Maithili Thakur

Maithili Thakur (born 25 July 2000) is an Indian politician and playback singer trained in Indian classical music and folk music. She has sung original songs, covers, and traditional folk music in Hindi, Marathi, Bhojpuri, Awadhi, Magahi, and other Indic languages. In 2025, she entered politics at the age of 25 becoming the second youngest MLA in India after Sushma Swaraj of Bharatiya Janata Party who was 25 years in 1977 when she was elected as Member of the Legislative Assembly (India) from Haryana  . Thakur was elected as Member of Bihar Legislative Assembly , after winning the 2025 Bihar elections from Alinagar as a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Early life
Thakur was born in Madhubani, Bihar to a Maithili musician and music teacher working in Delhi Ramesh Thakur and Bharti Thakur. She is named after the goddess Sita as well as her mother tongue. Maithili, along with her two brothers, Rishav and Ayachi, was trained by her grandfather and father in Maithili folk and Hindustani classical music, harmonium and tabla. Realising his daughter's potential around the age of 6, her father relocated the family to Dwarka in New Delhi for better opportunities. She began learning music from her grandfather, her first music master when she was only 4 years old. At the age of 10, she started singing at jagrans and other musical functions.

Music career
In 2011, Thakur appeared in Little Champs, a singing competition television series telecast on Zee TV. Four years later, she contested in Indian Idol Junior, telecast in Sony TV. She won the "I Genius Young Singing Star" competition in 2016, following which she launched her album, Ya Rabba (Universal Music). In 2017, Thakur was a contestant in season 1 of Rising Star, a television singing competition. Maithili was the first finalist of the show, singing Om Namah Shivaya which gained her direct entry into the final. She ended as runner up, losing out by just two votes. Following the show, her internet popularity rose significantly. After huge success with their videos on Facebook and YouTube, Thakur and her brothers began performing at various national and international events. Maithili has been awarded Atal Mithila Samman by the Government of India. In 2019 Maithili and her brothers were made the brand ambassadors of Madhubani by the Election Commission. Rishav is on the tabla and Ayachi is a singer and performs often on percussion as well. She was awarded Lokmat Sur Jytosna National Music Award 2021 by the Information & broadcast Minister Anurag Thakur. Maithili Thakur on her YouTube channel along with her two younger brother Rishav and Ayachi sings famous Ramcharitmanas by Tulsidas. This Manaspath gives a huge success to Maithali as well as to her brothers. Currently they are on 302nd episode and couplet (doha) no. 236 of Ayodhya kanda as of 07 April 2024.

Promotion of Madhubani art
Maithili Thakur has played an instrumental role in promoting Madhubani art, a traditional folk art form rooted in the Mithila region of Bihar, India. She creatively weaves elements of this vibrant art into her musical journey, often incorporating its themes and motifs into her performances. Through this fusion, she not only enriches her artistic expression but also brings Madhubani art to a wider audience. Leveraging platforms like YouTube and Instagram, Maithili shares content that highlights the history, techniques, and cultural importance of Madhubani painting. Her engaging posts, which often include visuals and stories about the art form, help educate her followers and spark interest in this unique cultural tradition worldwide. As a leading voice in Indian folk music, Maithili Thakur embodies the cultural depth of the Mithila region. By integrating traditional songs and themes inspired by Madhubani art into her repertoire, she actively preserves and promotes her heritage. She also participates in exhibitions, fairs, and cultural festivals dedicated to traditional Indian art, helping spotlight Madhubani painting and inspiring others to appreciate and support it. Through her artistic contributions and public outreach, Maithili Thakur has played a vital role in keeping Madhubani art vibrant and relevant, ensuring its legacy continues to thrive among new audiences both in India and around the world.

Political career
In 2025, several media outlets reported that Thakur was considering entering politics ahead of the Bihar Legislative Assembly elections. She met with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders, including Vinod Tawde and Union Minister Nityanand Rai, prompting speculation about a possible candidature from her native constituency of Benipatti in Madhubani district.  On 14 October 2025, Thakur formally joined the BJP and got ticket from Alinagar constituency. She won the seat by 11730 votes and became the youngest representative to be elected to the Bihar Legislative Assembly as well as the youngest serving MLA in the country. Under Article 173 of the Constitution of India, 25 is the minimum age required for membership of a state legislative assembly.

Awards and recognition
Maithili Thakur has received several awards and recognitions throughout her career.
 National Creators Award: Maithili Thakur was awarded the Cultural Ambassador of the Year Award by the Prime Minister of India at the inaugural National Creators Award on 8 March 2024.

 NHRCCB India Pride Award: National Human Rights and Crime Control Bureau awarded NHRCCB India Pride Award to Maithali Thakur on 30 July 2022.

See also

 Madhubani art

Notes

References



External links

Category:Living people
Category:2000 births
Category:Indian women folk singers
Category:Indian folk singers
Category:Indian women classical singers
Category:Indian women playback singers
Category:Hindi-language singers
Category:Bhojpuri-language singers
Category:Women musicians from Bihar
Category:Singers from Bihar
Category:People from Madhubani, India
Category:Politicians from Bihar
Category:Bharatiya Janata Party politicians from Bihar
Category:Bihar MLAs 2025–2030
Category:Women members of the Bihar Legislative Assembly
Category:Women in Bihar politics
Category:21st-century Indian singers
Category:21st-century Indian women singers
Category:21st-century Indian women politicians
Category:Indian YouTubers