Journalism of Courage
Classical singer Rajan Mishra (standing) died due to Covid-19-related complications in New Delhi on Sunday, April 26, 2021. He was admitted to Delhi’s St Stephen Hospital where he suffered two heart attacks. He was 70. Belonging to Banaras Gharana, Pandit Rajan Mishra, along with his brother Pandit Sajan Mishra, wowed people with their khyaal style of Indian classical music. To celebrate his legacy, here are some pictures of the classical musician. (Source: Express Archives)
The brothers. who were born and brought up in Varanasi, received their initial musical training from their grandfather's brother Bade Ram Das Ji Mishra, their father Hanuman Prasad Mishra, and from their uncle and sarangi virtuoso Gopal Prasad Mishra. They started performing while they were still in their teens; in the picture, the brothers perform at a function by Spic Macay at DAV Public School in Ludhiana in 2015. (Source: Express Archives)
In the picture above are producer Vadde Ramesh, music director Pyarelal, Vasant Dev, director K Vishwanath, Laxmikant, Production designer GG Krishna Rao, singer Rajan Mishra, S Janki and Vadde Sobhanadra. (Source: Express Archives)
The duo had their first concert abroad in Sri Lanka in 1978, and soon went on to perform in many countries including Germany, France, Switzerland, Austria, USA, UK, The Netherlands, etc. (Source: Express Archives)
This picture was clicked during their performance at Spic Macay fest in 2008 at Govt Medical College and Hospital in Chandigarh. (Source: Express Archives)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled his demise. “I am saddened by the death of Pandit Rajan Mishra ji, who left his indelible mark in the world of classical singing. Mishraji demise, who was associated with the Banaras Gharana, is an irreparable loss to the art and music world. My condolences to his family and fans in this hour of mourning. Om Shanti!,” the PM wrote in Hindi. (Source: Express Archives)
The duo completed 50 years of duet singing in 2015. (Source: Express Archives)
Veteran singer Lata Mangeshkar also paid a tribute to him. “I came to know that the highly talented classical singer Padma Bhushan Sangeet Natak Akademi award winner Pandit Rajan Mishra ji has passed away. I am very sorry to hear this. My condolences to his family,” she wrote on Twitter in Hindi. In the picture are Sajan Mishra, sitar player Shashank Katti, Rajan Mishra, Jeetendra Abhishek, Ganesh Jain, singer Shabha Gurtu, Pandit Jasraj, music director Naushad, Ghulam Mustafa Khan, Kiran Shantaram, Ratan Jain, DK Datar, and Dr Prakash Sangeet. (Source: Express Archives)
The brothers were honoured with the Padma Bhushan award, the Sangeet Natak Akademi award and the Gandharva National award; in the picture are Sajan, producer Ratan Jain, Rajan Mishra and music director Naushad. (Source: Express Archives)
