Lucknow: Celebrated Hindustani classical singer Pandit Chhannulal Mishra, who passed away in Uttar Pradesh's Mirzapur at the age of 89 on Thursday, loved Varanasi and lived the city's free spirit, something that showed both on and off the stage.

The highly-acclaimed Padma Vibhushan awardee singer, who melded folk and ragas, culture and devotion, and sang to us of the joy of Holi, the yearning for 'sawan' and timeless tales from the Ramayana, was also a skilful teacher, who in his own inimitable style taught music and its message to his audience from the stage, helping the masses connect with the varied nuances of classical music.

Pandit ji or Guru ji, as he was fondly called, taught in an inter college in Varanasi before he decided to devote himself full time into singing.

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