Latest news with #Khayalgayaki
India.com
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- India.com
Cracked JEE with AIR 6, went to IIT for studies, cleared UPSC exam, became IAS Officer at 21, later left it after few years due to.., he is now...
For millions of students in India, clearing exams such as IIT JEE and UPSC is a dream. One inspiring example is Kashish Mittal, who cracked the UPSC exam, became an Indian Administrative Service(IAS) officer. Despite having an excellent career ahead of him, he ultimately chose to leave his IAS career behind to explore his one true passion, which is classical music. Read his motivation story below. Who is this young IAS Officer who has gone viral? And why? Kashish Mittal graduated with a in Computer Science from IIT Delhi. According to the media reports, he also received an impressive All India Rank (AIR) 6 in the IIT JEE entrance exam. The journey of excellence did not stop there. He proceeded to clear the UPSC Civil Services Exam on the very first attempt, becoming an IAS officer at the age of just 21. Mittal obtained an All India Rank(AIR) 58 in the Civil Services Examination and became an IAS officer. After spending nearly nine years in that position, Kashish quit his job to pursue his passion for classical music. Born in 1989, Kashish Mittal hails Jalandhar, Punjab. His father, Jagdish Kumar, served as an IPS officer, ensured that their family environment was disciplined, with an emphasis on civil services. His mother, Sangeeta Mittal, influenced the family's musical facet. At the age of eight, Kashish started learning Hindustani classical music, and at eleven, he performed at one of the biggest platforms, Harivallabh Sangeet Sammellan in Punjab. As part of his career in the IAS, Kashish held various administrative positions including Additional Deputy Commissioner Chandigarh, Deputy Commissioner Tawang, and in the office of Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog, Government of India. Kashish's desire for Hindustani classical music made him devote time to the performing art during the years he was in the IIT and during his service in the IAS. After a nine-year career in government, Kashish decided to quit the well-respected civil service to pursue his deep love for Hindustani classical music. According to the official website of Kashish Mittal, he has been recognized as an 'A Grade' artiste by the All India Radio & Doordarshan and an 'Established artiste' by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, Government of India. 'Kashish subsequently moved under the tutelage of Pandit Yashpaul, maestro of the Agra Gharana, as per the Guru Shishya Parampara. He underwent rigorous training under Pt. Yashpaul, and learnt the fine nuances of Khayal gayaki in the Agra Gharana style of singing,' reads the statement on his webpage. Kashish's music is influenced by and finds its roots in the rich musical heritage of the distinguished Agra Gharana. In addition to his Guru Pt. Yashpaul, Kashish has been deeply inspired by the stalwarts of Agra Gharana such as Ustad Vilayat Hussain Khan, Ustad Sharafat Hussain Khan, Ustad Latafat Hussain Khan and others. Kashish has been conferred with numerous awards & honours including the Punjab State Award for Art & Culture by Hon'ble Chief Minister Punjab (2007), Saraswati Samman by IIT Delhi (2010), Naad Shri Samman for significant contribution to Hindustani Classical Music (2018), among others. Even as a student, he bagged several National Scholarships in music and academics, such as the Centre for Cultural Resources & Training (CCRT), National Talent Search Examination (NTSE), and the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) Scholarships.
Economic Times
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Economic Times
AIR 6 in JEE, IIT Delhi graduate and IAS officer at 21; he left It all for music: Meet classical singer Kashish Mittal
A Melody Rooted in Memory The Call of Public Service and the Pull of Passion Resignation That Made Headlines You Might Also Like: Retired IAS officer gives reasons why middle-class life in 2025 is better than in the 1970s In a country where cracking the UPSC exam is seen as the pinnacle of achievement, Kashish Mittal had it all figured out early. An IIT Delhi graduate with an All India Rank of 6 in JEE and a successful stint in the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Mittal was considered a prodigy. But in 2019, just nine years into his bureaucratic career, he stunned many by resigning from the coveted service. His reason? A lifelong devotion to Hindustani classical music Now, far from the bureaucratic corridors of Delhi, Mittal is often found on stage performing Khayal gayaki from the Agra Gharana , the very genre he fell in love with as a in Jalandhar in 1989 to IPS officer Jagdish Kumar and Sangeeta Mittal, music was part of Kashish's DNA. He began his formal training in Hindustani classical music at the tender age of eight. By eleven, he was already performing at Punjab's prestigious Harivallabh Sangeet Sammelan.'My music journey began even before my IAS journey was imagined,' Mittal shared in a feature with Indian Masterminds. 'Even during my school and IIT years, I never let go of music—it was always there, a quiet force pulling me in.'His training later deepened under the guru-shishya parampara with maestro Pandit Yashpaul, from whom he imbibed the nuances of Agra Gharana's traditional Khayal gayaki. Recognised today as an 'A Grade' artiste by All India Radio and Doordarshan, and as an 'Established Artiste' by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), Mittal has performed at numerous festivals across by his IPS father, Mittal pursued civil services after completing in Computer Science from IIT Delhi. He cleared the UPSC Civil Services Examination in his first attempt and joined the IAS at just roles were as prestigious as his academic record. He served as Additional Deputy Commissioner of Chandigarh, Deputy Commissioner of Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh, and later, as Additional Principal Secretary at NITI Aayog during his central deputation. But despite the accolades and authority, music remained his true anchor.'I tried balancing both,' he admitted, 'but classical music is not a side pursuit—it demands surrender.'In 2019, soon after a transfer to Arunachal Pradesh, Mittal formally stepped away from his bureaucratic post to fully embrace music. The news made waves, but his decision reflected clarity, not conflict. 