“Those insects chirping to the beat
With the Cuckoo joining the retreat!
Then the Owl, he wants in too!
The peacock then joins the musical zoo!”
The name of this instrument is also the Arabic name of an important part of an important sense organ very important to the ENT surgeon!
ARRE HUZOOR! READ ON!
Of course if you are part of our DD generation then you would have got the link!
The famous Tea ad which used to come with Ustaad Zakir Hussain playing with his curly hairs and the pleasant smile!
Growing up I used to think that if you have to be a Tabla Player you must have long hairs! Being the son of an army officer, that option was not there but Tabla was and will always be close to me!
I love banging on the Tabla and making it sound tolerable and my life is watching the ‘Tabla’ of the Patient’s ear!
Yes! The drum of the ear is called ‘tabla’!
My whole day is spent explaining to the patient how their ‘tabla’ is good or not! Or if it is infected or If it has water inside!
Water and Tabla do not do well and this is not only the Human Tabla but also the Instrument tabla! Once my Bongo drums which is made of similar material had some stains in it and I was planning to wash it with water! Am sure that would have been the end of those drums!
All said and done though, Ustaad Zakir was the king when it came to Tabla! We used to earnestly listen to his renditions and as far as we were concerned he was the king!
His catchphrase of “Arey huzoor, Wah Taj boliye!” was so famous that it was like a routine!
Did you know that there is a theory that the roots of the famous Tabla is traced to India!?
This Indian theory traces the origin of tabla to indigenous ancient civilization. The stone sculpture carvings in Bhaja Caves depict a woman playing a pair of drums, which some have claimed as evidence for the ancient origin of the tabla in India!
A different version of this theory states that the tabla acquired a new Arabic name during the Islamic rule, having evolved from ancient Indian puśkara drums. The evidence of the hand-held puśkara is founded in many temple carvings, such as at the 6th and 7th century Muktesvara and Bhuvaneswara temples in India!
These arts show drummers who are sitting, with two or three separate small drums, with their palm and fingers in a position as if they are playing those drums.
We also have the Mridangam which is essentially close to the south indian classical music but has similar two drums!
The textual evidence for similar material and methods of construction as tabla comes from Sanskrit texts. The earliest discussion of tabla-like musical instrument building methods are found in the Natyashastra. This text also includes descriptions of paste-patches (syahi) such as those found on a tabla!
In fact the Natyashastra also discusses how to play these drums!
For us however the origins are interesting aspects of history! But all said and done, Ustaad Zakir Hussain was historical and a legend!
He will be missed but his legacy would remain forever!
Heartfelt condolences to the one who inspired countless people like me to love the Tabla!
Om shanthi…
Shubh Ratri…
A quick sketch on the scribe for lack of time…
ramadocblog 