New Delhi, May 4 -- What do call a person who was an Adonis and a Merlin; who had both altitude and attitude ; who , not content with his incredibly good looks and a glowing skin , wore a large red bindi to complete the circle; who had men marveling at his musical craftsmanship , and women swooning over his stage presence ; whose hands not only ruled supreme over the music instrument , but could also wield a gun to bring unruly audiences to heel ; who fought for the dignity and equal treatment for his fellow co-travelers?

That would be Pandit Kishan Maharaj, of Benares Gharana. With his thunderous dominion over the tabla, exceptional clarity, spontaneous brilliance, virtuosity, compositional artistry, he had a profound impact on Hindusta...