Pandit Anokhelal Mishra, also spelt as Anokhe Lal Misra, was a renowned musician and tabla artist from Varanasi. He is an important name among percussionists, belonging to the Banaras Gharana. He was fondly addressed as Pandit Anokhelalji by his disciples and fans. He died at a young age of 44, on 10th March 1958, suffering from Gangrene of his left foot. Misra was at his career peak those days. He is regarded as a great inspiration by newer generations of tabla artists, even today.
Biography of Pandit Anokhelal Mishra: The Legendary King of ‘Na Dhin Dhin Na’
He was born into a poor family in the holy city of Kashi in 1914. He struggled with poverty during his younger days. He was initiated into tabla by Bhairow Prasad Mishra of Banaras Gharana during his early childhood. Bhairow Prasad Mishra was the most celebrated maestro of the Ram Sahai lineage in those days. Anokhelal was only 5 or 6 when Mishra recognised his talent. In fact, Bhairow Prasad Mishra was a disciple of Bhagat-ji, who learnt the Banaras tradition of tabla from its founder Ram Sahai. Young Anokhelal Mishra lost both his parents during his teens, and he was brought up by his grandmother.
Anokhelal learnt tabla for about 15 years from Bhairow Prasad Mishra
After learning from his guru, he had a short career in the musical world. During this short time, he made a name of his own and also a few disciples, including Chandra Nath Shastri and many more. Mishra always kept a low profile and never glorified his talent, despite being a great artist of this genre. But his talent was always appreciated by his fans and music lovers.
The Jadugar of ‘ Na Dhin Dhin Na’
He possessed an extraordinary ability to execute specific complex syllables, and was called the Jadugar (Magician) of ‘ Na Dhin Dhin Na’, as he was skilled at fast playing this phrase using first finger. He used his first finger at blistering, supersonic speeds while retaining absolute crystalline clarity. This flawless sound production (nikas) earned him the title of Jadugar (Wizard) among his peers.
As a solo performer and accompany
He performed as a solo artist and also accompanied many artists, and he performed across the country. He was the preferred accompanist (Sangat) for iconic instrumentalists like Ustad Allauddin Khan, Ustad Vilayat Khan, and Ustad Ali Akbar Khan.
He was a regular performer at All India Radio’s prestigious National Programme of Music. He was featured prominently in the historic 1940 documentary, Music of India. By the late 1950s, his legendary recordings were being broadcast internationally by the Voice of America.
It came as a big shock to his fans when he passed away aged only 44. The famous contemporary maestro Pandit Samta Prasad once famously stated in an interview that he only played “one-fourth” of what Anokhelal was truly capable of achieving. In a true sense, we lost a true star, before it fully bloomed.
Pandit Chhannulal Mishra, Hindustani vocalist and an exponent of the Banaras gharana, was married to his daughter.
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