Some musicians perform with skill. A rare few go further — they connect. Pandit Rajan Mishra, in every performance with his brother Pandit Sajan Mishra, did exactly that. He made Hindustani classical music feel expansive, grounded, and profoundly human.
I was lucky to hear them live — once in Nashik, and again in Singapore. I still listen to their Raag Durga. It isn't just technically masterful; it is emotionally immersive. The balance, the clarity, the effortless transitions between melody and silence — it leaves a lasting imprint everytime. Their performance didn’t ask for reverence — it earned it through precision, clarity, and sheer depth of expression.
Pandit Rajan Mishra represented the finest of the Banaras gharana — where tradition met discipline, and every note had purpose. His music wasn’t embellished or theatrical. It let the raga speak — and trusted the listener to follow. That’s what made it timeless.
His passing due to COVID-related complications last week was a significant loss — not just to Indian classical music, but to anyone who has ever been moved by its quiet power. He left behind not just recordings, but a standard: of what it means to dedicate your life to a craft, and to do so with humility.
Pandit Rajan Mishra may no longer be with us, but his music continues — in recordings, in memories, and in those quiet moments when only a raga will do.