Pt. Rajan Mishra of Banaras Gharana passes away
Varanasi: Noted vocalist of Banaras Gharana of music Pt. Rajan Mishra passed away in Delhi on Sunday. He was 70. His demise came as a shocker to the music world.
The Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed grief on the death of Pandit Rajan Mishra. In a tweet, Shri Modi said that Pandit Rajan Mishra has left an indelible mark on the world of classical music. Departure of Mishra ji who was associated with Banaras Gharana is an irreparable loss for the art and music world. The Prime Minister conveyed his condolences to his family and admirers in this hour of grief.
“It is my personal loss. It’s a great loss to the International Music fraternity, and the biggest loss for Banaras Gharana music. No words can explain this grief. This is last year March 14, 2020 when he was at Varanasi on the occasion of RAMSA SANGEET SAMMAN,” said Ashok Kapoor of Kala Prakash, a cultural organisation.
“It was stunning to hear the sad news of the demise of the scintillating star of Banaras Gharana. It is a great loss of the music world,” said a musician Pt. Prabhash Maharaj. The local musicians and music lovers paid homage to the departed soul.
Pt. Rajan Mishra with his younger brother Pt. Sajan Mishra, both vocalists in the khayal style of Indian classical music, performed extensively in the country and abroad.
Pt. Rajan Mishra (born 1951) and Pt. Sajan Mishra (born 1956) were born and brought up in Varanasi. They received their initial musical training from their grandfather’s brother, Bade Ram Das Ji Mishra, and also their father, Hanuman Prasad Mishra, and from their uncle, sarangi virtuoso, Gopal Prasad Mishra. They started performing while they were still in their teens. They moved to Delhi in 1977.
Pt. Rajan Mishra belonged to the Banaras Gharana of music. and had been performing to audiences all over India and the world for many years. He with his brother gave their first concert abroad, in Sri Lanka in 1978, and soon they went on to perform in many countries across the world including Germany, France, Switzerland, Austria, USA, UK, The Netherlands, USSR, Singapore, Qatar, Bangladesh and Muscat
They launched around 20 music albums of the khyal style, semi classical tappa and variety of Bhajans. They were awarded with the Padma Bhushan in 2007, Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1998, Gandharwa National Award for in 1994-1995, and National Tansen Samman for 2011-12.
