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{{Short description|Indian tabla player (1780–1826)}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Ram Sahai
| image =
| birth_date = 1780
| birth_place = Benares (Varanasi), India
| death_date = 1826
| occupation = Tabla player
| known_for = Founder of the [[Benares gharana]]
}}

'''Ram Sahai''' (1780–1826) was an Indian tabla player and the founder of the [[Benares gharana]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pradhan |first=Aneesh |date=2016-12-03 |title=Listen: Maestros of the resonant Banaras style of tabla playing |url=https://scroll.in/article/823102/listen-maestros-of-the-resonant-banaras-style-of-tabla-playing |access-date=2025-01-04 |website=Scroll.in |language=en}}</ref> He was born in [[Varanasi|Benares]] and trained under Modhu Khan of the [[Lucknow gharana]] from the age of nine. After performing in Benares, he developed a unique style of tabla playing that led to the formation of the Benares gharana, which became an influential gharana in [[Indian classical music]].

== Biography ==
Ram Sahai was born in 1780 in Kashi (now [[Varanasi]]). His father, Prakash Sahai, and grandfather, Siya Sahai, were from Gopalpur village in [[Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh|Jaunpur]]. His uncle, Prayag Sahai, worked at the court of the Nawab of Ayodhya and later in [[Lucknow]]. Ram Sahai's siblings Janki, Gauri, and Ishwari Sahai were all Kathak dancers.<ref name=":1" />

He began learning tabla at the age of five under the tutelage of his father. At the age of nine, he moved to Lucknow and became a disciple of Modhu Khan, the founder of the [[Lucknow gharana|Lucknow Gharana]].<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_RsrAAAAMAAJ&q=%22Ram+Sahai%22+tabla |title=Percussive Notes: Research edition: Percussionist |date=1981 |publisher=Percussive Notes/Percussionist |language=en}}</ref> Under Modhu Khan's mentorship, Ram Sahai developed his tabla skills and learned the nuances of the Lucknow style. When he was seventeen, he was invited by [[Wazir Ali Khan]], the newly appointed Nawab, to perform a recital. Modhu Khan agreed to this on the condition that Sahai would not be interrupted during the performance. It is said that Ram Sahai performed for seven consecutive nights, which earned him recognition in the community.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=MP |first=SHARMA |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XvLfEAAAQBAJ&dq=%22Ram+Sahai%22+tabla&pg=PT55 |title=HOW TO PLAY TABLA |date=2023-10-30 |publisher=Abhishek Publications |isbn=978-93-94885-07-3 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Chatterjee |first=Dr Aroop |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HqSEEAAAQBAJ&dq=%22Ram+Sahai%22+tabla&pg=PA31 |title=Basics of Tabla |date=2022-08-23 |publisher=Shashwat Publication |isbn=978-93-95125-01-7 |language=en}}</ref>

After years of studying the [[Lucknow gharana|Lucknow style]], Sahai returned to [[Varanasi|Benares]], where he felt the need to create a more versatile style of tabla playing. He spent six months in [[seclusion]], experimenting with different techniques. This intense practice led to the creation of the Benares Gharana (or Benares Baj), a new style that would become one of the most influential forms of tabla music.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Chatterjee |first=Samir |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Q_nZAAAAMAAJ&q=%22Ram+Sahai%22+tabla |title=A study of tabla: a comprehensive study with history, theory, and compositions accompanied by an instructional DVD |date=2006 |publisher=Chhandayan |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Nasehpour - Famous Tabla Players |url=https://www.nasehpour.com/famous-tabla-players |access-date=2025-01-04 |website=www.nasehpour.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-10-16 |title=Know who was Lacchu Maharaj: A tabla maestro or an Indian classical dancer |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/gk-current-affairs/story/lacchu-maharaj-tabla-maestro-google-doodle-1368912-2018-10-16 |access-date=2025-01-04 |website=India Today |language=en}}</ref> The core philosophy behind the Benares style was to create a tabla playing method adaptable to various musical and dance forms, including both delicate music such as [[khyal]] (vocal classical music) and more vigorous genres like [[dhrupad]] and [[Kathak|kathak dance]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Talukdar |first=Ustad Julfikar Hussain & Debasish |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_7bxEAAAQBAJ&dq=%22Ram+Sahai%22+tabla&pg=PA61 |title=Tabla- A Quest |date=2024-01-08|isbn=978-93-5967-999-0 |language=en}}</ref>

Sahai used a curved ring finger for the Na stroke on the dahina (left-hand drum), which became part of the Benares style. He composed in traditional forms like gats, tukras, and parans, and introduced compositions like uthan, the Benares theka, and fard.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />

== Legacy ==
The Benares Gharana has two main branches: one from Sahai's lineage, known as pure Benares and the other influenced by Kanthe Maharaj, particularly in [[Kathak|Kathak dance]]. Prominent contemporary exponents include [[Anokhelal Mishra]], [[Kishan Maharaj|Kishen Maharaj]], and Sharda Sahai.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [https://ragatip.com/pandit-ram-sahai-fountainhead-of-the-benares-tabla-gharana/ Profile: Pandit Ram Sahai, fountainhead of the Benares tabla gharana]
* [https://www.tyburhoe.com/new-page-1 Benares Gharana] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250104140840/https://www.tyburhoe.com/new-page-1 |date=2025-01-04 }}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sahai, Ram}}
[[Category:1780 births]]
[[Category:1826 deaths]]
[[Category:Hindustani composers]]
[[Category:Indian male classical musicians]]
[[Category:Instrumental gharanas]]
[[Category:Tabla players]]

Ram Sahai (tabla player) - Revision history

Brigette13M: added basic entry basic info