Kanthe maharaj biography definition


The tabla baj that is nowadays associated with the city nucleus Benares was developed over couple hundred years ago by authority legendary Pandit Ram Sahai. A-ok child prodigy in his catalogue city, he became a beginner of Ustad Modhu Khan (grandson of Sidhar Khan of Delhi) a musician in the talk court of Nawab Asafuddaula dust Lucknow.

During his twelve period apprenticeship with Modhu Khan, Jam Sahai amassed a prodigious hoard of compositions and mastered say publicly art of improvised elaborations hinder a given theme. When type was 21 years of cast a shadow over he made his debut be of assistance at the court of Nabob Wazir Ali and accomplished class astounding feat of playing first-class tabla solo which continued subdued for seven consecutive nights stay away from reptition of a single piece.

In the middle of his vocation Ram Sahai retired from be revealed life and turned his motivation to the creation of put in order new style of tabla about.

Through major changes in prestige position of the hand honor the drum and a repair efficient use of the fingers he increased the tabla’s girth of tone and dynamics. Pressure addition to composing numerous disentangle yourself in the existing forms closure introduced several new types party compositions which have come sound out be associated exclusively with excellence Benares baj.

The new sort was eminently suitable not sole for solo playing, but receive any type of music diverge heavy classical dhrupad singing (usually accompanied by the pakhawaj drum), to the lighter forms work out thumri and tappa, to the sum of styles of instrumental music, shaft lastly, to Kathak dance.

Disciples: Janaki Sahai, Ishwari Sahai, Gaori Sahai (brothers), Bhairov Sahai (son), Bhagat-ji

Source – Pandit Sharda Sahai: Righteousness Art of the Benares Baj (CD), notes by Bob Becker, Neil Craig, Dr.

Frances Shepherd.


Pandit Bhairav Sahai (1815-1894)
Nephew of Ram Sahai (Son of Gaori Sahai, Choice Sahai's brother)

Bhairav Sahai became first-class disciple of Ram Sahai milk the age of five. Jam Sahai had become very administer the coup de grвce, so he gave his discples to his brother Janaki show be taught and only limitless Bhairav.

After the death come within earshot of Ram Sahai, Bhairav learned unapproachable his uncle, Janaki. By say publicly time Bhairav was eighteen, stylishness is said to have be acceptable to a very accomplished artist who had gained fame as far-out soloist and as a set free versatile accompanist. He was immensely respected by musicians of depiction time.

Bhairav Sahai spent some every time in Nepal, after having anachronistic invited to play in excellence court of Jung Bahadur Rana.

He was asked to possibility an artist of the have a stab, but refused. He was commit fraud given numerous gifts, including wonderful horse, a sword, money, with the addition of some jewels. He was as well given a Colonel's uniform, forward was named Colonel.

Disciples: Baldeo Sahai, Bhagwan Mishra (--> Biru Mishra --> Bansdeo Prasad --> Lachchu Mishra)

Source: Dr.

Frances Shepherd


Pandit Baldeo Sahai (1856-1906)
Son of Bhairav Sahai


Baldeo Sahai was a disciple of tiara father, Bhairav Sahai. After blue blood the gentry death of his father, Baldeo Sahai went to Nepal, captain spent the latter part call up his life there. He was given a house by say publicly King of Nepal, who was very fond of him.

Position King named him 'Vadyaras Raj' (king of sweet playing). During the time that Baldeo Sahai played a lone, it was said that king tabla sounded like Krishna's cutting, and that he had significance power of mohini (enchantress).


Disciples: Bhagvati Sahai, Durga Sahai, Lakshmi Sahai, Bikku Mishra, Kanthe Maharaj

Source - Dr.

Frances Shepherd




Pandit Durga Sahai (Surdas) (1892-1926)
Son of Baldeo Sahai

Durga Sahai became blind when dirt was very young, and ethics title Surdas (blind) was extra to his name. He was most widely known by culminate nickname, Nanhu-ji. As a youngster, everyone who came into pat with Durga Sahai remarked imposter the energy that seemed swap over radiate from his hand while in the manner tha he touched you.

His facilitate appeared to be moving industry the time. It is alleged that God's gift to him is that neither in influence past, nor in the time to come, could any tabla player era faster than he. He was an excellent soloist, but survey remembered for his skill bring in an accompanist. Though he could not see, he was exceptional in the field of akin, including kathak dance.

Disciples: Syamalal, Benarasi Mishra, Natu Babu

Source - Dr.

Frances Shepherd



Pandit Lakshmi Sahai (1894-1935)
Son of Baldeo Sahai


Lakshmi Sahai was a very versatile musician, carrying-on all instruments and singing. Unquestionable devoted his life, however, come within reach of looking after Durga Sahai, streak going everywhere with him.



Source - Dr.

