The echo of classical music resonates from a distance. On the wall of a room, there are pictures of musical stalwarts such as Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, Pandit Rajan Sajan Mishra, Hariprasad Chaurasia, Bismillah Khan, Pandit Ganesh Prasad Mishra, and others.

This is ‘Omkar’ Pandit Ganesh Prasad Mishra Music Academy located in Hazratganj, the capital of Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow. Here, Varun Mishra, a guru from the Banaras Gharana, teaches classical music to his disciples. There is no age limit here; that’s why people from 5-year-old kids to 80-year-old elders come to learn music.

On his musical journey, Varun Mishra says, “Music is something to be shared. If you learn music for years and then don’t share it with anyone, it will fade away. Today I am here, tomorrow I may not be, but someone will sing my music. In this way, my music will become immortal.”

Varun Mishra received his musical education from his grandfather and father. Just as the propagation of music has occurred from one generation to another in their family, Varun also teaches others. Surrounded by his disciples, Varun asserts, “I was exposed to music from a very young age. I belong to a gharana, the Banaras Gharana, from where great maestros have emerged.”

“My first guru was my grandfather, Pandit Neelesh Prasad Mishra. He was the principal of Bhatkhande Music University, which was initially a college. My father, Pandit Vidyadhar Mishra, was a senior professor at Allahabad University,” continued Varun.

With pride, Varun talks about the pictures of musical legends on the walls of his home, saying, “I received musical training from my grandfather and father, but I have hung pictures of those from whom I have learned a lot.”

“Firstly, my grandfather, Pandit Rajan Sajan Mishra, was my idol. I learned a lot from him. Then there are Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, Pandit Rashid Khan, whom I have been listening to since childhood. I kept learning from them and tried to absorb their essence. With the blessings of such individuals, we started and are working hard. We are still learning today, “Varun further explained.

Varun says, “Whatever we have learned in music, our endeavor is to disseminate it across the country and abroad, especially classical music, which is our heritage and culture. That’s why I started ‘Omkaar’ Pandit Ganesh Prasad Mishra Music Academy in my grandfather’s name. I run it both online and offline, with two branches of offline classes operating in Lucknow.”

In Varun’s online class, students from countries like America and Australia, besides London and Dubai, participate. He states, “I haven’t defined any age limit; people ranging from 5 to 80 years old learn from me. It’s the blessings of gurus that the academy started, and students kept coming.” When Varun sees his students progressing, he feels a different kind of joy. He shares, “I am most pleased when I teach someone something, and they sing it in a well-balanced manner. They start receiving appreciation from others, and they start getting work. That’s when I feel my hard work gave results.”