Grammy-nominated, National Award–winning singer Shilpa Rao returned to Ranchi, the city that shaped her earliest dreams. The singer was invited to perform at Jharkhand’s 25th Foundation Day, where Shilpa stood on stage not just as one of India’s most celebrated contemporary voices but – as she calls herself – as the daughter of Ranchi, a city woven deeply into her journey.

An emotional moment came when she invited her parents on stage, honouring the people who first recognised her talent. For the united, it was Shilpa’s father who always showed his unwavering belief in her. A trained musician himself with an MA in Music, he was the one who pushed her to pursue classical training, guided her earliest riyaaz sessions, and nurtured her artistic instincts.

Not many know that it was in their

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