Google pays tribute to The Tabla Maestro Lacchu Maharaj

NPNEWS24 ONLINE – Google on Tuesday honoured noted Tabla maestro Lachhu Maharaj on his 110th birth anniversary by dedicating a doodle to the musician. Born in Varanasi on October 16, 1944 as Lakshmi Narayan Singh, Lachhu Maharaj was known for his proficiency in playing the tabla as part of the Benaras Gharana- one of the six most common styles of playing the tabla, which was developed nearly 200 years ago.

His sister Nirmala was the mother of actor Govinda. He married a French woman Teena, and they had a daughter, Narayani. Along with his professional tabla performances all over the world, he was featured in films. He was nominated for the Padma Shri, but refused to accept it. He felt the appreciation of his audience was enough of an honour.

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Many of his disciples are playing the tabla in the country and abroad. Lachhu Maharaj was a very simple choice person, this was the reason that he had never voluntarily received any respect.

He was awarded the 1957 Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, the highest award for performing artists, conferred by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, India’s National Academy for Music, Dance and Drama. Lakhu Maharaj gained fame through his acute practice in both the independent tabla player and the accompaniment. He died on July 27, 2016. His funeral was done on Manikarnika Ghat of Benaras.

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Maharaj died on 28 July 2016, at the age of 71. He was cremated in Manikarnika Ghat in Varanasi, in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.

Condolences were received from Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi. Politician Sonia Gandhi commented that “His contributions to classical as well as the popular film genre would forever inspire artistes in the years to come.” Then Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Akhilesh Yadav, said in his condolence message that ‘Lacchu Maharaj popularized tabla playing internationally with his talented performances, and his death was a huge loss’. Classical singer Girija Devi said it was an irreparable loss, and Maharaj knew the nuances of tabla like no other artist.

“What was interesting was that in all those hours, there would never be any repetition. He would keep showcasing new gats, tukras and parans (compositional forms) for all that time, leaving his audiences mesmerised,” Girija Devi, who had accompanied him on stage, had said.