Jang Bahadur Singh

Jang Bahadur Singh has four sons and two daughters. His music came to a complete halt when many accidents happened in his family. In 1970, his son and daughter died suddenly. He got broken and gradually reduced his singing on the stage. Misfortune had not given up yet, wife Mahesha Devi got badly burnt while cooking one day. Jang Bahadur had to take care of his wife. He could not understand whether to handle his music or family. His voice began to break. Around 1980, another son died of cancer. Then Jang Bahadur was completely broken from inside. There are two sons now, the elder son is mentally and physically disabled. He lies on the bed all day long in front of the old father Jang Bahadur. The younger son Raju has taken care of the whole family as he earns while living in abroad. At the age of 102, he still sings kirtan in the temple of his village. His younger brother and labor leader Ramdev Singh passed away in April 2022, which trembled him. Whenever he remembers his brother, he starts singing Nirgun and Kabir-bhajans.

Jang Bahadur Singh is an Indian 102 year old Bhojpuri folk singer and wrestler, who was very popular in 1940s to 1970s in Bihar, Jharkhand & Bengal Region. He is an ardent follower of Mahatma Gandhi and his principles. He was born in Kausad village in Siwan district of Bihar on 10 December 1920. He is singer of 'Vyas Style', a genre of Bhojpuri folk singing. He was a celebrated wrestlers in Bihar and Bengal Region. He was given the title of Sher-e-Bihar when he defeated a heavy weight wrestler from Bengal side. He used to inspire the youth to fight for freedom by singing patriotic songs, for which he was also imprisoned by the British. Now a days, he resides in his paternal village living his remaining years of life in oblivion.

Jang Bahadur Singh was born in Kausar Village of Siwan district of Bihar on 10 December 1920. His father Vishun Singh was a farmer and her mother Dharohara Devi was a home-maker. His father had nine sons from three marriages. His father left his mother alone with three sons. She brought up all three children on her own. He is second in all three. His one younger brother named Ramdev Singh was a famous labour leader. At the age of 22-23, Jang Bahadur had come to his younger brother, Ramdev Singh, in Coalfield, Shivpur Koilary of Jharia, Dhanbad. There, He participated in Wrestling match. He was representing Bihar in that wrestling battle. A wrestler of about three quintals fighting from the Bengal side was very famous in those times. He had been never defeated in any wrestling match. But, Jang Bahadur defeated him in that Dhanbad match and got a title Sher-e-Biharin that match. After that he started wrestling in all over Bengal and Bihar Region.