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{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Anokhelal Mishra
| image = Tabla Samrat Pandit Anokhelal Mishra, Banaras Gharana.jpg
| caption = Tabla Samrat Pandit Anokhelal Mishra
| image_size =
| birth_name =
| alias =
| birth_date = 1914<br/><small>[[Varanasi|Benares]], [[United Provinces of Agra and Oudh|United Provinces]], [[British India]]</small>
| death_date =
| origin = [[Varanasi]], Uttar Pradesh, India
| instrument = [[Tablā]]
| genre = [[Hindustani Classical Music]] ([[Banaras Gharana]])
| occupation = Classical musician, Music teacher
| years_active = 1929–1958
| label =
| associated_acts =
| website =
| current_members =
| past_members =
}}

'''Anokhelal Mishra''' ({{lang-hi|अनोखेलाल मिश्रा}}; 1914.. {{ndash}} 10 March 1958) {{mdash}} also spelled as '''Anokhe Lal Misra''' and commonly known as '''Pandit Anokhelalji''' {{mdash}} was an Indian [[Tablā]] Artist who belonged to the [[Banaras Gharana]] of [[Hindustani classical music]].

==Early life==

Anokhelal was born in a very poor family of Kashi ([[Banaras]]), now known as [[Varanasi]] (State – [[Uttar Pradesh]]). Anokhelal learnt tabla under Bhairow Prasad Mishra<ref>{{Cite web| url=http://www.parrikar.org/vpl/profiles/anokhelal_profile.pdf | title=Anokhelal Mishra | publisher=Rajan Parrikar Music Archive | accessdate=1 May 2009}}</ref> (Bhairow is also spelled as ''Bhairav'' or ''Bhairon''). Bhairow prasad Mishra detected his talent and enrolled him as a student of the Tabla in the [[Banaras Gharana]] of Ram Sahaiji at the age of 5 or 6 years. Anokhelal Learnt Tabla for about 15 years from Bhairow Prasad Mishra. Bhairow Prasad Mishra was disciple of Bhagat-ji. Bhagat-ji was disciple of [[Ram Sahai]], the founder of The Banaras-Bāj (aka Banaras Gharana). According to ''The Banaras Bāj-The Tablā Tradition of a North Indian City'' by David Roach, Anokhelal was the most famous disciple of Bhairav Prasad Mishra among Maulvi Ram Mishra, Mahavir Bhatt, Mahadev Prasad Mishra, Anokhelal Mishra, and Nageshvar Prasad.<ref>[Asian music, Volumes 1–3, Society for Asian Music, JSTOR (Organization), Project Muse, 1968]</ref>

He lost his parents as teenager. After that he was brought up by his grandmother. As a child, Anokhelal had to suffer poverty and deprivation.

==Musical journey==

Anokhelal put in unremitting ''riyaaz'' (practice) under the guidance of ''Guruji'' (Master), which went on for hours together, every day.

===Special abilities===

He was called the ''Jadugar''<ref name="shawnmativetsky">{{Cite web|url=http://www.shawnmativetsky.com/benares.html|title = Shawn Mativetsky - benares}}</ref> (wizard) of ' ''Na Dhin Dhin Na'' ' (''theka'' of [[Teen Taal]]- 16beats) and ' ''Dhere Dhere Kite Taka'' ' (particular tabla syllables). He used to play these and many more syllables with clarity even at extreme speed.<ref name="shawnmativetsky" /> He was skilled at fast playing ' ''Na Dhin Dhin Na'' ' with his 1st finger.<ref>[http://www.popularprakashan.com/theory-and-practice-of-tabla.htm Page no. 100, Theory And Practice of Tabla, by Sadanand Naimpalli, Popular Prakashan] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130216180729/http://www.popularprakashan.com/theory-and-practice-of-tabla.htm |date=16 February 2013 }} {{ISBN|81-7991-149-7}}.</ref>

===Performances===

Pandit Anokhelal was a soloist as well as an accompanist. Anokhelal performed a number of solo concerts during his career and also gave '[[Sangat (term)|Sangat]]' (accompany) to many famous musicians and [[Indian classical dance|classical dance]]rs. Some of them are Ustad [[Allauddin Khan]], Ustad [[Vilayat Khan]], Ustad [[Ali Akbar Khan]], etc.

