Belonging to two of the most respected families of the Banaras Gharana tradition of music, the brothers Rahul and Rohit Mishra, quite literally have music running in their veins Their paternal grandfather was the late Pt. Baijnath Prasad Mishra of the Benaras Gharana of sarangi and their maternal grandfather was Late Pt. Ram Sahai-ji the founder of Banaras style of tabla playing). Born and raised
in Varanasi (Benaras), Rahul (1986) and Rohit (1988) both displayed a flair for music at a tender age. Early in their formative years, it was decided that they would pursue vocal music and they were initially trained in singing by their father, Pt. Triloki Nath Mishra. As the initial years of musical training passed, the brothers were inspired by the Benaras Gharana’s famous singing duo, Padmabhushan Pt. Rajan and Sajan Mishra. With this ideal in mind, they commenced their training in classical vocal music under the tutelage of a renowned vocalist of the Benaras Gharana, Pt. Rajeshwar Prasad Mishra. In 2007, after several years of training, Rahul and Rohit became disciples of the inimitable octogenarian, Padmabhushan Dr. Smt. Girija Devi ji, herself a disciple of their great grandfather, Pt. Sarju Prasad Mishra. They continue to receive advanced training from her, in the traditional guru-shishya parampara at her residence in Kolkata. When the brothers began their singing career at the ages of 13 and 11, respectively, they were recognized as accomplished Bhajan singers. In just a few years however, they made their public debut as exponents of pure classical music at the ages of 19 and 17, in Sangeet Sabha Kashi, the organisation of the late Padmavibhushan Pt. Kishan Maharaj ji, where they received the blessings of the most renowned musicians of Benaras. Today, Rahul and Rohit maintain a busy performing career alongside their studies in music. They are professionally trained in most of the forms of singing that are typical of the Benaras Gharana, including Khayal, Thumri, Tappa, Dadra, Chaiti, Kajri, Hori, Bhajan etc. Their recitals display their prowess in presenting this multifaceted repertoire. They have performed for Doordarshan, Lucknow (TV) and All India Radio in Varanasi. Their performances at Rotary Club of Varanasi and of Kolkata were widely acclaimed and they received the Dr. Bani Gupta Memorial Award by the Rotary Club (Kolkata) in the field of classical music in 2008. They have also performed in V.S.K BAITHAK in New Delhi, GURUVANDAN FESTIVAL in Jaipur, GYAN PRAVAHA Kolkata and Varanasi, ” YAADEIN”(Sangeet Natak Academy) concert in Lucknow,and one of the prestigious concert of Varanasi SANKAT MOCHAN FESTIVAL and Ganga mahotsav festival. They have also conduted the workshop for SPIC MACAY in Kolkata. The duo also holds a Praveen degree from Prayag Sangeet Samiti, Allahabad and also doing M.A. in music from Rabindra Bharati University, in Kolkata.They also hold a National scholarship from ministry of culture of india in 2011.