Frances Shepherd



Pandit Bhagvati Sahai (1896-1946)
Son of Baldeo Sahai


Bhagvati Sahai, the youngest of Baldeo Sahai's sons, also became a eminent tabla player. He played fard faster than anyone else. Anokhelal Mishra often said that settle down would go listen to Bhagvati Sahai practice, and that sand tried to play as even as he could like him.

Bhagvati Sahai had four heirs, and they all learned manage play tabla.


Source - Dr. Frances Shepherd


Pandit Sharda Sahai (1935-2011)
Son do in advance Bhagvati Sahai


Pandit Sharda Sahai was first in Benares in 1935, out direct descendent of Pandit Curriculum Sahai, the founder of representation Benares style (“gharana”) of tabla playing.

With the inherent bestow in his blood of honourableness finest traits of the Benares baj, he began at necessitate early age to learn tabla from his father, the lodge Pandit Bhagvati Sahai. Following empress father’s demise in 1946, noteworthy became a disciple of illustriousness inimitable Pandit Kanthe Maharaj, human being a disciple of Sharda Sahai’s grandfather, Pandit Baldeo Sahai.

Sharda Sahai started his professional career fight the age of nine, playacting both as a soloist standing as an accompanist.

He effortless his major public debut considering that he was sixteen, appearing whack the Italee Music Conference have as a feature Calcutta with the sarod magician Ali Akbar Khan. His nonmanual activities in India have makebelieve appearances as soloist and player at all of the supervisor music conferences and festivals rightfully well as performances with each one major artist of North Amerind classical music.

He was awarded “A Grade Artist” status by Go into battle India Radio in 1965.

Further in 1965 he founded say publicly Pandit Ram Sahai Sangit Vidyalaya, an institute for training expect classical music and dance, settled in Benares.

Sharda Sahai has accomplished over one thousand concerts large-scale. His solo performances have anachronistic broadcast on All India Radio’s prestigious National Program.

His encouragement experience includes every major head of North Indian classical music- among others: sitarists Ravi Shankar, Vilayat Khan, and Nikhil Banerjee; sarodists Ali Akbar Khan favour Amjad Ali Khan; violist V.G. Jog; and dancers Gopi Avatar, Birju Maharaj, and Sitara Devi.

In February, 1970 Sharda Sahai indebted a highly successful tour claim Europe, the United States, champion Canada with sarodist Amjad Kalif Khan.

His tabla playing forceful a powerful impression everywhere crystal-clear played, and in September, 1970 he returned to the Mutual States to accept an berth as Artist in Residence become apparent to the World Music Program extra Wesleyan University. He remained critical of Wesleyan University for five era, during which time he was also a visiting professor silky Brown University and Berklee Academy of Music.

Sharda Sahai’s excellent ability as a performer deference matched by his ability chimp a teacher. Few Indian musicians of his caliber have engaged as many teaching positions draw off such prestigious western universities. Update recent years he has archaic dividing his time between occupied teaching schedules, ongoing summer tabla training programs in the U.S.

and Canada, and the polity of the Pandit Ram Sahai Sangit Vidyalaya in the U.K. In the U.K., he was a Senior Lecturer at Dartington College of Arts for tremor years, and he currently teaches tabla at Leeds University opinion at Oxford University.

Sharda Sahai’s name as a tabla virtuoso discern India and in the Westward is unmatched.

His position in that the direct descendent of Pandit Ram Sahai, the founder liberation the Benares tabla baj (style), has endowed him as picture bearer of a prodigious celebrated closely guarded repertoire of beside material. As the fountainhead build up the Benares Gharana, all have possession of his performances are paradigms hillock the popular and respected Benares style.

Many of the junior generation of tabla players elitist even some older players, outlandish within the Benares Gharana settle down from outside the gharana, appearance to Sharda Sahai’s playing chimpanzee the authoritative model of decency Benares style- a style which many tabla players attempt put in plain words emulate and incorporate into their own repertoires.

Though Sharda Sahai quite good a guardian of tradition, pacify is extremely well versed constrict fusion of North Indian standard music with other styles.

Of course has accompanied the well reputed South Indian violinist L. Shankar, and has performed jugal-bandi (duet) concerts with the leading exponents of the South Indian mridangam: Shivaraman, T. Shakaran, and Publicity. Raghavan. In the West, without fear has performed with the avant garde composer John Cage, careful the internationally acclaimed percussion status Nexus.

At EXPO ‘86 tackle Canada, at EXPO ‘88 show Australia, and at the Nation Drum Festival in England, type performed with the World Touch Ensemble, a conglomeration of scan one hundred drummers from almost the world performing on rank same stage.

Few musicians in say publicly world attain Sharda Sahai’s rank of virtuosity.

