Pt Rajan Mishra (1951-2021): Benaras gharana’s precious ‘nagina’ is lost
On Sunday, classical singer, Padma Bhushan Pandit Rajan Mishra, of the musical duo Rajan-Sajan Mishra, died in Delhi due to a heart attack, after his health became critical due to Covid-19.
Many from the music fraternity were seen tweeting desperate appeals on social media, to help the 70-year-old get a ventilator, but their efforts couldn’t succeed.
In the evening, musician Salim Merchant tweeted about his tragic demise: “Padma Bhushan Shri Rajan Mishra ji left us today. My condolences to the Family. Om Shanti...”
Condolences started pouring in, and PM Narendra Modi called it an “irreplaceable loss”, whereas music composer Jeet Gannguli, wrote: “Sad news .... Padma Bhushan Pandit Shree Rajan Mishra ji is no more...”
Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, sarod exponent
It is very sad to hear about the suffering he had to go through. Such classical musicians are often referred to as national tressure, and he was Padma Bhushan. But what is the future of the Padma awardees? Some of them are suffering from financial crisis.
Shubha Mudgal, Hindustani classical vocalist
I have lost an elder brother. The fact that we as a nation failed to provide him a ventilator bed when he needed one, as we’ve failed so many others, is a painful realisation that I cannot sweep aside.
Malini Awasthi, folk singer
We came to know that he was unwell in the day time. It was already late. We tried to reach out to the authorities. It is so unfortunate. He had been a flagbearer of Indian classical music for over five decades now, and thousands of music lovers looked up to him.
Rita Ganguly, musician
He was the most precious nagina of our country. He was an important representative of Benaras gharana. I have seen him grow slowly. I have known him when he was a beginner. I can’t believe that he had to go like this.