The fiery and mellow tabla beats of Kumar Bose’s life

It is a privilege to have been asked to write an introduction to a book that celebrates the life and work of Pandit Kumar Bose or Kumarda as many in the field of Hindustani music respectfully refer to him. A prominent torchbearer of the Banaras gharana, one of the six major styles of tabla playing in the Indian subcontinent, Kumarda’s individuality as a soloist and accompanist have set him apart from his contemporaries. The very tonal quality of his playing is distinctly recognizable, and while holding fast to the virtues of the Banaras tradition, he has added his characteristic expression to compositions from the tabla solo repertoire that he has inherited from his gurus. Not surprisingly then, Kumarda’s music attracts students of tabla like me as well as a cross-section of cognoscenti and uninitiated among audiences. But before I elaborate upon Kumarda’s prowess as a tabla player, let me place before the readers a few home truths about the life of a Hindustani musician.

The life of an arts’ practitioner is fraught with risks related to not just those encountered during artistic pursuit but also those that are part of day-to-day existence. Indeed, the latter is a reality for even those not...

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