Google Doodle marks Indian tabla player Allah Rakha's 95th birth anniversary

On the eve of Indian Tabla maestro Allah Rakha's birth anniversary, Google put out a Doodle of the legend to commemorate the legend.

It shows the artist clad in a white kurta playing his table, with trademark smile on his lips. The two 'O's of Google have been converted into Tablas. 

The Ustad ran away from home at the age of 12 to learn the Tabla and found tutelage under Mian Kader Baksh of the Punjab gharana and learnt voice and Raag Vidya under Ashiq Ali Khan of the Patiala gharana. He was affectionately known as Abbaji. 

The doodle appears on the Google India home page tapping a taal.

Watch the maestro perform: 

Watch the video below: 

Alla Rakha was born on April 29, 1919 in Phagwal, Jammu as Qureshi Alla Rakha Khan and popularised the tabla across the globe. He was known to be a perfect accompanist of Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, Allauddin Khan, Vilayat Khan, Vasant Rai, Ali Akbar Khan and sitar player Ravi Shankar as well as an excellent soloist.

He started his career with the All India Radio in Lahore in 1936 and was transferred to Bombay in 1938.

He also composed music for films as AR Qureshi. His three sons— Zakir Hussain, Fazal Qureshi, and Taufiq Qureshi are also respected tabla players.

He toured the world with Ravi Shankar and played at festivals like the Woodstock introducing classical Indian music to the Western audiences and elevated the status of the humble instrument.

Ustad Alla Rakha was honoured with the Padma Shri in 1977 and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1982.

Alla Rakha died after a heart attack on February 3, 2000 in Mumbai.

Watch the video below: