<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222;">In Bihar, the doyen of Bhojpuri folk theatre art "Launda Naach" and legendary artist Ram Chandra Manjhi passed away yesterday. 97-year old Manjhi breathed his last in a hospital in Patna.</span></p>''<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br />''</p>''<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222;">He was born in a family of weaker section of society in a riverine village Tujarpur in the Nagra block of Saran district in Bihar.</span></p>''<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br />''</p>''<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222;">Manjhi was an oldest member of a troupe of great folk artist and Bhojpuri poet with the sobriquet "Shakespeare of Bhojpuri" Bhikhari Thakur. He was a staunch supporter of good and meaningful songs and performances in Bhojpuri folk theatre.</span></p>''<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br />''</p>''<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222;">Felicitated with Sangeet Natak Academy Award Manjhi was also a prestigious Padma Shri awardee in the field of Arts. President Ram Nath Kovind had honoured the legendary Launda Naach performer last year.</span></p>''<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222;"><br />''</span></p>''<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222;">The Launda Naach is a prominent Bhojpuri folk art of Bihar comprising songs, dance, comedy, satire, parody and theatre. In this art, men impersonate women wearing sari, blouse, long hair wig during the performance.</span></p>