Within his short span of life he performed regularly, throughout India.<ref>[http://www.parrikar.org/vpl/profiles/anokhelal_profile.pdf Musicians of India by Amal Das Sharma]</ref>
At a time, when performing in the 'National Programme of Music' on [[All India Radio]] was a matter of prestige, Pandit Anokhelal figured in the same, a number of times. In the late 1950s (after 1950), his programmes were broadcast by the [[Voice of America]] as well.<ref name="shawnmativetsky" />

==Legacy and critical acclaim==

He is also known as the ''Samrat'' (king) of Tabla Playing.<ref name="sandip-tabla">{{Cite web |url=http://www.sandip-tabla.com/tabla_pages/tabla_teacher.html |title=Biography of Pt. Anokhe Lal Mishra and Iswar Lal Mishra |access-date=2 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120615180248/http://www.sandip-tabla.com/tabla_pages/tabla_teacher.html |archive-date=15 June 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
All together he is known as Tabla Samrat Pandit Anokhelal Mishra.
According to many, Anokhelal goes the credit of making the audience familiar with the Banaras style of Tabla.<ref name="shawnmativetsky" />

His Disciple [[Chandra Nath Shastri]] has written about Pandit Anokhelal Mishra in his web article:

:"He was very simple livelihood. He knew only ''[[Sadhana]]'' (practice) of rendering Tabla."<ref>[http://panditchandranathshastri.weebly.com/articles.html Article on Tabla, Banaras Gharana, Guruji and Legends – | Pandit Chandra Nath Shastri | Banaras Tabla Gharana]</ref>

Tabla Player Pandit [[Samta Prasad]] Mishra said in an interview that:
:" I am playing only one fourth of Pandit Anokhe Lal Mishra's style and they glorify my name. In the next life I will produce half of his sound quality, then they will really be floored!"<ref name = "In memoriam - Pandit Samta Prasad Mishra" >[https://web.archive.org/web/20110604103234/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2006/06/02/stories/2006060201330200.htm The Hindu: In memoriam – Pandit Samta Prasad Mishra – Friday, Jun 02, 2006 ]</ref>

Tabla Player Sadanand Naimpalli written in his book about Anokhelal. He said:
:"Apart from his skills as an accompanist, his Solo-recitals were also proof of his excellent ''Taiyaari'' and tonal sweetness."<ref>Page no. 100, Theory And Practice of Tabla, by Sadanand Naimpalli, Popular Prakashan, {{ISBN|81-7991-149-7}}</ref>

===Nature and personality===

He used to maintain a sober and normal life profile rather than showing off and behaving like a celebrity. He never publicised himself of what he was.

==Disciples==

Anokhelal trained many musicians of [[India]]. Ramji Mishra, Mahapurush Misra, Ishwarlal Mishra (alias Lallu),<ref>Journal of the Indian Musicological Society: Volumes 11–12, Indian Musicological Society – 1980</ref> Chhotelal Misra, [[Chandra Nath Shastri]], Radhakanta Nandi, Kashinath Mishra (son), Bityut Banerjee, Partha Nath Shastri, Sanjay Mishra(Grandson),Sundar Lal Mishra and Chakkan Lal Mishra are some of the prominent pupils of Pt. Anokhelal Mishra.One of the notable disciple was Pt.Chhotelal Mishra.

==Death==

He was afflicted by [[Gangrene]] of his left foot<ref>[http://www.popularprakashan.com/theory-and-practice-of-tabla.htm Page no. 100, Theory And Practice of Tabla, by Sadanand Naimpalli, Popular Prakashan] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130216180729/http://www.popularprakashan.com/theory-and-practice-of-tabla.htm |date=16 February 2013 }} {{ISBN|81-7991-149-7}}</ref> in 1956 and for this disease he expired on 10 March 1958, at a young age of 44.

