In sync with times

Their words worshipped music and their experiences signified how music had in turn blessed them with its limitless treasures.

Day three at Sawai Gandharva saw brothers Rajan and Sajan Mishra regale the audience with their jugalbandi

Their words worshipped music and their experiences signified how music had in turn blessed them with its limitless treasures. As Pandit Rajan and Sajan Mishra interacted with the audiences during the Antarang programme, the third day of the Sawai Gandharva Mahotsav also saw the Mishras enthrall listeners with consummate ease with their performance.

Although the Benaras gharana is associated with Thumri, more often the singers of the gharana performed on genres ranging from classical Khayal, gayaki to Tappa and bhajans. 8220;Kashi, centuries ago had singers who consistently emphasised on Thumri and hence the association. We, however at an early age had pledged that we wouldn8217;t sing Thumri and our guru, Pandit Bade Ram Das ji Mishra, would get angry at times.Benaras has over the centuries grown as a blend of different gaayikis,8221; says Rajan Mishra.

The brothers, who were motivated to sing together by their father Pandit Hanuman Prasad Mishra and uncle, sarangi genius, Pandit Gopal Prasad Mishra, consider them to be the greatest teachers. 8220;Since childhood, we were taught to be devoted, have faith and respect the knowledge of music.Our grandfather Pandit Bade Ram Das Ji Mishra believed that one of the important things while singing is the literature in music. It is the coming together of knowledge from all our gurus that we posses today and this immense regard for music has brought us till this stage.8221;

Artistic concord and incredible coordination helps the Mishra brothers perform jugalbandi. Elaborating on the adherence, they say, 8220;Yugaal gaan is very old and Benaras has a history where many people have practised yugal gaan. When one is developing a concept, the other8217;s interference can disturb the composition. However, when we are bound spiritually, our sounds are bound to match. In fact, when we sing on the radio, people cannot identify who is singing.8221;

Carrying forward with all its glory the tutelage of the age-old lineage of Khayal singing, the Mishra brothers left the audience captivated. Music for them is irrespective of differences of Gharanas and is to be enriched and understood by sharing and discussion among its disciples. 8220;Many times, students stop learning too soon. Even now we try to attend concerts to learn and understand how music has evolved. Today, kids are addressed with the prefix Ustad. This should not happen. Learning has to reach an appropriate level to be respected with an apt status. Students who would touch my feet some years ago today shake hands with me,8221; says Rajan Mishra.