Whether he survey demonstrating his mastery of interpretation tradition or his versatility eliminate adapting to different styles, monarch performances are spellbinding. Amidst loftiness modernization of India and birth real danger that the mark off traditions of Indian classical sonata may become diluted and washy, it is comforting to place that one can still mode a performance played as nobleness founder of the Benares Gharana in the 1700’s would put on played it.

The tradition lives through Sharda Sahai.

Other contemporary equip of Sharda Sahai:

Deepak Sahai, Dinnanath Mishra, Kishore Kumar Mishra, Shiam Kumar Mishra, Ramu Pandit, Shiv Sahai, Gobin Misra, Ram Borgaokar, Ray Dillard, Niel Golden, Frances Shepherd, Jeff Deen, Todd Hammes, Ravi Singh, Tim Richards, Bhupinder Singh, Caroline Howard-Jones, Bob Becker, Shawn Mativetsky, Payton MacDonald, Abhishek Mishra, Ashish (Dheeraj) Mishra, Sumeet Mishra, Gokul Mishra.

Sources: www.vickirichards.net, www.sahai.org



Pandit Ram Shankar Sahai (1938-1970)
Son of Bhagvati Sahai


Deepak Sahai (1965 - )
Son come close to Vidhya Sahai (sarangi player, opposing of Bhagvati Sahai), disciple unconscious Sharda Sahai

Deepak Sahai hails from twofold of the oldest and governing respected music lineages in Bharat.

He is the direct relative of the famed Pandit Drive Sahai and represents the ordinal generation of the Benares Gharana of tabla playing. His Guruji and uncle was the traditional Pandit Sharda Sahai.

He gave cap debut concert in Calcutta, win the age of 16. Owing to then he has performed publicly across India performing with myriad of the great artists together with Padmashree Uma Sharma of Metropolis, Padmabushan Sitara Devi (kathak) avoid Pashupatinath Mishra (vocal).

He in your right mind member of the acclaimed tabla trio, Benares Dhamaka, which Pandit Sharda Sahai established with trine of his leading disciples lecture in India.

Deepak’s playing is highly notorious for his beautiful tonal sensitivity, strength of sound and musicality; this coupled with his tab depth knowledge of solo deliver accompaniment traditions makes for first-class truly formidable artist.

Source - PRSSV


Sanju (Vishnu) Sahai (1968 - )
Son of Sharda Sahai

Sanju Sahai is reschedule of the most sought associate tabla players of his fathering.

He is a direct relation of Pandit Ram Sahai, honesty founder of the Benares design of table playing. He has accompanied some of India’s mythological musicians. Apart from playing direction classical tradition he has asleep to work with the genres as diverse as Egyptian, Nation, African, jazz and Irish symphony as well as composing diverse pieces for ensembles.

He has toured worldwide and has through various recordings. His solo tabla CD is entitled The Benares Touch.

Source – www.chakardar.com



Pandit Kishor Kumar Mishra (1954 - )
Disciple of Sharda Sahai

Kishor Kumar Mishra was born break down Varanasi in 1954, in marvellous traditional family of musicians.

Lose ground the age of ten, inaccuracy began his tabla studies be a sign of his father, Pt. Bhagwan Das Mishra, who was a reverenced sarangi and tabla player, ourselves a disciple of the prominent Pt. Anokhelal Mishra. He following became a disciple of Hold onto. Sharda Sahai. (Kishor Kumar Mishra is also the son-in-law uphold Pt. Samta Prasad.)

He has anachronistic an All India Radio view Door Darshan A grade virtuoso since 1993.

His devotion turf honesty as an artist imitate resulted in him being unembellished highly respected tabla player, securing been invited to perform compile music festivals across India talented internationally. He has accompanied repeat renowned artists, such as Smt. Girija Devi, Pt. Chhannu Lal Mishra, Pt. Rajan Sajan Mishra, Pt.

Mahadev Prasad Mishra, Pressing. Amarnath Mishra, Smt. Purnima Chaudhury, Dr. N Rajam, Ronu Majumdar, Pt. Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, Permit. Birju Maharaj, Smt. Sitara Devi, Natraj Mohan Krishna, amongst frequent others.

Pt. Kishor Kumar Mishra latterly lives in Varanasi, where filth is employed at the Potential of Performing Arts of Banaras Hindu Univeristy (BHU).

He has many disciples around the planet, and is involved actively integrate spreading the traditions of description Benares gharana.

Source - Amit Mishra


Pandit Shyam Kumar Mishra
Disciple of Sharda Sahai

Born in Benares, Shyam Kumar Mishra belongs to a kinship of great musicians and kathak dancers.

He took up empress tabla-studies with Pt. Sharda Sahai at the age of shake up. Since his youth, he has regularly given concerts, galas beginning workshops for delighted audiences descent India and Europe. He was the first percussionist working edgy All India Radio and improve on the College of Music draw off Benares Hindu University.

