Neha Singh Rathore
| Neha Singh Rathore | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1997 Jandaha, Bihar, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Education | B.Sc., Kanpur University |
| Occupation | Folk Singer, Songwriter, Political Satirist |
| Years active | 2020–present |
| Known for | Bihar Mein Ka Ba; UP Mein Ka Ba; UP Mein Ka Ba? Session-2; MP Mein Ka Ba |
| Parents | |
| Spouse | Himanshu Singh |
| Website | |
Neha Singh Rathore is an Indian folk singer, songwriter, and political satirist known for her Bhojpuri-language compositions that address political, social, and governance issues. She gained nationwide recognition through her viral songs “Bihar Mein Ka Ba” (2020), “UP Mein Ka Ba?” (2022), “UP Mein Ka Ba? Session-2” (2023), and “MP Mein Ka Ba?” (2023), all of which sparked strong public and political reactions across India. Her bold lyrical commentary and simple folk presentation have made her one of the most influential contemporary voices in Bhojpuri socio-political music.
Early Life and Education
Neha Singh Rathore was born in 1997 and raised in Jandaha, Bihar. Her father worked as an architect, while her mother was both a homemaker and a singer, influencing Rathore’s early musical exposure. She is the youngest of three siblings.
Rathore pursued higher education at Kanpur University, completing her Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree in 2018.
Career
Beginnings (2019–2020)
In 2019, Rathore began composing and singing Bhojpuri folk songs. With minimal resources, she recorded videos on her mobile phone and uploaded them to Facebook. She has often cited celebrated Bhojpuri poets Bhikhari Thakur and Mahendar Misir as her artistic inspirations.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, after witnessing the migrant worker crisis triggered by the 2020 lockdown, she launched her YouTube channel in May 2020, using music and social media as a tool for public awareness.
By late 2020, she had uploaded nearly 50 viral videos across YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, quickly gaining recognition for her sharp political satire. Her signature appearance—sari in pallu style and bindi—became symbolic of her grounded and fearless messaging.
YouTube Growth and Recognition
In 2021, Rathore received the YouTube Silver Creator Award after surpassing 100,000 subscribers. By November 2023, her channel had grown to 1.2 million subscribers, and she was consistently releasing two to four songs per month, many of which engaged directly with current socio-political events.
Major Works
Bihar Mein Ka Ba (2020)
Her song “Bihar Mein Ka Ba”, adapted from Manoj Bajpayee’s “Bambai Mein Ka Ba”, became a major hit during the 2020 Bihar Legislative Assembly election. The song highlighted issues faced by Bihar’s migrant workers and sparked widespread debate on social media. UP Mein Ka Ba? (2022)
UP Mein Ka Ba? (2022)
Uploaded in January 2022, “UP Mein Ka Ba?” was a direct response to BJP MP Ravi Kishan’s pro-government song “UP Mein Sab Ba”. Rathore’s version pointed out issues such as:
- Deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic
- The Lakhimpur Kheri violence
- The Hathras gang-rape case
- Governance failures and law-and-order concerns
The song went viral and placed her at the center of Uttar Pradesh’s pre-election discourse. UP Mein Ka Ba? Session-2 (2023)
UP Mein Ka Ba? Session-2 (2023)
Released in February 2023, the sequel criticized the Uttar Pradesh government over the Kanpur Dehat eviction drive that resulted in the deaths of two women. Following its release:
- Uttar Pradesh Police issued a notice to Rathore.
- National political figures, including Akhilesh Yadav and Manish Sisodia, condemned the notice.
- The Indian People's Theatre Association (IPTA) denounced the action as a threat to freedom of expression.
Rathore remained firm, stating:
“I stand by the song and I will keep on singing.”
MP Mein Ka Ba? (2023)
On 7 July 2023, a FIR was registered against Rathore by a BJP worker for a caricature she shared on social media referencing the Madhya Pradesh urination incident, captioned “MP mein ka ba?”.
Days later, on 13 July, she released the song “MP Mein Ka Ba?”, which again went viral and was widely circulated by Congress leaders during the 2023 Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections.
Legacy and Impact
Neha Singh Rathore has emerged as one of the strongest contemporary voices using folk music as a tool of social and political commentary. Her work champions:
- Freedom of expression
- Commentary on governance
- Preservation of Bhojpuri folk traditions
- Bold, grassroots-level political satire
Her unique combination of traditional folk aesthetics with modern political messaging has positioned her as a powerful figure in India’s cultural and political dialogue.
References
- “Who is UP Mein Ka Ba fame Neha Singh Rathore?” Hindustan Times. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
- “Democracy gives us the right to ask questions: Neha Singh Rathore’s Bhojpuri tunes are going viral.” Scroll.in. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
- “UP Mein Ka Ba — the Neha Singh Rathore songs’ profile.” The Indian Express. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
- “Who is Neha Singh Rathore? Bhojpuri singer takes a dig at BJP’s Ravi Kishan.” SheThePeople.TV. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
- “Bhojpuri singer Neha Rathore marries Himanshu Singh in Lucknow — see first pics.” India Today. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
- “Neha Singh Rathore: UP folk singer speaks to NDTV after cops’ notice over song.” NDTV. Retrieved 2 December 2025.