Benaras Tabla Gharana

Ram Sahai (1780-1826)

Kishen Maharaj (b. 1923)

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Benaras gharana was founded in the early nineteenth century by Ram Sahay Mishra (1780-1826). Ram Sahay was a disciple of Modhu Khan, who was a grandson of Sadhar Khan, the founder of Delhi Gharana. Later, Ram Sahai made several innovative changes to the playing technique forming a separate style which has come to be known as the Benaras gharana. The Benaras gharana follows the khula baj (and the Pakhwaj baj) style of playing, and is regarded as an off-shoot of the Lucknow and Punjab gharanas. The unusual sound-quality of the gharana's playing can be attributed to the practice of playing with the third finger held in a bent position.

Influences as diverse as vocal music and instrumental, pakhawaj playing and dance forms have led to a distinct technique and presentation. Thus, gat, paran, chakradhar, and tukda are regular features in the gharana's playing style, and rare tals such as pancham sawari, dhamar and shultãl are performed. There are many similarities with the Punjab gharana, particularly in the repertoire.

At the turn of the 20th century, Baldeo Sahai (1856-1906) the grand son of Ram Sahai was the head of the gharana. Two of his important disciples were Bhagavathi Sahai (1896-1946), the son and Kanthe Maharaj (1880-1969). Sharda Sahai (b. 1935) is the current head of the family and son of Bhagavathi Sahai. Kanthe Maharaj's son Kishen Maharaj is the most celebrated Benaras tabla player of his age. Vishnu Sahai and Pooran Maharaj are respectively the inheritors of the legacy of Sharda Sahai and Kishen Maharaj. Tabla maestros Kumar Bose and Sukhvinder Singh are the disciple of Kishen Maharaj. Bikku Mishra, another disciple of Baldeo Sahai trained Samta Prasad (1921-1995), one of the greatest tabla players of his age.

Benaras Tabla Gharana


Source : Sahai . org

Artists

• Afaq Hussain Khan
• Bhagavathi Sahai
• Baldeo Sahai
• Ram Sahai (founder)
• Kanthe Maharaj
• Kishen Maharaj
• Kumar Bose
• Samta Prasad
• Sharda Sahai
• Sukhvinder Singh Namdari
• Vishnu Sahai
• Pooran Maharaj

Links

• Benaras Gharana at Sahai.org
• Benaras Gharana at Purcussionist.net