Legendary Hindustani classical vocalist Pandit Chhannulal Mishra, recipient of the Padma Vibhushan, passed away early Thursday at the age of 89. His daughter confirmed that the maestro breathed his last around 4 am after a prolonged illness.
Mishra had been living in Mirzapur with his youngest daughter’s family. His health worsened late Wednesday night, and though he was admitted to a hospital, he could not recover.
“He was admitted for the last 17–18 days with age-related complications. He passed away this morning at around 4 am,” said his daughter, Namrata Mishra.
Nation Mourns the Loss
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep grief over Mishra’s passing, describing him as a towering figure in India’s cultural landscape. In his condolence message on X, the Prime Minister recalled Mishra’s blessings and his role as one of the proposers for his Varanasi Lok Sabha candidature in 2014.
A Life Dedicated to Music
Born in Azamgarh in 1936, Pandit Mishra trained under his father Badri Prasad Mishra, as well as Ustad Abdul Ghani Khan of the Kirana gharana, and Thakur Jaidev Singh. Over the decades, he became an acclaimed exponent of the Banaras gharana and the Purab Ang tradition of Thumri.
His rich repertoire spanned Khayal, Thumri, Dadra, Chaiti, Kajri, and Bhajans, earning him respect as one of the finest ambassadors of Hindustani classical music.
Awards and Recognition
Pandit Chhannulal Mishra was honored with the Padma Bhushan in 2010 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2020, recognizing his immense contribution to Indian music.
Final Journey
The maestro’s last rites will be performed in Varanasi at 5 pm. He is survived by his son, tabla player Ramkumar Mishra, and three daughters. His wife had passed away four years earlier.
With his passing, the world of Indian classical music has lost not just a voice, but a tradition-bearer who bridged generations with his art.