==Inspiration==

According to Sandip Bhattacharya (Disciple of Iswarlal Mishra):
:"Pandit Anokhelal Mishra has been, and will continue to be, an inspiration to many tabla players from this generation, as well as future generations."<ref name="sandip-tabla" />

==Discography==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20140826115620/http://www.legendarylegacy.com/view_au_vi.php?enc_prod_id=74db120f0a8e5646ef5a30154e9f6deb "Samrat" Rare Gems, Tal: Teental, Duration: 45.27mins], Accompanied in [[Pump organ|Harmonium]] by [[Jnan Prakash Ghosh|Jnanprakash Ghosh]].
This recording dates back to 26 December 1957 at a concert attended by artists like [[Ahmed Jan Thirakwa]], Habibuddin Khan, Maseet Khan, Karamatulla Khan etc.

A short video of Anokhelal Ji has been made available by the [[Huntley Film Archives]] {{YouTube|xyfDhP29gWA}}.

==See also==
*[[Ahmed Jan Thirakwa]]
*[[Kishan Maharaj]]
*[[Samta Prasad]]
*[[Chandra Nath Shastri]]
*[[Zakir Hussain (musician)|Zakir Hussain]]
*[[Alla Rakha]]

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
*[http://www.chambermasters.com/indian_classical/indian_classical_instrumental_music_in_varanasi_through_the_ages Indian classical instrumental music in varanasi through the ages]
*[[Benares gharana#Characteristics|Benares Gharana Characteristics]], Wikipedia Article.
*[[Varanasi#Art and literature|Varanasi: Art and Literature]], Wikipedia Article.
*[[Gopal Shankar Misra#Growing up|Gopal Shankar Misra]], Wikipedia Article.
*[https://www.google.com/search?tbs=bks:1&q=%22Anokhelal+Mishra%22 Google Books results on Anokhelal Mishra]
*[https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=%22Anokhelal+Mishra%22 Google Scholar results on Anokhelal Mishra]

==Further reading==
{{div col}}
*[https://archive.today/20130217025500/http://panditchandranathshastri.weebly.com/banaras-tabla-gharana--legends.html Tabla Samrat Pandit Anokhelal Mishra | Official Website of Pandit Chandra Nath Shastri]
*[http://www.omenad.net/page.php?goPage=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.omenad.net%2Farticles%2Fbjack_BBaaj.htm Playing Techniques of Tabla, Banaras Gharana, by Pt. Chhote Lal Misra]
*[https://www.jstor.org/pss/833957 The Banaras Bāj-The Tablā Tradition of a North Indian City, D Roach – Asian Music, 1972 – JSTOR.]
*Journal of the Indian Musicological Society: Volumes 11–12, Indian Musicological Society – 1980.
*Page no. 100, Theory And Practice of Tabla, by Sadanand Naimpalli, Popular Prakashan, {{ISBN|81-7991-149-7}}.
*Asian music, Volumes 1–3, Society for Asian Music, JSTOR (Organization), Project Muse, 1968.
*The Journal of the Music Academy, Madras: Volume 44, Music Academy (Madras, India) – 1974.
*Companion to North Indian classical music: Satyendra Krishen Sen Chib, Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers, 2004.
*India today international, Living Media International Ltd., 1 October 2005.
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110604103234/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2006/06/02/stories/2006060201330200.htm In Memoriam], Date- Friday, 2 June 2006, The Hindu.
* {{citation |title=The Oxford Encyclopaedia of the Music of India, Saṅgīt Mahābhāratī, Author: Nikhil Ghosh | chapter=Nikhil Ghosh | publisher=Oxford University Press, Print Publication |year=2011 |isbn= 9780195650983 | chapter-url=http://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780195650983.001.0001/acref-9780195650983-e-3615?rskey=lLWn3M&result=10}}
{{div col end}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Mishra, Anokhelal}}
[[Category:Tabla players]]
[[Category:1914 births]]
[[Category:Hindustani instrumentalists]]
[[Category:Indian drummers]]
[[Category:Indian male musicians]]
[[Category:World music percussionists]]
[[Category:Indian percussionists]]
[[Category:Performers of Hindu music]]
[[Category:1958 deaths]]
[[Category:Indian music educators]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian musicians]]
[[Category:20th-century drummers]]
[[Category:Musicians from Varanasi]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian male classical singers]]

Anokhelal Mishra - Revision history

UpdateBot at 10:33, 23 June 2022