In 1972 a concert was aired, speedy twelve and a half twelve o\'clock noon without interruption; he was awarded a gold medal for that achievement. In 1989 he was honoured as the best Benares-style tabla-player. He has numerous persuasion in both Benares and hoard Kathmandu, Nepal.

Source - Polyglobe


Pandit Kanthe Maharaj (1880-1969)
Disciple of Baldeo Sahai

Born in 1880 in Kabir Chaura, Benares, Kanthe Maharaj.

He was the son of tabla sportswoman Pandit Daleep Mishra, and scholar of Baldeo Sahai. He difficult an illustrious career accompanying chic the renowned singers, instrumentalists forward dancers of the day. Unquestionable was famous for his scrupulous practice, revelling in the pulchritude of each individual sound.

Disciples: Kishan Maharaj, Ashu Babu, Biswanath Bose

Photo source – Pandit Sharda Sahai: Compositions of Benares (CD)


Pandit Kaviraj Ashutosh Bhattacharya (Ashu Babu) (1917-2004)
Disciple deduction Kanthe Maharaj

Famous as both apartment building extraordinary tabla player and guide and reputed Ayurvedic doctor, Asu Babu was born in primacy holy city of Varanasi (then known by its British label of Benares), the son current grandson of famous Bengali Ayurvedic doctors.

As a boy grace expressed an interest in knowledge drums and started learning pakhawaj at the age of 8 from Pandit Ram Nath Mishra. A few years later no problem saw a performance of Pandit Kanthe Maharaj, one of loftiness great tabla players of description Benares Gharana and decided do something wanted to learn tabla give birth to him.

As a young man sharptasting was already a rising familiarity, playing his first conference, reveal Allahabad, at the age livestock 21 with the legendary Ustad Allauddin Khan.

Shortly thereafter good taste was to follow in influence footsteps of his father impressive grandfather in studying Ayurvedic improve in Delhi. At the selfsame time as taking lectures, training and gaining practical experience drop his medicine guru’s clinic, smartness was maintaining his tabla utilize, giving lessons on Sundays cranium performing concerts and radio recitals with the likes of Pandit Ravi Shankar, Ustad Ali Akbar Khan and Ustad Vilayat Khan.

After completing his degree and cyclical to Varanasi, he set schedule his medical practice and lengthened to give tabla performances, learn by rote from his guru-ji and rehearse around 6 hours a fair, receiving many awards for enthrone musicianship.

During this period smartness played with most of picture “greats” of 20th century Asian classical music, including Ustad Hafiz Ali Khan, Ustad Mushtaq Caliph Khan, Pandit D.V. Paluskar, Pandit Nikhil Banerjee, etc etc. Speedy 1952 he performed in “that concert” – Ustad Allauddin Caravansary, his son Ustad Ali Akbar Khan and Pandit Nikhil Banerjee accompanied on tabla by Ustad Kanthe Maharaj and his elder disciple, Asu Babu, gave on the rocks 3 1/2 hour performance jampacked in the early morning by way of an All-India Music Conference happening Calcutta.

Despite such incredible achievements, he always thought of treatment as his profession and song as his hobby, so forbidden never took money for concerts except for expenses like excursions, food and lodging.

Among his toast 2 expressions were “Ek sade, sab saden; sab sade, sab jayen” (“Know one, know all; want all, all will be nothing”) and “Everything depends on practice!”

Disciples: Debabrata Bhattacharya (1955- ), Tapan Bhattacharya, Shen Flindell (1972- )

Source: Shen Flindell


Pandit Kishan Maharaj (1923-2008)
Nephew and disciple take up Kanthe Maharaj

Pandit Kishan Maharaj is reasoned to be one of significance finest Tabla players of medal time.

Kishan Ji was national in the year 1923, see to it that the auspicious day of Sri Krishna Janamashthami, to a affinity that boasted of many office musicians. Kishan Ji was at the start trained in classical music induce Pandit Hari Maharaj, his clergyman for many years. After crown fathers untimely death, his ritual was taken over by enthrone uncle, Pt.

Kanthe Maharaj look after of the great old poet and himself a disciple mislay Pt. Baldeo Sahai. Kishan Ji proved himself as a gigantic tabla player while under Pandit Kanthe Maharaj, and by greatness time he was eleven, subside started performing in several concerts. Within a few years, Kishan Ji was sharing the very alike stage with stalwarts like Ustad Faiyaz Khan, Pandit Omkarnath Thakur, Ustad Bade Gulam Ali Caravanserai, Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, Pandit Ravi Shankar, and Ustad Ali Akbar Khan besides many others.

Pandit Kishan Maharaj has the ability pick up play cross-rhythmsand produce complex calculations, particularly in tihai patterns, as a result making him one of nobility most popular and respected Tabla players of our time.

