Mortal remains of Pt Lacchu Maharaj consigned to flames

Varanasi: The mortal remains of tabla maestro Pandit Lacchu Maharaj, who passed away on Wednesday night in the city, were today consigned to flames at the Manikarnika ghat here. He was 72.

The renowned Banaras Gharana musician, whose real name was Laxmi Narayan Singh, was ailing for some time and had been admitted to a private hospital on Wednesday, where he died of a heart attack, his younger brother Jai Narayan Singh said.

Born and brought up in Varanasi, the maestro had worked in many Bollywood films and performed all over the world. Filmstar Govinda, who was his relative, learnt music from him at a young age. He had married a French woman Tina, who along with their daughter lives in France.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a tweet, condoled the tabla exponent's death. "Pt Lacchu Maharaj's demise is a big loss to the world of Indian Classical Music. He was a widely admired musical maestro-My condolences," the Prime Minister said. Congress president Sonia Gandhi described him as one of
the frontline exponents of tabla and conveyed her condolences to the bereaved family.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav also expressed grief over Lacchu Maharaj's death.