Pandit Chhannulal Mishra Death: Know how Chhannulal Mishra, the great singer of Banaras Gharana and Grocery Gharana, took classical music to the people and became close to PM Modi. His death is an irreparable loss to Indian art lovers.
Varanasi. Pandit Chhannulal Mishra, the great hero of Indian classical music, departed from this world in Mirzapur on Thursday morning. Born in Hariharpur, Azamgarh in 1936, Mishra ji showed his deep understanding in music since childhood. His grandfather Gudai Maharaj Shanta Prasad was a famous tabla player and father Badri Prasad Mishra taught him the nuances of music at a young age.
How and when did Chhannulal Mishra’s music journey start?
At the age of six, Chhannulal started music practice and at the age of nine he got an opportunity to learn the idea from his first Guru Ustad Gani Ali Sahab. After this, he also trained with the famous Ustad Abdul Ghani Khan and Thakur Jaydev Singh of the grocery gharana. In this way Pandit Mishra’s music journey began, which became a representative artist of the singing of Banaras Gharana and Grocery Gharana.
Why did Banaras become the Karmabhoomi of Chhannulal Mishra?
Chhannulal Mishra took classical singing like Khayal, Thumri, Bhajan, Dadra, Kajri and Chaiti to the people in his entire life. His music was not only singing, but also the message of Indian culture and tradition. In Banaras, he performed music by living in a cell of the quadrilateral place and gained fame for his singing. Mishra ji received many national honors for his contribution. The Sangeet Natak Akademi Award was awarded in the year 2000, Padma Bhushan in 2010 and Padmavibhushan in 2020. His music identified classical music not only in India but also globally.
How was Chhannulal Mishra’s relationship with PM Modi?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared a picture of Pandit Chhanulal Mishra on his social media and said that his death is an irreparable loss for Indian art lovers. PM Modi wrote that Mishra ji was devoted to Indian art and culture throughout his life and he played an important role in spreading classical music to the people. In 2014, he was also the proponent of PM Modi from Varanasi seat.
Message of classical music to the public
The singing of Chhannulal Mishra was not limited to art only. His music distinguished Indian tradition and culture on the world stage. He worked to convey the music to the simple and people, so that the younger generation could also understand its depth. It is learned from his life that music is not only art, but a legacy and culture, which is necessary to reach generations to come.