LUCKNOW: Renowned classical singer and Padma Vibhushan awardee Pandit Channulal Mishra passed away at his residence in Mirzapur, eastern Uttar Pradesh, after a prolonged illness and old age on Thursday.
The ace singer, a doyen of Indian classical music, Pt Channulal Mishra, 89, had suffered a cardiac arrest around a week ago and was admitted to the Ramakrishna Mission Sevasram Hospital in Ojhla, Mirzapur.
The prominent vocalist had not been keeping well for the last seven months and was shifted to the ICU of Sir Sunder Lal Hospital of Banaras Hindu University (BHU) in Varanasi following a sharp deterioration in his health late on Saturday, September 13. He was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit under the Department of Medicine at 11 pm on Saturday with fever and shortness of breath.
He had been receiving treatment for Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus, Hypertension, Osteoarthritis, and Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH). During this period, the classical singer developed bed sores, complicated by septicaemia, and was diagnosed with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS).
On September 14, Sunday, Mishra was put on non-invasive ventilator support and given appropriate antibiotic therapy, insulin, and other supportive treatment measures. However, his vital parameters had started showing signs of stabilisation.
His daughter, Namrata Mishra, said that after the heart attack, doctors examined him and administered two units of blood. “He breathed his last at 4:15 am this morning at our residence in Ganga Darshan Colony, Mirzapur. He had been unwell for a long time. His last rites will be performed at Manikarnika Ghat this evening,” Namrata said.
Born on August 3, 1936, in Harirpur village of Azamgarh district, Uttar Pradesh, Pt Mishra received his initial music training from his father before pursuing formal music education in Varanasi. There, he underwent extensive training under Ustad Abdul Ghani Khan, a renowned figure of the Kirana gharana.
Pandit Mishra was famous for his style of singing, particularly the classical khayal and the Purab Ang thumri. His soulful performances, marked by emotional depth and melody, earned him national and international recognition. He was regarded as a leading exponent of Purab Ang thumri.
He was honoured with the Uttar Pradesh Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, the Naushad Award, and the Yash Bharti Award. He was conferred with the Padma Bhushan in 2010 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2020. He was also a recipient of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship.
Pt Mishra was one of the proposers of the name of Prime Minister Narendra Modi when he filed his nomination as BJP candidate from Varanasi in 2014.
Expressing profound grief, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said: “I am deeply saddened by the passing away of the renowned classical singer Pandit Channulal Mishra. He dedicated his entire life to enriching Indian art and culture. He made an invaluable contribution to popularising classical music and establishing Indian traditions on the world stage. I consider myself fortunate to have always received his affection and blessings. In 2014, he was my proposer for the Varanasi parliamentary seat. In this hour of grief, I express my deepest condolences to his family and admirers. Om Shanti!”
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also expressed his condolences, saying: “The passing of Pandit Channulal Mishra, the renowned classical vocalist and recipient of the Padma Vibhushan award, is an extremely sad and irreparable loss to the world of Indian classical music. We offer our heartfelt condolences.”
“He dedicated his entire life to the promotion and preservation of Indian classical music. His artistry and musical legacy will continue to inspire generations of musicians. We pray to Lord Rama that the departed soul may find peace, and that his grieving family, followers, and admirers may find the strength to bear this immense loss,” Yogi wrote on X.