On the Rhythms of Tabla

Tabla is one of the most cherished instruments of Hindustani Classical tradition. The legend says that one day when Lord Ganesha was playing Mridangam, he dropped it, causing it to split into two halves. While there is no concrete proof behind this myth, many tabla players have justified its creation over the centuries.

Shastri at a studio recording at All India Radio; Image Source- Pandit Chandra Nath Shastri. Weebly

Born into a well-known brahmin family in Kolkata, Pandit Chandra Nath Shastri was a promising scion of his rich musical legacy. His grandmother, Smt. Indira Devi was the niece of Rabindranath Tagore and a harboured interest in music. His father, Dr Mouli Nath Shastri, was a tabla player and a vocalist who learned under the shadow of Tagore. And that is how Chandra Nath Shastri and his elder brother inherited the art of playing the tabla. Their sense of rhythm and impeccable precision with the instrument made them legendary in this field.

Shastri's father noticed his keen interest in playing the tabla early in life and taught him a few taals to play. That was the beginning of Shahstri's musical journey. The family soon relocated to Varanasi, where at the age of 5, Shastri met his guru Pandit Anokhelal Mishra. Both Shastri and his brother went to guruji to polish their art, and after his death, flourished under the tutelage of Pandit Ramji Mishra. I

Every artist has their moment, which kickstarts their career, earning them fame and name for a lifetime. For Shastri, that moment came when he won the national competition of All India Radio at 23. His outstanding performance attracted his audience and prompted his contemporaries to acknowledge him with the title of pandit.

From hereon, Shastri's career only looked up. He soon became an AIR staff artist along with an artist for Doordarshan. His regular appearances on radio and television made him the talk of the town.

Apart from this, Shastri also performed various solo concerts, percussion ensembles while accompanying celebrated vocalists and instrumentalists. The list of famous people whom he worked with runs long, including Ustad Rashid Khan, Pandit Ramesh Mishra, Pandit Mahadev Prasad Mishra, Ustad Mushtaq Ali Khan and many more.

Shastri also judged many musical competitions and talent-hunt shows while devoting himself to teaching young enthusiasts the art of playing the tabla. Over the years, his prowess and talent in the field have allowed him to play many other instruments like Pakhawaj, Khol, Mridangam, to name a few.

Today, Shastri is one of the most experienced fifth-generation tabla maestro of the Banaras Gharana of Hindustani Classical music. What most people do not know about him is his interest in spirituality. A trait inherited from his father, Shastri explores the connection between music and spirituality and imparts his words of wisdom on various occasions.

Shastri continues to be an inspiration and an invaluable exponent of playing the tabla in India. His astounding performances and command over tabla are indeed a miracle, refined over time with devotion and affection.