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Alla Rakha
About Alla Rakha Tabla Maestro- Einstein of Rhythm
Famous table player of India, popularly known as Alla Rakha, also is known by name of “Qureshi Alla Rakha Khan” (29 April 1919 – 3 February 2000). Frequently, he accompanies Ravi Shankar. It was merely from 12 years old age that tabla’s sound fascinated him. It all started from a stay at Gurdaspur at his uncles.
For his love of table, he ran away young and trained under eye of Punjab Gharana’s Main Qader Bakesh. This person gave start to a completely new music world to him. In addition, he learned ‘Raag Vidya’ from Patiala Gharana’s Ustad Ashiq Ali Khan. In legend, his name has been written in golden words due to his dedication and practice. Disciplined and hard many hours practices in these years helped him in skill cultivation. His career in music started as Lahore’s accompanist. After that, he began working in staff of ‘All India Radio’ in 1940 in Mumbai. From year 1943-48, he composed music in two Hindi films.
Biography
Birthplace of Alla Rakha was British India’s Paghwal in Jammu. Dogri was his native language. When staying at his uncle’s place in Gurdaspur, he fell in love with tabla’s rhythm and sound at 12. It was his determination that made him run away to learn as well as study tabla from Punjab Gharana’s Mian Kader Baksh. Patiala gharana’s Ashiq Ali Khan taught him raag and voice Vidya. In legend, his name has been written in golden words due to his dedication and practice. Disciplined and hard many hours practices in these years helped him in skill cultivation.
He, later on, married Bavi Begum. After that, they had three sons namely Taufiq Qureshi, Fazal Qureshi and Zakir Hussain as well as a daughter named Khurshid Aulia nee Qureshi. He even has nine grandchildren. One another daughter of Alla Rakha named Razia died just prior 24 hours of her father’s death.
On date of 3/2/200, Alla Rakha’s demise took place due to heart attack in his ‘Nepean Sea Road’ residence. This heart attack was caused due getting knowledge of his daughter’s death previous evening.
Career
His career begins in Lahore city by being an accompanist. Later on, he became staffer of ‘All India Radio’ in 1940 in Bombay. It was here that he played first ever station’s table solo. This elevated instrument’s position manifold in process. From year 1943-48, he composed music in two Hindi films. That did not mean that he stopped playing solo as accompanist. He did that with Ravi Shankar and Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan Ustad Allauddin Khan Vasant Rai. At apex of 1960s, he gained a reputation of being chief accompanist of Pandit Ravi Shankar. He gained popularity for delighting West audiences by being accompanist of flawless sensitivity and timing as well as being soloist showing his mastery in electric showmanship and prolific composer. In 1967, His spellbinding and legendary performance along with Shankar in ‘Monterey Pop Festival’ was highly successful. This was festival that made Western audiences acquainted with Indian classical music.
He later on taught Yogesh Samsi along with his two sons Fazal Qureshi and Taufiq Qureshi. Even Zakir Hussain, his eldest son, attains status of table virtuoso.
Awards
- Padmashree
- Sangeet Natak Akademi Award
- Indo-American Achievement Award
- Maharashtra Gaurav Puraskar
- The first-ever gold disc for a classical recording.
Photo Gallery