'An art like this is an eternal journey. You need to give it the respect it deserves,' he followed was not just a revival of a musical career, but a renewed sense of purpose. From Sufi renditions to semi-classical performances, his soulful voice began resonating beyond traditional stages—on social media as Mittal broke the internet with a soul-stirring rendition of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan 's Unke Andaz-e-Karam. Seated casually on a sofa, surrounded by friends, his impromptu performance garnered nearly 3 million views on Instagram. The caption read: 'Woh bhi apne na hue, dil bhi gaya haathon se'—words that struck a chord with viewers as deeply as the song response was overwhelming. 'You, sir, are a gem,' one user commented. Another wrote, 'Even after IIT AIR 6 and IAS, you're still following your passion. Truly motivating.'Mittal's contributions have not gone unnoticed. He was conferred with the Punjab State Award for Art and Culture (2007), Saraswati Samman by IIT Delhi (2010), and the Naad Shri Samman (2018) for his excellence in Hindustani classical music. He also holds several national scholarships, including the prestigious NTSE and CCRT fellowships.
Time of India
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
AIR 6 in JEE, IIT Delhi graduate and IAS officer at 21; he left It all for music: Meet classical singer Kashish Mittal
A Melody Rooted in Memory The Call of Public Service and the Pull of Passion Resignation That Made Headlines You Might Also Like: Retired IAS officer gives reasons why middle-class life in 2025 is better than in the 1970s In a country where cracking the UPSC exam is seen as the pinnacle of achievement, Kashish Mittal had it all figured out early. An IIT Delhi graduate with an All India Rank of 6 in JEE and a successful stint in the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Mittal was considered a prodigy. But in 2019, just nine years into his bureaucratic career, he stunned many by resigning from the coveted service. His reason? A lifelong devotion to Hindustani classical music Now, far from the bureaucratic corridors of Delhi, Mittal is often found on stage performing Khayal gayaki from the Agra Gharana , the very genre he fell in love with as a in Jalandhar in 1989 to IPS officer Jagdish Kumar and Sangeeta Mittal, music was part of Kashish's DNA. He began his formal training in Hindustani classical music at the tender age of eight. By eleven, he was already performing at Punjab's prestigious Harivallabh Sangeet Sammelan.'My music journey began even before my IAS journey was imagined,' Mittal shared in a feature with Indian Masterminds. 'Even during my school and IIT years, I never let go of music—it was always there, a quiet force pulling me in.'His training later deepened under the guru-shishya parampara with maestro Pandit Yashpaul, from whom he imbibed the nuances of Agra Gharana's traditional Khayal gayaki. Recognised today as an 'A Grade' artiste by All India Radio and Doordarshan, and as an 'Established Artiste' by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), Mittal has performed at numerous festivals across by his IPS father, Mittal pursued civil services after completing in Computer Science from IIT Delhi. He cleared the UPSC Civil Services Examination in his first attempt and joined the IAS at just roles were as prestigious as his academic record. He served as Additional Deputy Commissioner of Chandigarh, Deputy Commissioner of Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh, and later, as Additional Principal Secretary at NITI Aayog during his central deputation. But despite the accolades and authority, music remained his true anchor.'I tried balancing both,' he admitted, 'but classical music is not a side pursuit—it demands surrender.'In 2019, soon after a transfer to Arunachal Pradesh, Mittal formally stepped away from his bureaucratic post to fully embrace music. The news made waves, but his decision reflected clarity, not conflict. 'An art like this is an eternal journey. You need to give it the respect it deserves,' he followed was not just a revival of a musical career, but a renewed sense of purpose. From Sufi renditions to semi-classical performances, his soulful voice began resonating beyond traditional stages—on social media as Mittal broke the internet with a soul-stirring rendition of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan 's Unke Andaz-e-Karam. Seated casually on a sofa, surrounded by friends, his impromptu performance garnered nearly 3 million views on Instagram. The caption read: 'Woh bhi apne na hue, dil bhi gaya haathon se'—words that struck a chord with viewers as deeply as the song response was overwhelming. 'You, sir, are a gem,' one user commented. Another wrote, 'Even after IIT AIR 6 and IAS, you're still following your passion. Truly motivating.'Mittal's contributions have not gone unnoticed. He was conferred with the Punjab State Award for Art and Culture (2007), Saraswati Samman by IIT Delhi (2010), and the Naad Shri Samman (2018) for his excellence in Hindustani classical music. He also holds several national scholarships, including the prestigious NTSE and CCRT fellowships.