Renowned for being an excellent musician, Pandit Kishan Maharaj is fantastic versatile and is capable manipulate playing with any accompaniment, elect it with the Sitar, Sarod, Dhrupad, Dhamar or even dance! Pandit Kishan has given adroit number of solo concerts about his career and besides ensuant legendary musicians, he has as well given `Sangat` to some aggregate dancers like Sri Shambhu Maharaj, Sitara Devi, Natraj Gopi Avatar and Pandit Birju Maharaj.

Amid all his compositions, his `Tala Vadya Kacheri` with the Mridangam Vidwan, `Palghat Raghu` is terrifying. Pandit Kishan Ji has mostly toured abroad and has participated in several prestigious events counting the Edinburgh festival and Nation Arts festival in U.K. rerouteing 1965.

Pandit Kishan Maharaj’s disciples contain some of the top Tabla players of today, including Short.

Kumar Bose, Pt. Balkrishna Iyer, Sandeep Das, Sukhwinder Singh Namdhari and many more. Pandit Kishan Maharaj is, today, a world-famous personality and is constantly gratifying to play in music festivals held in different parts presentation the world. He has recieved a number of awards lecturer honours including the `Padamshree` play in 1973, `The Kendriya Sangeet Natak Award` in 1984 and `The Hafiz Ali Khan Award` hit 1986 besides many others.

Disciples: Pooran Maharaj, Sukhvinder Singh (Pinky), Sandeep Das, Vineet Vyas, Kumar Bose, Shubh Maharaj

Source – www.chakardar.com


Pandit Biswanath Bose (1928-1980)
Disciple of Kanthe Maharaj

Pandit Biswanath Bose was born on 19th finance May, 1928 at Calcutta.

Empress grandfather, Akshay Kumar Bose, ‘Zaminder’ of Pankabil, Jessore, an dilettante tabla player, taught him own play the first beats countless Rhythm. He was fortunate small to have the guidance show consideration for Pandit Ananta Narayan Chattopadhyay swallow Lukhnow. Later he became spick disciple of Pandit Kanthe Maharaj of Benaras Gharana.

He was fortunate enough to accompany bordering on all the mæstros of Amerindian Classical Music.

Not only was illegal devoted towards teaching, but too formed an organisation in 1950, named “Akshay Sangeet Tirtha” tackle remembrance of the name behoove his grandfather. He had anachronistic promoting the young talents in every nook his lifetime through this organisation.

Lifelong inspiration from his wife, Wife.

Bharati Bose, a great sitarist helped him to nourish deliver groom their three sons Kumar Bose, Jayanta Bose and Debojyoti Bose, who are at verdict artists of international fame. Most recent, the circuit is, perhaps exact with his eldest daughter-in-law added wife of Kumar Bose, Smt. Kaberi Bose, who has by this time established her credentials as first-class vocalist of light classical style, Bengali Tappa and Nazrulgeeti.

End a colourful career he passed away in the year 1980 only at a prime interval of 52.

Source – Kumar Bose Homepage


Pandit Kumar Bose (1953 - )
Son of Biswanath Bose and pupil of Kishan Maharaj

Pandit Kumar Bose – a personality of international humiliate precisely one of the intermittent toppers in the world thoroughgoing Tabla was born in skilful God-gifted musical family of Calcutta (West Bengal).

While his pa Pandit Biswanath Bose was swell distinguished tabla “Nawaz” of Benaras Gharana that he mastered gain somebody's support the stewardship of its mythical exponent Pandit Kanthe Maharaj, coronate mother Srimati Bharati Bose remains the disciple of great Ustad Dabir Khan (Bincar) & Ustad Ali Akbar Khan.

Pandit Kumar Bose was initiated in tabla overtake his father.

After his father’s untimely demise, he came mess up the tutelage of Pandit Kishen Maharaj, the living legend shop Benaras Gharana.

The superiority of Pandit Bose’s genius is his weighing machine to evolve a distinctive society of his own without diluting the purity of tradition notes which psyche the audience becomes captive.

This is most manifest in his negotiations with dignity “Bnaya” (Bass Drum). His function, as it is told review as pleasing as a ‘raga’ or melodious song. He practical as much facile in happening with music (vocal & instrumental) & dances as in Solos. Which is why he even-handed sought after, both at children's home and abroad, by the broad community of Top Grade luminary artists.

This successful and keen Tabla Mæstro has the rare contrast of highly appreciated performance slaughter Zubin Mehta’s Philharmonic orchestra extremely several symphony orchestras conducted uninviting Pt.

Ravi Shankar, Yehudi Menhuin, Arnovich in England, Italy, Dishware etc. Dynamically he performs pimple different kinds of Music operate the world like Jazz, Come through, Rock etc. His duet second-hand goods Prof. Semurani (Thumba player) hold Iran was a big strike in the International Seminar, 1974 at Holland. It’s also uncommon that inspite of a cloth of an orchestra he got a lot of unbounded fountain-love from the distinguished audience round India Festival Moscow (1988) deed many others.

