Padma Bhushan Awardee Pandit Chhannulal Mishra passes away, PM Modi pays tribute

Eminent Hindustani classical vocalist and Padma Bhushan awardee Pandit Chhannulal Mishra passed away on Thursday morning in Mirzapur at the age of 89.

The veteran singer, known for his command over the Kirana gharana and popularisation of classical and devotional music, breathed his last at 4:15 a.m. He had been ailing for some time and was admitted to Sir Sunder Lal Hospital at Banaras Hindu University (BHU) last month following complaints of chest pain and a minor heart attack.

Doctors later diagnosed him with a chest infection and anaemia. He was discharged recently after showing signs of recovery, but his condition deteriorated again, leading to his demise.

His mortal remains were to be brought to Varanasi by 11 a.m. for public homage, and the last rites were scheduled for 7 p.m.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sorrow over the demise of the celebrated classical singer. In a post on X, he said, “I am deeply saddened by the demise of the renowned classical singer Pandit Chhannulal Mishra ji. He remained dedicated throughout his life to the enrichment of Indian art and culture. Along with taking classical music to the masses, he also made an invaluable contribution to establishing Indian tradition on the global stage.”

“It is my good fortune that I always received his affection and blessings. In the year 2014, he was also my proposer from the Varanasi seat. In this hour of grief, I express my deepest condolences to his family and admirers. Om Shanti!” he added.

Pandit Mishra, who hailed from Varanasi, enjoyed a long and illustrious career that spanned decades. Known for his renditions of khayal, thumri, dadra, and bhajan, he played a key role in taking classical music to the wider public. He was honoured with the Padma Bhushan in 2010 and was also a recipient of the Yash Bharti Award conferred by the Uttar Pradesh government.