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Pt Sajan Mishra celebrates 70th birthday with Amjad Ali Khan, Ashutosh Rana, Malini Awasthi and Delhi’s cultural icons
An evening of music marked legendary Hindustani classical musician Pt Sajan Mishra's 70th, with heartfelt speeches, musical notes, and lively performances. Read
The strains of music, clink of wine glasses, and raucous laughter over seven decades of stories spilled out of Silver Oak at India Habitat Centre on Thursday, as Delhi’s cultural circuit gathered to raise a toast to Padma Bhushan Pt Sajan Mishra on his 70th birthday.
Over seekh kebabs and paneer tikkas, memories were shared, smiles exchanged, and tears shed as his son, composer Swaransh Mishra and granddaughter, Kathak dancer Shinjini Kulkarni hosted the evening, tracing Sajan’s journey as a torchbearer of Hindustani classical music and the traditions of the Benaras gharana and khayal style over more than six decades.
A heartfelt tribute to his elder brother, late vocalist Rajan Mishra, the other half of the celebrated duo Rajan and Sajan Mishra, left many in attendance misty-eyed.
The mood soon turned festive as guests, including singers Malini Awasthi, Jasbir Jassi and Mohammed Sadiq, broke into song, serenading the gathering with folk, classic Bollywood, and Punjabi tunes. Sajan’s wife Kavita Mishra, daughter of late Pt Birju Maharaj, also broke into dance amid the celebrations.
Speaking to us, an emotional Mishra said, “70 years is not merely a milestone; it is a journey of countless suron, memories and blessings. On my birthday, I bow with gratitude to my gurus, my family, my brother Rajan, my students and to every rasik who has walked with me through this beautiful journey of music. May the sur never end, and may the blessings of music continue to guide us all.”
His son Swaransh added, “It is a blessing to have spent five decades of my life by his side, as his son, student and a witness to his extraordinary journey through music."
As speeches continued, sarod maestro Amjad Ali Khan shared a heartfelt tribute, saying, “Ye bahut bada mauka mila hai humein ki hum swar aur leh ke log ikatthe hue hain. Sangeet mein swar aur leh ka rishta khoon se bhi bada hai. Aur Sajan ji aur mera bhi kuch aisa hi hai. Toh hum saath aaye hain aur kahenge ki Sajan ji 100 saal dekhein!”
Actor Ashutosh Rana, addressing those in attendance, struck a note of humility as he said, “Yahan aaye diggaj sadhu nahi, swayam sadhna hain... Aap sab kalakar nahin, swayam kala hain.”
Prominent names in attendance included actor Ashutosh Rana, sarod maestro Amjad Ali Khan, instrumentalist Pt Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, actor Manu Rishi Chadha, Bharatanatyam guru Sonal Mansingh, poet Aalok Srivastava, Sachchidanand Joshi, Member Secretary of the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, classical music duo Pt Shubhendra Rao and Saskia Rao-de Haas, singer Roopkumar Rathod and poet-humourist Surender Sharma, among others.
