Across India and Pakistan, millions are mourning the death of Pakistani singer Mehdi Hassan. He was 84. Poor health had largely kept him from recording and performing for the past 20 years.

Mehdi Hassan sang several styles of South Asian music, but he was known as the “King of Ghazal.” Legendary Bollywood singer Lata Mangeshkar said that Mehdi Hassan sang with the “voice of God.” And there’s certainly a divine quality to his voice.

The World’s Arun Rath has this appreciation.