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): Anzhela Balakhonova • Augusta Holmès • Bill Holland • Claudia Gesell • Daniel Cleary • Derrick Tribbett • Edward Willis Redfield • Elliot Easton • Gino Cimoli • Justin Edinburgh • Karl Dorrell • Lawrence Lucie • Leonard Maltin • Mario Basler • Mirza Tahir Ahmad • Rosemary Leach • Trish Stratus

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