraj and compose them; this never happened. It gave a classical basis to many songs that were already sung in the towns. So that people will listen to it for years and find it enjoyable. I used to listen to the songs of farmers and workers, I used to listen to women singing at weddings and I gave melody and tone to those songs. In this way the professional tradition of folk singing was created.
