Classical music singer, Pandit Rajan Mishra died in the Ganga Ram Hospital in New Delhi at the age of 70. He was undergoing treatment after testing positive for Covid-19 and suffered from a cardiac arrest on Sunday. Mishra was moved to Ganga Ram Hospital from Saint Stephen's Hospital for ventilator support.
Mishra was born into a family of classical music enthusiasts in 1951 in Uttar Pradesh's Varanasi. He was first taught classical music by his grandfather Pandit Bade Ram Das Mishra, and was later mentored by the legendary Pandit Hanuman Prasad Mishra.
In 2007, he was awarded the Padma Bhushan, the third-highest civilian award in India. He was also a recipient of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, the Gandharva National Award and the National Tansen Samman.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a tweet that the passing away of Pandit Rajan Mishra is a loss to the world of art and music.
शास्त्रीय गायन की दुनिया में अपनी अमिट छाप छोड़ने वाले पंडित राजन मिश्र जी के निधन से अत्यंत दुख पहुंचा है। बनारस घराने से जुड़े मिश्र जी का जाना कला और संगीत जगत के लिए एक अपूरणीय क्षति है। शोक की इस घड़ी में मेरी संवेदनाएं उनके परिजनों और प्रशंसकों के साथ हैं। ओम शांति!
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 25, 2021
Veteran singer Lata Mangeshkar also paid her tribute and said, “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 (sic)."
Mujhe abhi pata chala ki bahut guni shastriya gayak Padma Bhushan Sangeet Natak Akademi puraskar se sammanit Pandit Rajan Mishra ji Ka nidhan hua hai. Ye sunke mujhe bahut dukh hua. Ishwar unki aatma ko shanti pradan kare. Meri samvedanaayein unke pariwar ke saath hai.
— Lata Mangeshkar (@mangeshkarlata) April 25, 2021
Musician Salim Merchant also tweeted and said, “Heartbreaking news - Padma Bhushan Shri Rajan Mishra Ji left us today. He died of Covid in Delhi. He was a renowned classical singer of the Benaras Gharana & was one half of the brother duo Pandit Rajan Sajan Mishra. My condolences to the Family, Om Shanti (sic)."
Heartbreaking news - Padma Bhushan Shri Rajan Mishra ji left us today. He died of Covid in Delhi . He was a renowned classical singer of the Benaras Gharana & was one half of the brother duo pandit Rajan Sajan mishra.
— salim merchant (@salim_merchant) April 25, 2021
My condolences to the Family
Om Shanti
Dr Shailesh Kumar, a classical singer and one of his disciples told CitySpidey, “When I came from Bihar to pursue my masters, there was no one with me. During those hard times, my guru was there for me. And whatever I am today is just because of him. Guruji's death is a huge loss for the classical music industry.”
He also recognised his past and said, “When we met he always used to ask me 'Shailesh beta kaise ho (how are you Shailesh)'. He was a very person. I used to watch his programmes in the 90s. After I had attended 4-5 programmes, he noticed me and since 1996, I've been learning music under his guidance."
