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 child.
A Melody Rooted in Memory
Born 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 India.
The Call of Public Service and the Pull of Passion
Inspired by his IPS father, Mittal pursued civil services after completing B.Tech in Computer Science from IIT Delhi. He cleared the UPSC Civil Services Examination in his first attempt and joined the IAS at just 21.
His 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.”
Resignation That Made Headlines
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 said.
What 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 well.
Recently, 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 itself.
The 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.
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 child.
A Melody Rooted in Memory
Born 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 India.
The Call of Public Service and the Pull of Passion
Inspired by his IPS father, Mittal pursued civil services after completing B.Tech in Computer Science from IIT Delhi. He cleared the UPSC Civil Services Examination in his first attempt and joined the IAS at just 21.
His 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.”
Resignation That Made Headlines
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 said.
What 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 well.
Recently, 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 itself.
The 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.
You may also like
Arsenal shown difference Andrea Berta makes amid verbal Viktor Gyokeres transfer agreement
Zharnel Hughes speaks out over unpaid Grand Slam Track prize money
Celtic and Lisbon Lion hero John Fallon dies aged 84 as emotional statement released
Sharon Osbourne's poignant reason for sticking by Ozzy through his most painful affair
Spain's sunbed wars reach Majorca coast as empty beach swamped with towels