The first ever three-day International Bhojpuri Mahotsav was organised by the Ministry of Arts and Culture in Mauritius between 6- 8, May 2024.

Bhojpuri icon Manoj Bhawuk represented India in the festival. The event was inaugurated by the Prime Minister of Mauritius, Shri Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, while President Prithviraj Singh Roopun, concluded the three-day event, which, besides India, had representatives from the Netherlands, South Africa, Suriname, Fiji, Nigeria, Singapore, the USA, and Nepal.

A discussion on the theme of “The Bhojpuri Cinema: Past, Present and Future” was held during the festival, during which representatives of several countries, including Manoj Bhawuk presented research papers. Besides, a documentary produced by Bhawuk on the history of Bhojpuri Cinema was also exhibited at the festival, which was widely appreciated by the delegates and the audience

The festival, under the leadership of Sarita Budhoo, President of the Bhojpuri Speaking Union, was organised for the first time and it was decided that this festival would be held in other countries biannually.

WHO IS MANOJ BHAWUK?

Manoj Kumar Singh, widely known as Manoj Bhawuk is a Bhojpuri Poet, Actor, Television Presenter, Screenwriter and Bhojpuri Cinema historian. Recently, he has been conferred with Filmfare & Femina Bhojpuri Icons 2023 Award in the category of “Outstanding Contribution in Literature.” Manoj, a true Bhojpuri icon who has been ardently promoting Bhojpuri language, literature and cinema, has authored many award-winning books.

Manoj Bhawuk is the first person to have meticulously studied and documented the history of Bhojpuri Cinema. Manoj holds a diploma in theatre acting and has acted in TV shows, films and serials. Bhawuk has been the Project Head of Zee TV's reality show Sa Re Ga Ma Pa (Bhojpuri). He has been bestowed with several prestigious awards. He is also known as ‘Encyclopaedia of Bhojpuri Cinema’.

He has received the International ‘Bhojpuri Gaurav Samman, Mauritius’2014 from Sir Anerood Jugnauth, the Prime Minister of Mauritius.

Manoj Bhawuk was born on 2 January 1976 in Kausad village of Siwan district of Bihar. His father Late Ramdev Singh was a labour leader, and his mother is a homemaker. His father was the first union leader of Hindalco, Renukoot, so Manoj spent his childhood in Renukoot. Manoj completed his schooling from Hindalco High School. He started writing poems and stories from an early age. He married Anita Singh in 2005 and now they have two children Himanshu and Shivanshu.

During the time when the image of Bhojpuri cinema and music was tarnished with its vulgar and sexually explicit lyrics and choreography, Manoj Bhawuk emerged as a ray of hope and introduced people in the country and the world over to the power of good Bhojpuri writing through his songs and ghazals. His songs and ghazals gave a new lease of life to Bhojpuri literature and language. The phenomenal impact of his work is evident from the fact that, for the first time ever, two iconic brands Filmfare and Femina came forward and included Bhojpuri in their domain and honoured Manoj Bhawuk as an eminent Bhojpuri writer, poet, lyricist and critique, recognising his indelible contribution in the history of Bhojpuri cinema and literature. Manoj Bhawuk is a source of inspiration for current younger generation especially the researchers and professionals working for Bhojpuri or other mother-tongue all over the world.

Manoj is among rare such folk, who left his rewarding job in London and returned home only to serve the Bhojpuri language, when thousands of Indians emigrate every year for lucrative jobs and better lifestyle. Manoj has stimulated the current generation to preserve and promote several other mother tongues of the world.