At just 25 years old, folk singer Maithili Thakur has scripted an extraordinary political victory, becoming Bihar's youngest MLA while carrying with her a remarkable journey of struggle, rejection, and ultimate triumph. Contesting on a BJP ticket from the Alinagar constituency, she not only secured a decisive win but also ended her party's 17-year drought in the region.
The Early Struggles: Rejection and Resilience
Long before her political success, Maithili faced numerous setbacks in her singing career that began at the tender age of 10. In a revealing interview with Jai Madaan on YouTube, she opened up about her painful experiences with reality show rejections. "I used to cry a lot," she admitted, recalling her first audition for Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Lil Champs where she was rejected for being "too inclined towards classical music."
Determined to succeed, she adapted her approach. "When I was rejected, I told myself that I would even sing Bollywood songs if that's what it took," she remembered. However, her 2015 audition for Indian Idol brought similar disappointment. Despite her father's encouragement to stay true to classical roots, she faced rejection for the same reason. "Sometimes they don't even tell you why you are rejected. I used to feel extremely bad," she shared.
The constant failures took such an emotional toll that she seriously considered abandoning her musical dreams altogether. "I wanted to quit singing and prepare for UPSC. I was good at studies," she revealed, highlighting how close she came to choosing a completely different career path.
School Days: Battling Prejudice and Isolation
Maithili's challenges extended beyond the stage into her school life. Her exceptional talent earned her free admission to a private school, but this opportunity came with its own set of difficulties. Being surrounded by affluent classmates created social barriers that proved difficult to overcome.
"I had a phobia of girls my age. I feared their comments. They would simply say, 'stupid Bihari'," she recounted. The term 'Bihari' had been weaponized as an insult among students. "It had become like a cuss word. If two girls from Haryana got into a fight, they would call each other 'Bihari' to put the other down."
This constant mockery led her to withdraw socially. "I became a first-bencher and never made friends," she said, explaining how she couldn't relate to her classmates' discussions about vacations and sleepovers due to her family's financial constraints. Another painful memory involved her residence in Najafgarh, which was quite far from school, becoming a source of shame that she hid from her peers.
Family Sacrifices: 17 Houses in 10 Years
The Thakur family's dedication to nurturing Maithili and her siblings' musical talents came at a significant personal cost. In an earlier interview with Indian Express, her mother Bharti revealed the extent of their struggles. The family changed 17 houses in a decade due to neighbors complaining about their riyaaz (musical practice).
"We could only afford one-room houses and they were mostly attached to someone else's house. My husband's riyaaz and that of my children would disturb people and we'd have to leave," Bharti explained. She emphasized that her children were never troublesome, but the family kept moving solely to ensure they could practice peacefully.
This nomadic existence finally ended in 2017 when the family purchased their first home in Delhi's Dwarka area. In 2020, they upgraded to a larger apartment which they wisely got soundproofed, finally solving their long-standing practice disturbance issues.
Triumph Through Digital Platforms and Political Success
Maithili's fortunes began to change dramatically with the rise of social media and digital platforms. Her strategic decision to share her music on YouTube and other social media platforms proved transformative. Today, she boasts an impressive digital footprint with 5 million YouTube subscribers, 6 million Instagram followers, and over 14 million Facebook followers.
Her breakthrough came after winning a music reality show, which opened doors to prestigious opportunities, including calls from the offices of renowned filmmakers Karan Johar and Yash Chopra. This recognition validated her talent and paved the way for her current status as a massive singing star.
Her political achievement as Bihar's youngest MLA at 25, bringing BJP back to power in Alinagar after 17 years, represents the culmination of her journey from rejection to recognition. Her story serves as a powerful testament to perseverance, family support, and the ability to transform adversity into achievement.