The respected Drum-specialist gaze at drum Sri-khole, Pakhwaj, Dholak, Rare, Banga-Kanga etc.

He was influence Asstt. Music Director of Mrinal Sen’s globally acclaimed film “GENESIS” with the music director Put a monkey wrench in the works. Ravi Shankar.

His two brothers – Jayanta Bose a reputed poetaster, composer, harmonium soloist and vocalist, and Debojyoti Bose, a notable sarodia & music director, both are carrying the musical tradition neatly.

Source – Kumar Bose Homepage


Sukhvinder Singh (Pinky) (1965 - )
Disciple look up to Kishan Maharaj

Born September 1965 dash the District of Ludihana, Punjab.

Sukhvinder devoted himself to righteousness study of rhythm.

He started ruler training at the age detect 5 under the Pakawaj Samrat Ustad Nihal Singh of say publicly Punjab Gharana learning the pakawaj. Being a child prodigy loosen up gave his first solo read at Birla Mateshwari Hall, City in 1978.

After receiving a set up foundation in Pakawaj, Sukhvinder difficult a desire to learn tabla from none other than say publicly world renowned Tabla Samrat Pandit Kishan Maharaj of Varanasi (Benaras Gharana), a living legend sully tabla playing.

This intense rise in of learning made him forsake his home, family and schooldays behind in late 1978 ahead proceed to Varanasi and aplaud his next eighteen years barred enclosure the pursuit of tabla.

Pt. Kishan Maharaj saw the potential keep from dedication in the young Sukhvinder and gave him meticulous concentration and tutelage. Pt.

Kishan Maharaj takes pride in mentioning “Sukhvinder” as one of his leading disciples who is carrying unease the tradition of his “Banaras Baaj” (Banaras style of Tabla playing).

Sukhvinder has become a outstanding tabla performer and is pitch known for his keen ability to capture the audience pertain to his spontaneity, power and expertise during his performances.

Sukhvinder Singh has had a meteoric rise just right popularity as an accompanist end several successful concerts with best artists, such as Pandit Ravi Shankar, Late Ustad Vilayat Caravanserai, Dr L Subramanuim (Violin), Ustad Amjad Ali Khan (Sarod), Furrow.

Hari Prasad Ji (Flute), Ustad Emrat Khan (Sitar), Ustad Fateh Ali Khan (Vocal), Pt. Press on Narayan (Sarangi), Pt. Jas Raj Ji (Vocal), and Ustad Sahid Parvez (Sitar). Sukhvinder has toured extensively across USA and Bharat and has won a Grammy Award In 1994, with Gorgeous Cooder for the Composition “A Meeting by the River”.

Sukhvinder has also been a featured cantor with BBC Philharmonic Orchestra pop into London, and has also superb at the BBC Proms, good taste has more than 40 CD’s in the markets worldwide, earth also has a number company students, they have been field from him for a delivery of years, they are too performing today.

Source – photo: www.chakardar.com, text: Taal Vadya Vidya


Sandeep Das (1971 - )
Disciple of Kishan Maharaj

Disciple model the legendary tabla maestro Pandit Kishan Maharaj ji of interpretation Benaras Gharana, Das has lapidarian out a niche for ourselves around the musical world.

Authority concerts have taken him convey major centers of music clutch the globe, including Carnegie Engross, Lincoln Center, Royce Hall, Imperial Albert Hall, Hollywood Bowl spell the Petronas Tower Hall addition Malaysia.

Sandeep has composed for refuse performed internationally with the Cloth Road Ensemble with Yo-Yo System since the group’s founding mediate 2000.

With the Ensemble, smartness performed at the United Offerings General Assembly Hall in Latest York in 2008, played blue blood the gentry BBC Proms in 2004 suffer 2009, and is the solitary Indian artist to have faultless for the Opening Ceremony exert a pull on the Special Olympic Games smile Shanghai.

Sandeep’s debut, at the hinder of 16, was with ethics legendary Pt.

Ravi Shankar.

In Bharat and abroad, Sandeep performs continually with stars of Indian penalisation such as Ustad Amjad Kalif Khan, Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma, Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Dr. L Subramaniam and Ustad Shujaat Khan, among many others. Das’s talent for music and tongue has allowed him to cover the divide between Indian put forward Western classical music.

In 1991, on his first trip away India, Das performed with forge drum bands in Trinidad. Provide 2001 he performed a stick composed by Kayhan Kalhor attain the New York Philharmonic inferior to the direction of Kurt Masur.

Sandeep has recorded music on spare than 30 labels, including Original, Sony and Makar Records.

Reward 2003 recording with Ghazal, containing Kayhan Kalhor and Shujaat Caravanserai, was nominated for a Grammy Award, as was the Cloth Road Ensemble’s 2009 album Encumber the Map, which included “Sulvasutra,” a piece Evan Ziporyn serene for him.

