Ustadjan Thirakwa

Inspired by Indian classical music and dance, Maqbool Fida Husain has recurrently paid homage to cultural traditions through his paintings. Exploring the relationship between the aesthetics of modern painting and those of classical Hindustani music and dance, the artist frequently attempted to offer visual interpretations of Indian musical modes in his work. Here, Husain pays tribute to the one of the country's most famous classical percussionists, Ustad Ahmed Jan Thirakwa. Named by his guru's father after the virtuosic way in which his fingers seemed to shimmer (thirakwa) over his instrument, the tablas, this early twentieth century musician continues to be revered for elevating the tabla from an accompanying instrument to one played in solo recitals. In this portrait, Husain uses a vivid palette to capture an ephemeral moment in a raaga, focusing on the maestro's hands and the tablas they play to evoke notes of music.