Bhikhari Thakur

Bhikari Thakur was an Indian Bhojpuri language poet, playwright, lyricist, actor, folk dancer, folk singer and social activist. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest writers in the Bhojpuri language and most popular folk writer of Purvanchal and Bihar. Thakur is often called the "Shakespeare of Bhojpuri" and "Rai Bahadur". His works consist of more than a dozen plays, Monologues, poems, and Bhajans, which were printed in nearly three dozen books. His noteworthy works include Bidesiya, Gabarghichor, Beti Bechwa and Bhai Birodh. Gabarghichor is often compared with Bertolt Brecht's play The Caucasian Chalk Circle. Thakur is known as the father of the naach folk theatre tradition. He is also credited as the first person to cast male actors in female roles.

18 December 1887

Born on the same birth day (18 December): Alison Plowden • Barbora Krejčíková • Bobby Keys • Brad Pitt • Chas Chandler • Don Beebe • Gerald Barry (British Army officer) • Giuliano Razzoli • Ilario Castagner • Imad Wasim • Joan Wallach Scott • John Hull (merchant) • Josh Dallas • Julia Wolfe • Justin Edinburgh • Norm Provan • Norman Brown (guitarist) • Peter Boulware • Richard Olivier de Longueil • Rob Van Dam • Willy Brandt

Born in the same month (December 1887): Alvin York • Arthur Percival • Axel Revold • Conrad Hilton • Elizabeth Daryush • Ernst Toch • George Pólya • Josef Lada • Joseph Lamb (composer) • Kanaiyalal Maneklal Munshi • Louis Jouvet • Lynn Fontanne • Prince Naruhiko Higashikuni • Srinivasa Ramanujan • Tim Moore (comedian) • Werner Kolhörster • William Kolehmainen • Winifred Carney • Xul Solar