Ahmed Jan Thirakwa

Ustad Ahmed Jan Khan "Thirakwa" (1892 – 13 January 1976) was an Indian tabla player, commonly considered the pre-eminent soloist among tabla players of the 20th century, and among the most influential percussionists in the history of Indian Classical Music. He was known for his mastery of the finger techniques and aesthetic values of various tabla styles. He received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for tabla in 1954 and the Padma Bhushan Award for Arts in 1970.