HAVING received extensive training in music, particularly in playing the tabla (a pair of twin hand drums used in Indian classical music), Guyanese students now learning to play the instrument are privileged to have Amjad Ali Warsi teach them. Warsi, originally from Mumbai, India, was sent to Guyana by the Indian government to teach Indian classical music through the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR). Perhaps his appointment emanated from his ability to teach at several prestigious institutions in India before being asked to make the move.
Warsi now teaches at the Indian Cultural Center (ICC), but owing to the Coronavirus pandemic, he started to hold his classes online. “I belong to two renowned Gharana which is very famous (music school); one which is famous by my grandfather Ustad Aman Ali Khan, who is one of the founders and teachers of Lata Mangeshkar,” Warsi told Buzz in an interview this week.
He was just five years old when he first learnt to play the tabla with his father Ustad Wasir Ali Quadri and then his uncle, the leading tabla maestro Ustad Dayam Ail Quadri from Farukhabad Gharana. Warsi’s teachings and his love for the tabla would propel him into the lime light where he would delve deeply into performing professionally at the tender age of 15. “I grew up in a traditional family of music; my uncle was a very famous tabla player and that’s what inspired me,” Warsi expressed.
He said he has been able to perform in India and abroad with many legends such as Pandit Birju Maharaj, Anup Jalota, Jagjit Singh, Pandit Jasraj and Ustad Ghulaam Mustafa Khan, among others.

Warsi has also dabbled in acting, and has, added to his credit, a stint in the Bollywood film industry, lending his talents to several well-known movies that featured reputable actors. “I acted in a few film such as: The Hero with the actor Sunny Deol and the movie Delli Belli with actor Imran khan,” he related.
Warsi believes that it was the rigorous training from all the Ustads and his own diligent efforts that made him a true representative of the Muradabad Farukabad Gharana of tabla. “I hail from a family of well-known musicians, owing allegiance to the Muradabad Bhendi Bazaar Gharana of Hindustani classical music, which has given to the world, a musician of the stature of Ustad Zahur Khan Saheb, who was the Sarangi Maestro.” His father was also an accredited artiste of Doordarshan, a master of the harmonium and a well-known artist in India. “I then started learning tabla from my uncle Ustad Dayam Ali Quadri who is the pillar and shining star of this Gharana and a very well-known tabla maestro,” Warsi said.

He also has guidance in tabla and vocals from his elder brother Ustad Mohsin Ali Khan, who is a well-known sitar player. Warsi has had the honour of accompanying many popular artistes in India and abroad, and he has also given a number of solo recitals which have been very well received.
He has received many awards in recognition of his talent such as Sahitya Kala Parishad Award, Yuva Mahotsav award and the Ministry of HRD scholarship award in 1992, etc. He is an approved artist of A.I.R and also an ‘A’ grade artist from the song and drama division of the Indian Government.
While there has been a lot of controversy over the origin of the tabla, Warsi believes the following: “Some people try to make up stories that are not true. The fact is tabla was invented by renowned and respectable Sufi Sant Hazrat Amir Khusro (Rahamtulla Alleh) from Pakawaj which he cut in half to form the tabla and bayan.”