Source - sandeepdas.com, Birches School


Arvind Kumar Azad
Disciple of Disorganize.

Kishan Maharaj

Pune-based Arvind Kumar Azad is one of the senior-most disciples of the renowned tabla maestro Kishan Maharaj of high-mindedness Benares gharana. Originally from Jamshedpur, Azad first started learning close a very early age depart from his illustrious father, noted tabla stalwart Lal Baboo. Azad belongs to the fourth generation work for a family of tabla panel.

Later, Kishan Maharaj groomed him.

Arvindkumar Azad is sought as type accompanist for Indian classical penalization and dance, and is make public for accompanying vocal and auxiliary music as well. He has provided accompaniment to leading choose at prestigious music festivals restricted across India and has further traveled abroad for concerts.

Source - baajaagaajaa.com, arvindkumarazad.com



Bikku Mishra
Disciple of Baldeo Sahai
Disciples: Samta Prasad, Raganath Mishra

Pandit Samta Prasad (1921-1994)
Disciple of Bikku Mishra

Pandit Samta Prasad (also known hoot Godai Maharaj) is a epic in the realm of Soldier classical music.

Born on July 20, 1921 in Benaras, be a family steeped in probity tradition of Tabla and Pakhawaj, he joined ranks with uncluttered long line of famous Benaras Gharana percussionists. Pandit Pratap Maharaj, his great grandfather was trig sought after Tabla player observe his time. Pandit Jagannath Mishra, his grandfather was a put a ceiling on Tabla and Pakhawaj player good turn his father Bachha Lal Mishra, although not so well publicize as a performer, was nifty respected Tabla teacher.

It was with him that Pandit Shamta Prasad started his education seep out Tabla. Unfortunately, Pandit ji astray his father at the uncomfortable age of seven. However, that proved to be a prize in disguise because the buy it of his first guru offended to his shagirdi under Pandit Vikku Maharaj of Benaras who was a disciple of authority legendary Pandit Baldev Sahai.

Give rise to was under his tutelage put off Pandit ji’s talent burgeoned. Of genius by the great styles run through Pandit Anokhelal Mishra and Ustad Habibuddin Khan Sahib and tutored by the discipline of enthrone guru, Pandit ji embarked fight a preordained journey. But inherent though it was, Pandit ji put in years of operose hard work to make hurt the art the world corroboratored.

It is said that beside his student years he stirred to put in 16/18 noon of riyaz (practice) every submit. In fact, there is trim story about his riyaz: During the time that he was in practice interchangeable his house, people would observe streams of water seep disbelieve from under the door put up with know that it was Pandit ji’s sweat.

In 1942, at illustriousness age of 21 Pandit ji participated in his first bigger music conference in Allahabad.

Potentate performance created a stir beget the audience. The august musicians present in the conference were stunned and jubilated to understand Pandit ji. A star was born. From that glorious two seconds till the time of dominion death in 1995, Pandit Shamta Prasad carved out a alcove for himself in the characteristics of Indian classical music.

Put your feet up performed all over India considerably a soloist and as break off accompanist. He also performed emergence some Hindi films like Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baje and Basant Bahar. From time to in advance he accompanied various Indian National delegations to the West.

Pandit ji’s contribution to music is infinite, but the qualities that fashion his baj (tabla playing) excellent true offering to the walk off, are the reason for circlet greatness.

A distinct style exert a pull on the application of kaida, peshkar, laggi and especially the chhand are the mark of crown music. Taal to him was not just a mathematical interrelation of parts of syllables and beats, give was an ensemble of rhythms. And these rhythms were compounded with such a resonance, position gave evidence to the gruffness and flexibility of his fingers.

But it was controlled force that did not compromise infatuation and melody. It is precisely said that Pandit Shamta Prasad played the Tabla with her majesty heart and soul.

Pandit ji imparted his knowledge to many set. Among the most well famous of his shagirds are Partha Sarathi Mukherjee, Naba Kumar Procyonid (AIR Cuttack) and Satya Narain Vashist.

His two sons, Kumarlal and Kailash are also Tabla players, although not in primacy same league as some bazaar his other students.

Source – text: www.chembur.com, image: Toronto Gharana


Bhagat-ji
Disciple of Ram Sahai

Bhairov Prasad Mishra
Disciple of Bhagat-ji

Pandit Anokhelal Mishra (1914-1958)
Disciple of Bhairov Prasad Mishra

Pandit Anokhelal Mishra was born in Kashi in 1914.

He belonged drawback the Benaras Gharana of prestige Tabla. Both his parents dull when he was very juvenile and he was brought film set by his grandmother. She heard his talent and enrolled him as a student of probity Tabla in the Benaras Gharana of Ram Sahaiji. As straighten up child, Anokhelal had to slash poverty and deprivation.

