tabla players: biographies
work in progress

Ut. Ahmedjaan Thirakwa

Ut. Ahmedjan Thirakwa Khan was born in 1881 in Muradabad, Uttar Pradesh. His grandfather, maternal uncle, and paternal uncle were all great tabla players. His father Hussain Baksh was a sarangi player. He therefore had an extensive musical background, and later began learning tabla from Ut. Munir Khan at age 12 after initial vocal and sarangi lessons. His nickname became "thirakwa" after spectators noticed the shimmering and speed of his hands even at a young age. He presented tabla at the court of the Nawab of Rampur. He was under the guidance of Ut. Munir Khan for 26 years, and Ut. Munir Khan gifted him the baaj of 4 gharanas: Delhi, Ajrada, Lucknow, Farrukhabad. His hand had become "riyaazi" with 14-15 hours of daily practice, and people say that his tabla gives the fulfillment of listening to vocal music. Thirakwa saab has heavily popularized the peshkaar "dhinSkda dhina Sdha dhina," and this peshkaar has prominently embossed a signature on the term peshkaar itself. Thirakwa saab's playing was properly attuned to the respective baaj and gharana of the compositions he played. The Farrukhabad chalan, the Ajrada kayda "ghinaSdhagena dhatrakedhagena", as well as the kayda "dhatrakedhikiteghina" and its corresponding rou will remain a significant source of inspiration as Ut. Thirakwa played such compositions with perfection. He was distinguished by the way in which he brought different compositions together, as well as a formidable stage presence and soulful musicality. Ut. Thirakwa had a rare command over all aspects of solo presentation, yet his accompaniment was equally as mature. Music lovers remain nostalgic of his accompaniment at the Gandharva Natak company as well as several other performances. He received the Sangeet Natak Academy Award in Tabla, President Award in 1953, and the Padmabhushan Award in 1970. Ut. Thirakwa left this world on January 13th, 1976.