VARANASI (Rajeev Sharma) Hindustani classical music has lost one of its most revered voices, as Pandit Chhannulal Mishra passed away in the early hours of Thursday. The celebrated vocalist, aged 89, had been under treatment for several days in a hospital following age-related health complications.
According to his family, Mishra had been ill for the past couple of weeks and was admitted to a medical facility after his condition deteriorated. He was staying with his youngest daughter in Mirzapur during his final days. His daughter, Namrata Mishra, confirmed that he took his last breath around 4 a.m.
Born in 1936 in Azamgarh, Pandit Chhannulal Mishra emerged as a towering figure in Indian classical music, known especially for his association with the Banaras Gharana and his expertise in various traditional styles such as Khayal, Thumri, Dadra, Chaiti, and Bhajan. His vocal artistry, rooted in deep tradition, also carried a rare emotional depth that made his performances memorable for audiences across generations.
He began his musical journey under the guidance of his father, Badri Prasad Mishra, and went on to train with Ustad Abdul Ghani Khan and Thakur Jaidev Singh of the Kirana Gharana. Over the decades, he became a key figure in preserving and promoting the Purbi Ang tradition of classical singing.
Tributes have poured in from across the nation, including from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who called Mishra’s death a deep personal loss. Taking to social media platform X, the Prime Minister remembered him as a cultural icon who not only upheld the rich legacy of Indian music but also shared a personal bond with him. Modi noted that Mishra had been his proposer for the Varanasi parliamentary seat in 2014, calling him “a guiding light in both art and life.”
Pandit Mishra was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2010 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2020, recognizing his unmatched contribution to Indian classical music and cultural heritage.
He is survived by three daughters and a son, Ramkumar Mishra, who is also a renowned tabla artist. His wife had passed away four years ago.
The last rites of the maestro will be performed in Varanasi on Thursday evening. His passing marks the end of an era, but his voice and legacy will continue to echo through generations of music lovers.
