Biography of "Gopal Mishra"

(August 15, 1920 - 1998)

The greatest Sarangi player, Gopal Mishra was born on August 15, 1920, in Varanasi. From the age of ten, he started learning music from his father Pandit Sursahai Mishra. After the death of his father, he learnt music from Pandit Ramdasji. It took him almost 16 years to learn all the subtle secrets of music.

Gopal Mishra participated in the All India Musical Conference when he was a teenager. Within two or three years, he got the opportunity to play Sarangi in all the big provinces of India like Kashmir, Baroda, and Patiala. During the 1940s and 1950s, he played Sarangi along with all the contemporary musicians. Gopal Mishra gave company to Pandit Onkarnath Thakur for almost 20 years.

Gopal Mishra did not think it correct to play Sarangi with Sitar. He was given the title of ‘Sangat Samrat' by the King of Nepal for giving excellent company to leading instrument players in his court. In 1936, he was given an award from the Sangeet Natak Academy. He died in 1998.