Anokhelal Mishra

Anokhelal Mishra
Tabla Samrat Pandit Anokhelal Mishra
Background information
Born	1914 Benares, United Provinces, British India
Origin	Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
Genres	Hindustani Classical Music (Banaras Gharana)
Occupation(s)	Classical musician, Music teacher
Instruments	Tablā
Years active	1929–1958

Anokhelal Mishra (Hindi: अनोखेलाल मिश्रा; 1914 – 10 March 1958) — also spelled as Anokhe Lal Misra and commonly known as Pandit Anokhelalji — was an Indian Tablā Artist who belonged to the Banaras Gharana of Hindustani classical music.

Anokhelal was born in a very poor family of Kashi (Banaras), now known as Varanasi (State – Uttar Pradesh). Anokhelal learnt tabla under Bhairow Prasad Mishra (Bhairow is also spelled as Bhairav or Bhairon). Bhairow prasad Mishra detected his talent and enrolled him as a student of the Tabla in the Banaras Gharana of Ram Sahaiji at the age of 5 or 6 years. Anokhelal Learnt Tabla for about 15 years from Bhairow Prasad Mishra. Bhairow Prasad Mishra was disciple of Bhagat-ji. Bhagat-ji was disciple of Ram Sahai, the founder of The Banaras-Bāj (aka Banaras Gharana). According to The Banaras Bāj-The Tablā Tradition of a North Indian City by David Roach, Anokhelal was the most famous disciple of Bhairav Prasad Mishra among Maulvi Ram Mishra, Mahavir Bhatt, Mahadev Prasad Mishra, Anokhelal Mishra, and Nageshvar Prasad.

He lost his parents as teenager. After that he was brought up by his grandmother. As a child, Anokhelal had to suffer poverty and deprivation.

Anokhelal put in unremitting riyaaz (practice) under the guidance of Guruji (Master), which went on for hours together, every day.

He was called the Jadugar (wizard) of ' Na Dhin Dhin Na ' (theka of Teen Taal- 16beats) and ' Dhere Dhere Kite Taka ' (particular tabla syllables). He used to play these and many more syllables with clarity even at extreme speed. He was skilled at fast playing ' Na Dhin Dhin Na ' with his 1st finger.

Pandit Anokhelal was a soloist as well as an accompanist. Anokhelal performed a number of solo concerts during his career and also gave 'Sangat' (accompany) to many famous musicians and classical dancers. Some of them are Ustad Allauddin Khan, Ustad Vilayat Khan, Ustad Ali Akbar Khan, etc.