LACHHU MAHARAJ

About: 

• Lakshmi Narayan Singh (1944 – 2016), known professionally as Lachhu Maharaj was an Indian tabla player of Benaras gharana. 
  
  
• Brought up in Varanasi, the tabla maestro started performing at the age of 8 and trained under his father Vasudev Maharaj. He worked in many Bollywood films and performed across the world. 
  
  
• Awards: 
  • In 1957, he was honoured with the In 1957, he was honoured with the Sangeet Natak Akademi award, the highest award for performing artists. 
    
    
  • During Emergency, Maharaj played the tabla inside prison as a mark of protest and refused to accept any award bestowed on him including the Padma Shri and other state awards.