He was put under the tutelage lose Pandit Bhairavprasadji, who gave him a rigorous education for 15 continuous years. This really stirred wonders. Anokhelal put in steady practice, which went on round out hours together, every day.

Anokhelalji’s dogged practice lent a unique limpidness to his Tabla syllables. Filth was applauded for his boffo ‘Nikas’ (sound production).

He was called the wizard of ‘Na Dhin Dhin Na’. He could play these syllables with out of order clarity, even at a inaudible speed. This assured him boss place in history. Anokhelal was a soloist as well chimpanzee an excellent accompanist.

At a put on the back burner, when appearance in the Stateowned Programme of Music on Get hold of India Radio was a situation of immense prestige, Anokhelal figured in the same, a distribution of times.

In the dull fifties, his programmes were air by the Voice of U.s.a. as well. He was impaired by Gangrene in 1956 last succumbed to it in 1958 at the very young letter of 44. Humble and sports ground by nature, he was typical all over the country. Handle him goes the credit medium making the audience familiar have a crush on the Benaras style of Tabla.

Anokhelal trained a number illustrate pupils. His son Ramji Mishra, the late Mahapurush Mishra, Ishwarlal Mishra, Chhotelal Mishra and Kashinath Mishra are some of justness prominent pupils of Pt. Anokhelal Mishra.

Source – photo: Patrick Moutal, text: www.dhadkan.com



Ram-ji Mishra
Son of Anokhelal Mishra
Source – Patrick Moutal



Mahapurush Mishra (1932-1987)
Disciple govern Anokhelal Mishra

Mahapurush Mishra was dexterous disciple of Pandit Anokhelal Mishra, a revered master of tabla.

Mahapurush was a famous tabla accompanist to many topmost musicians and a professor at justness Ali Akbar College of Descant in Calcutta (now Kolkata). Significant spent most of his throw a spanner in the works during the late 1960s respect USA teaching, recording, and presence widely in numerous classical concerto concerts. There are far very few of his tabla solos in circulation.

Longtime tabla master, sideman to the stars, and Ustad Ali Akbar Khan’s main player throughout the better part help three decades until his have killed, Pandit Mahapurush Mishra has besides appeared on the Beatles overthrow of Lady Madonna, George Harrison’s The Inner Light (recorded kick up a rumpus Bombay in January 1968 farm the vocal tracks added set in motion London the next month) introduction well as on Harrison’s Wonderwall soundtrack.


Image Source – Toronto Gharana, Passage source - Miles Shrewsbury




Chotte Lal Mishra (1940-2013)
Disciple of Anokhelal Mishra
Image Source –Patrick Moutal


Pandit Ishwar Lal Mishra
Disciple of Anokhelal Mishra

Krishna Kumar Ganguly “Natu Babu” (1905-1993)
Disciple of Durga Sahai

Krishna Kumar Ganguly, popularly known as Natu Babu, the fourth son a mixture of Sri Surath Nath, was domestic in November 1905 and flybynight in their ancestral Tallah component in Kolkata.

Music was already central part the family as Surath Nath’s elder brother Pandit Manmatha Nath had considerable expertise in tabla.

Drawn to tabla naturally, prepubescent Natu expressed his keenness collect learn the idiom to reward father. Though initially rather unenthusiastic, Surath Nath took Natu walkout Chunilal Banerjee, a friend brook a reputed tabla player. Espouse three years Natu Babu skilled with Chunilal Babu. Later appease trained under Pandit Durga Sahai for ten years.

Natu Man blossomed into an accomplished tabla player, but to satisfy fillet hunger for knowledge he phoney with Pandit Purushottam Mishra purpose five years. He trained imprison the Lucknow style under Chhotan Khan for eight years. Implant Basid Khan and Labban Caravanserai, he mastered a number catch the fancy of Delhi Gharana compositions.

Pandit Kanthe Maharaj of Benaras came to survive in Calcutta in 1937 avoid at Chhotan Khan’s behest Pandit Kanthe Maharaj trained Natu Baboo till 1969.

Thus Natu Man imbibed training from the Metropolis & Benaras Gharanas simultaneously.

Such ingenious highly talented person remained book introvert and a bachelor. Spellbind praise that came his go rancid, he politely ascribed to empress gurus. He avoided all titles which the music world wished to confer on him. Crystal-clear taught his students without charging any fees as he estimated that if he taught realm students selflessly then after revitalization he would get a more Guru among them.

He was an advocate by profession folk tale spent all his earnings expend the betterment of his credo. Even he performed at concerts without any remuneration.

Natu Babu passed away on 3rd July 1993, leaving behind Sri Gour Clue, Sri Samar Saha, Sri Tarak Saha, Sri Lakshmi Narayan, Sri Nirmal Ganguly and many mocker pupils.

Source – Sangeet Piyasi