The old timers still have vivid memory of Lachhu Maharaj with the vermilion tika adorning his forehead and the red mouth full of maghai paan, the trademark betel leaves of Benaras; playing scintillating tabla solos and accompanying the top musicians . The widely-acclaimed tabla player of Banaras gharana passed away in his home town last week, leaving behind his German wife Tina, daughter Narayani and the larger family of admirers and disciples.
Born in a zamindar family of musicians as Lakshmi Narayan Singh, Lachhu Maharaj trained under his father Pandit Vasudev Singh, popularly known as Vasudev Maharaj; who in turn was a disciple of Pandit Beeru Mishra of Banaras Gharana. Lachhu Maharaj started performing at an early age. When Ustad Ahmad Jaan Thirakwa heard this 8-year-old boy perform in some mehfil, his instant reaction with a sigh was “Kaash, Lachhu mera beta hota!” (Wish Lachhu were my son!)
Lachhu Maharaj had sound technical knowledge and an incredible sense of rhythm. He was known for his unmatched solo performances though he accompanied nearly all the stalwarts of his time. Some of them remember him fondly.
Thumri exponent Girija Devi, whom he accompanied often on stage, remembers especially his solo performances. “He would play for hours without repeating himself, new gats, tukras and parans, leaving his audiences awestruck.”
Pandit Rajan Mishra (elder of the Mishra Bandhu) reminisces, “Once he accompanied us in a music conference of Bihar in early seventies. We still remember his terrific sangat, but there was no match to his solo performances. “Woh gunee aadmi the. Apne gharane ke alawa bhi har gharane ki cheezen unhein yaad thin. Gat-Farad toh dhuandhar bajate the!”
He was repository of the best from various gharanas because his father Vasudev Maharaj invited maestroes to stay with him and would learn and collect their special items winning their hearts with his warm hospitality. He was a gifted tabla exponent but by temperament he was typical Banarasi. Mishra says, “Mijaaz mil gayaa toh ghazab ki sangat karte, varna uth kar chal dete.” (If the wavelength matched he would play, otherwise just walk away!)
Malini Awasthi, the well known folk singer remembers visiting him years ago with her Guru bhai Daler Mehndi and his younger brother Shamsher who was learning tabla from him. Lachhu Maharaj was sitting in a dark room with numerous statues of Maa Bhawani and a lighted deepak in front. He greeted them warmly because he knew their Guru Ustad Rahat Ali closely. Malini remembers his simplicity and warmth, how he obliged them with his tabla solo and also played with the ghazals sung by Daler and Malini for him and checked the tabla lesson of his shagird Shamsher.
Mithilesh Jha, a young tabla player of Banaras Gharana hails Lachhu Maharaj in high esteem for his expertise and also for his rich repertoire of exquisite compositions. He tells that Lachhu Maharaj was also a real ‘parkhi’ connoisseur of gems and precious stones. “People went to him for advice about their lucky stones.”
Lachhu Maharaj was an erudite scholar and an unparalleled tablia of his times, who lived life on his own terms without any compromise. It’s an irony that he did not get the recognition he deserved although his sister Nirmala Devi and his nephew Govinda got name and fame. Let us hope that his disciples carry forward the tradition he so sincerely preserved and selflessly passed on to them.
