Why did the frog sing? How did others like his song?

The frog sings his songs for the entire bog to hear each night under the sumac tree simply because he enjoys singing and has an inherent desire to express himself in an artistic manner. Vikram Seth writes that the frog was determined "to display his heart's elation," which is why he sang each night. Despite the frog's personal feelings regarding his affinity for singing, the other animals in the bog "loathe" his deep voice. Whenever the nightingale initially sings her beautiful song, the animals in the bog applaud her pleasant song. The next day, the frog approaches the naive nightingale and mentions that he is well known for his "splendid baritone." The frog's comment implies that he lacks a certain self-awareness and is proud of his voice. After manipulating the nightingale and witnessing her die of exhaustion, the frog calls her stupid and says,

"Well, poor bird—she should have known That your song must be your own. That's why I sing with panache" (Vikram Seth).

The frog's comment gives further insight into why he feels the need to sing each night under the sumac tree. The frog has an inherent desire to express himself in an artistic way that is uniquely his own. The frog feels fulfilled when he sings his heart out and does not care whether or not any other creature enjoys his voice. In contrast, the nightingale values the opinion of others and dies while trying to please the frog and her audience.